The newfound control Kaida wielded over the Abyss was a double-edged sword. She felt its presence within her, a constant whisper of power, tempting her to let it take over completely. As she left the heart of the Abyss, she was struck by a sense of unease. The world outside seemed different—darker, as if tainted by her actions.
She stood at the edge of the ruined Oblivion Spire, staring out into the rain-soaked expanse of the city. Ryven had regained consciousness, leaning heavily against a jagged boulder. His face was pale, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear as they met hers.
"You did it," he said, his voice hoarse. "But... what now?"
Kaida didn't respond immediately. She clenched her fists, the faint glow of the Abyss pulsing beneath her skin. "Now, we find my brother. And we stop whatever this is from spreading."
But her resolve was tested almost immediately. From the shadows emerged a figure she had not seen in years—a man with piercing green eyes and a smirk that could slice through steel.
"Kaida," the man said, his tone dripping with familiarity. "I didn't think I'd see you again. Especially not as... this."
Kaida froze, her heart skipping a beat. "Ardyn?" she whispered.
Ryven straightened, his hand moving instinctively to his sword. "Who is this?"
Ardyn spread his arms in mock surrender. "Relax, I'm just an old friend. Or at least, I used to be. Before Kaida decided to abandon everything she believed in."
Kaida's stomach churned. Ardyn had been a trusted ally once, someone who had fought alongside her and her brother. But his betrayal had left scars she thought would never heal.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice sharp. "You shouldn't even be alive."
Ardyn chuckled darkly. "Oh, I'm alive, Kaida. More alive than you could imagine. You see, the Abyss has its ways of... preserving those it finds useful."
Kaida's blood ran cold. "You've been working with it? All this time?"
"Working with it?" Ardyn echoed, feigning offense. "No, my dear. I've been surviving it. And now, I'm here to help you. Whether you like it or not."
Ryven stepped forward, his sword glinting in the dim light. "If you think we'll trust you, you're more delusional than I thought."
Ardyn raised an eyebrow. "Trust? Oh, no. I don't expect trust. I expect survival. And if you want to survive what's coming, you'll need me."
Kaida's mind raced. Ardyn's presence complicated everything. He had always been a master manipulator, but there was truth in his words. The Abyss was a force beyond comprehension, and she couldn't face it alone.
"Why now?" she asked, her voice trembling with anger. "Why show up after everything you've done?"
Ardyn's smirk faded, replaced by a seriousness that unnerved her. "Because the Abyss is changing, Kaida. It's not just a force anymore—it's becoming something else. Something worse. And if we don't act quickly, it won't just consume this world—it will become it."
The weight of his words settled over her like a storm cloud. She turned to Ryven, whose expression mirrored her own uncertainty. Could they really afford to ignore Ardyn's warnings?
But before she could make a decision, the ground beneath them shook violently. A deep, guttural roar echoed through the air, sending chills down Kaida's spine. She turned to see a massive shadow rising in the distance, its form twisting and writhing as if it were alive.
"What is that?" Ryven asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ardyn's expression darkened. "That," he said grimly, "is what happens when the Abyss begins to take shape. And it's only the beginning."
Kaida felt a surge of fear unlike anything she'd experienced before. The shadow loomed larger, its presence suffocating. She tightened her grip on the power within her, determined not to let it overwhelm her.
"We need to move," she said, her voice firm. "If what you're saying is true, Ardyn, then we don't have time for games."
Ardyn nodded, his smirk returning. "Now you're starting to understand. But trust me, Kaida—the games have only just begun."