Chapter 10: The Heart of Darkness
The day passed in uneasy silence, the quiet of the village now overshadowed by the anticipation of what was to come. Draven kept his focus on the Shadow Relic, but the more he examined it, the more questions arose. There was power within it, yes, but also an overwhelming presence that seemed to call out to him—a dark, primal force he hadn't yet fully grasped.
By nightfall, Draven could feel the weight of something ancient pressing on him, an unspoken pull coming from deep within the relic. He had to understand it, if only to control it before it controlled him.
"You're brooding again," Selene remarked as she entered the small room where Draven sat, his eyes still locked on the crystal. She leaned against the doorway, her voice light but sharp. "I thought you'd be used to the weight by now."
Draven didn't look up, his fingers lightly tracing the jagged edges of the relic. "There's something off about this," he muttered, more to himself than to her. "It's not just a weapon—it's… a key. A key to something bigger. But what?"
Selene stepped inside, crossing the room to stand next to him. She studied the relic for a moment before speaking. "The systems don't just hand out keys without a reason. You've attracted their attention. That relic? It's part of the puzzle. It's tied to the dungeons and the entities behind them."
Draven's brow furrowed. "Entities? You mean there's something controlling this?"
Selene nodded. "Not just controlling. Watching. Guiding. The dungeons, the systems, they all play into something larger. A greater power. But it's still hidden, even from those who control the systems."
Draven felt a shiver run down his spine. The sense of being watched wasn't new, but hearing it spoken aloud gave it a new, chilling context. "Then why don't we find out who's behind it?" he said, his voice dripping with determination. "Let's see who's playing games with us."
Selene's gaze hardened. "You're not ready for that. Not yet. There's a reason these things are hidden. The deeper you go, the more dangerous it becomes. The entities you're poking at—they aren't just gods. They're forces that bend reality itself."
Draven stood up suddenly, the relic pulsing in his hand. "Then let's force their hand. I'm not going to sit here waiting for them to come for me. I'll take the fight to them."
Selene's eyes narrowed, and she stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You need more power first. More than you can get from just killing a few dungeon bosses."
Draven turned his head to face her, a flicker of irritation in his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"The next dungeon we're heading for," Selene said slowly, "it's different. Not just in difficulty, but in what you'll face. It's not just monsters in there. It's a test, a trial—meant to push you past your limits."
Draven's gaze sharpened. "What kind of trial?"
Selene stepped back, her expression unreadable. "The trial of the Abyssal Depths."
---
The next day, they traveled far beyond the village, leaving the familiar roads behind as they ventured deeper into the wildlands. The landscape changed as they moved—no longer the rolling hills and dense forests, but a barren wasteland of jagged rocks and endless fog. A strange, oppressive silence hung in the air, broken only by the occasional distant howl of some unseen creature.
The Abyssal Depths was said to be one of the most dangerous dungeons ever discovered, a place where adventurers had gone to either find unimaginable power or to never return. It wasn't just a dungeon; it was a place where the boundaries between the real world and the unknown blurred.
As they arrived at the entrance, Draven could feel the gravity of the place. A massive, ancient stone door stood before them, covered in cryptic runes and symbols that seemed to writhe in the dim light. The air felt heavier here, thick with the presence of something far more ancient than anything they had faced before.
"This is it," Selene said, her voice quiet but filled with respect. "The Abyssal Depths. You've wanted to face the unknown. Well, here it is."
Draven stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest. "I'm not afraid."
Selene didn't respond immediately. Instead, she studied him carefully, as if weighing his resolve. Then, with a soft exhale, she stepped aside. "Good. Because once you enter, there's no turning back."
Draven placed his hand on the door. It was cold—unnaturally so. The moment his skin made contact, a low hum echoed through the air, and the door slowly creaked open, revealing the darkness beyond.
---
Inside the Abyssal Depths, the air was thick and oppressive, suffocating even. The ground beneath Draven's feet was uneven, the stone floor slick and covered in ancient runes that glowed faintly with an eerie light. The entire dungeon felt alive, pulsating with dark energy.
"The trial begins the moment you step inside," Selene said, her voice low. "This place will try to break you, to twist your mind. It's not just the monsters you have to worry about. It's everything."
Draven nodded, his focus sharp. "Let's get this over with."
As they ventured deeper, the atmosphere grew darker, the air colder. The walls seemed to close in around them, as if the very dungeon was shifting. Then, a voice echoed through the corridors, ancient and resonant.
"Welcome, Draven. Welcome, to the Abyssal Depths. You seek power, but at what cost?"
The voice wasn't from anywhere in particular—it seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. It reverberated in Draven's mind, as though it were speaking directly to his soul.
"Who are you?" Draven demanded, his voice steady.
"I am the Keeper of the Abyss. The trials are set before you. Succeed, and you shall gain power beyond your understanding. Fail, and you will be lost—like so many others before you."
Draven clenched his fists. "I'm not afraid of your trials. Show me what you have."
"Very well. The first trial will test your strength. The second will test your will. The third…" The voice paused, its tone deepening. "The third will test your soul."
Draven's gaze darkened. "Let's begin."
The ground beneath him rumbled, and the darkness seemed to come alive, shifting and swirling. The first trial was about to begin.