Chapter 4: The Voice of the Abyss
The oppressive voice lingered in the air, vibrating through the walls of the cavern. Every recruit froze, their faces pale as they looked around in fear. Even the brothers felt the weight of it, like an invisible hand pressing down on their chests.
"It's trying to intimidate us," Adewan said, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. His eyes scanned the cavern for any signs of movement. "Don't let it get into your head. We've faced worse than shadows and whispers."
Kane's staff glowed faintly as he muttered an incantation. The light from his magic illuminated the room, casting long shadows against the jagged walls. "It's more than just a voice," he said, his tone wary. "There's something ancient about it. Whatever's down here… it's been waiting for us."
Akane stepped forward, his usual cocky grin returning despite the tension in the air. "Good. Let it come. I've still got plenty of fight left."
As if in response to his challenge, the ground beneath their feet began to shift. The cavern trembled violently, and cracks spread across the walls. From those cracks, black mist poured out, swirling and coalescing into the form of a massive, humanoid figure. Its body was composed of pure shadow, with glowing red eyes and jagged, claw-like hands.
The recruits stumbled back in terror, some dropping their weapons entirely.
"Is this… a dungeon warden?" one of them stammered, his voice shaking.
Adewan narrowed his eyes. "No," he said quietly, stepping in front of the group. "This is something worse."
The shadowy figure let out a low, rumbling laugh, its voice resonating through the air. "You dare trespass in my domain?" it said, its tone dripping with malice. "You mortals are bold… but foolish. None who enter the Abyss leave alive."
Kane raised his staff, its light growing brighter. "Bold, maybe. Foolish, no. If you want us dead, you'll have to try harder than that."
The creature let out a deafening roar, and the battle began.
The brothers moved as one, their years of training evident in their seamless coordination. Adewan charged forward, his blade slicing through the tendrils of shadow that lashed out at him. Each strike was precise and controlled, his movements almost effortless.
Kane stayed back, weaving powerful spells that lit up the dark cavern. His magic burned through the creature's shadowy form, forcing it to recoil with each hit.
Akane darted in and out of the fray, his dual daggers flashing like silver streaks. He targeted the creature's limbs, aiming to weaken it and disrupt its attacks.
"Watch the tendrils!" Adewan shouted, narrowly dodging one that struck the ground where he had been standing. The impact left a crater in the stone floor.
"Yeah, I noticed!" Akane called back, flipping over another tendril and landing behind the creature. He slashed at its back, only for his blades to pass through harmlessly. "What the—"
"It's regenerating!" Kane shouted. "We need to find its core!"
Adewan's eyes narrowed. "Kane, can you pinpoint it?"
Kane closed his eyes, focusing his energy. The glow from his staff dimmed momentarily before flaring brighter than ever. "There!" he said, pointing to the creature's chest, where a faint red glow pulsed within the shadows. "That's its core! Destroy it, and it's done!"
"On it!" Adewan said, charging forward.
The creature seemed to sense their intent, and its movements became more frantic. Tendrils of shadow lashed out in every direction, forcing the brothers to dodge and weave as they closed in.
Akane grinned, his adrenaline spiking. "Keep it distracted! I'll take the shot!"
Without waiting for a response, he surged forward, using Unlimited Mana to boost his speed. In the blink of an eye, he was on the creature, his daggers glowing with energy.
"Akane, wait!" Adewan shouted, but it was too late.
The creature's massive claw swung toward Akane, catching him mid-air and slamming him into the ground with a sickening thud.
"Akane!" Kane shouted, his voice filled with panic.
But Akane wasn't done yet. Despite the pain, he pushed himself up, his daggers still in hand. Blood dripped from his mouth, but his grin remained. "That… all you got?"
Adewan took advantage of the distraction, leaping onto the creature's arm and running up its length. With a single, powerful strike, he drove his blade into the creature's chest, directly into the glowing core.
The creature let out a piercing scream, its body convulsing as cracks spread across its form. Black mist poured out from the core, and the cavern shook violently.
"Fall back!" Adewan shouted, jumping down and pulling Akane to his feet. "It's going to explode!"
The brothers and the recruits retreated just as the creature's body collapsed in on itself, imploding into a swirling vortex of shadow before vanishing completely.
The cavern fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of the brothers and their group. The oppressive atmosphere lifted, and the glowing crystals began to brighten again.
Adewan turned to Akane, who was leaning heavily on Kane for support. "What were you thinking, rushing in like that?"
Akane winced, rubbing the back of his head. "Hey, I distracted it, didn't I? You're welcome."
Kane sighed, shaking his head. "You're lucky you didn't get yourself killed."
Adewan's stern expression softened slightly, and he placed a hand on Akane's shoulder. "Just… be more careful next time. We need you."
Akane smirked. "You just don't want to admit you'd miss me."
"Let's move," Adewan said, ignoring the remark. "This was only the first test. The deeper we go, the worse it's going to get."
The brothers gathered their group and pressed on, the path ahead dark and uncertain. But no matter what awaited them, they were ready to face it—together.