Zami pushed himself to his feet, wincing as the movement sent sharp pains through his body. His cloak hung in tatters, and his katana felt heavier than ever at his side. Despite the overwhelming fatigue, he knew he couldn't stay in the chamber where Silent Agony had fallen. The air was suffocating, laden with an unnatural tension that made his skin crawl.
With the shard of the Bone Monarch secured in his pouch and his hand-crafted dagger sheathed at his waist, Zami scanned the chamber for any sign of an exit. The space was eerily quiet, the remnants of Silent Agony's dissolved body leaving behind nothing but faint scorch marks and a lingering sense of dread.
"Karesh," Zami muttered, his voice barely audible. "Is there a way out of here?"
For a moment, there was no response, and Zami wondered if the entity within him was still reeling from their shared ordeal. Then, Karesh's voice echoed faintly in his mind, his tone cautious. "There should be. These vessels… their chambers are never sealed completely. They're meant to serve as gateways, not prisons."
Zami frowned. "Gateways to what?"
"To whatever lies beyond," Karesh replied cryptically.
Shaking his head, Zami began to move, his steps slow and deliberate. The chamber was vast, its walls covered in intricate carvings that seemed to shift and writhe when he looked too closely. He avoided them, focusing instead on the ground ahead.
After what felt like an eternity, he noticed a faint draft of air brushing against his face. It was cold and carried with it the faint scent of damp stone—a stark contrast to the oppressive stillness of the chamber.
"There," Zami murmured, quickening his pace despite the protests of his battered body.
The draft led him to a narrow passage hidden behind a collapsed column. The opening was barely wide enough for him to squeeze through, and the jagged edges of the stone scraped against his cloak as he pushed his way inside.
The passage was dark and uneven, the air growing colder with each step. Zami's breathing was labored, and his vision blurred as exhaustion threatened to overtake him. Still, he pressed on, his determination unwavering.
As he moved deeper into the passage, Karesh spoke again. "You're lucky that vessel didn't destroy you completely. Silent Agony was not to be underestimated."
"I noticed," Zami replied dryly, his voice tinged with bitterness.
Karesh hesitated before continuing. "There will be more like it, you know. The vessels are not merely guardians—they are extensions of the entities themselves. Each one you face will bring you closer to understanding their true nature… but also closer to your own destruction."
Zami tightened his grip on the hilt of his katana. "Then I'll just have to keep dying and reviving until I figure it out."
Karesh let out a low, humorless chuckle. "You are relentless, I'll give you that. But even your revival has limits, Zami. Don't think you're invincible."
"I don't," Zami said simply.
The passage began to widen, and Zami noticed a faint light ahead. His heart quickened, though whether from hope or unease, he couldn't tell. He emerged into a smaller chamber, its walls lined with strange, glowing fungi that cast an eerie green light.
In the center of the chamber stood an ancient stone door, its surface etched with symbols similar to those on the Bone Monarch's throne. Zami approached it cautiously, his eyes scanning for any signs of danger.
Karesh's voice was a whisper in his mind. "That door… it leads to another layer of this place. Be careful, Zami. Each step forward will only bring you closer to the truth—and to the entities themselves."
Zami paused in front of the door, his hand hovering over its surface. The symbols pulsed faintly under his touch, their glow intensifying as if responding to his presence.
"Closer to the truth, huh?" Zami muttered. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Then let's see what's waiting for me."
With a determined push, he opened the door, stepping into the unknown once more.