The black crystal's power still thrummed in Elric's hand as he descended deeper into the Abyss, his new guardians trailing behind him. Their grotesque, twisted forms moved in eerie silence, shadows clinging to them like a second skin. Elric's steps were hesitant at first, the weight of his decisions pressing down on him. Each time his eyes fell on the creatures, a part of him recoiled, but another part—darker, colder—felt an odd sense of satisfaction.
"They serve you now," the voice echoed in his mind, calm and undeniable. "You are learning what it means to command the Void."
Elric ignored it, focusing instead on the tunnel ahead. The walls pulsed faintly with the same violet glow as the roots he had seen earlier, and the air grew colder with every step. The Abyss had no concept of time, but he could feel the hours slipping away as the darkness deepened.
The visions from the black crystal lingered in his mind—flashes of the Wardens, the Lightstones, and the fragmented truth they concealed. The Abyss wasn't just a prison; it was alive, ancient, and far more interconnected with the floating cities above than anyone realized.
He clenched his fist around the crystal, its cold surface biting into his palm. "If I'm going to survive this, I need answers," he muttered to himself.
---
The tunnel eventually opened into a massive cavern, far larger than any chamber Elric had seen before. Towering spires of black stone jutted from the ground like the teeth of some ancient beast, and pools of shimmering liquid dotted the uneven terrain, reflecting the dim light of the glowing roots. The air was heavy with tension, as if the cavern itself were holding its breath.
Elric's guardians stopped at the entrance, their hollow eyes fixed on the far end of the chamber. He followed their gaze and froze.
At the center of the cavern stood a massive, pulsating heart-like structure, its surface slick and veined with violet light. Tendrils of darkness extended from it, snaking across the ground and up the walls, anchoring it in place. The sight of it made Elric's stomach churn, but it wasn't just its grotesque appearance—it was the presence emanating from it, a malevolent hunger that gnawed at his mind.
"The Abyss hungers," the voice whispered. "And so do you."
Elric shook his head. "What is that thing?" he asked aloud, his voice trembling.
"A Voidseed," the voice replied. "A fragment of the Abyss's will. It grows by consuming, by feeding on those who wander too far. To move forward, you must destroy it."
Elric's grip tightened on his blade. "And if I don't?"
"Then it will consume you."
---
Before Elric could take another step, the Voidseed pulsed violently, and the cavern trembled. From the pools of liquid around it, shapes began to rise—twisted, nightmarish creatures formed from the Abyss itself. They were unlike anything Elric had seen, their bodies shifting and flickering like shadows made flesh.
The guardians at his side growled lowly, their forms tensing as the creatures advanced. Elric swallowed hard, his shadow rippling in anticipation.
"Stay with me," he commanded his guardians, his voice steadier than he felt. "We'll deal with them together."
The first creature lunged at him, its amorphous body stretching unnaturally as it screeched. Elric sidestepped the attack, his blade slicing through its form. To his surprise, it dissipated into black mist, but the relief was short-lived—two more took its place.
His guardians surged forward, meeting the creatures head-on. The cavern erupted into chaos, shadows clashing against shadows, screeches and growls echoing off the walls. Elric fought with everything he had, his blade flashing as his shadow lashed out, striking down creature after creature.
But for every one they destroyed, more seemed to rise from the pools.
"You cannot fight forever," the voice warned. "The Voidseed must be severed at its core."
Elric gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He glanced at the pulsating heart at the center of the cavern, its tendrils writhing as if in mockery. The creatures were distractions, pawns meant to wear him down.
"Fine," he muttered. "If that's how it is..."
He turned to his guardians. "Hold them off!"
The creatures hesitated for a moment, then roared in unison, throwing themselves into the fray with renewed ferocity. Elric didn't wait to see how long they could last. He bolted toward the Voidseed, weaving between the chaos.
---
As he neared the heart, the tendrils reacted, whipping toward him with terrifying speed. Elric dodged the first strike, then the second, but the third caught him across the chest, sending him sprawling. Pain flared through his body, but he forced himself to his feet, his shadow coiling protectively around him.
The tendrils lashed out again, but this time, his shadow met them, striking back with equal force. The clash sent a shockwave through the cavern, and Elric pressed forward, his focus locked on the Voidseed.
"Strike now," the voice urged. "Before it adapts."
Elric raised his blade, channeling his shadow into its edge. The weapon glowed faintly, its surface rippling with dark energy. With a yell, he drove the blade into the Voidseed's core.
The reaction was immediate. The heart convulsed violently, its tendrils flailing in agony. A deafening roar filled the cavern as cracks spread across its surface, violet light spilling out like blood. Elric stumbled back, shielding his eyes as the Voidseed erupted in a blinding explosion of energy.
---
When the light faded, the cavern was silent once more. The pools of liquid had evaporated, and the creatures were gone. Only the remnants of the Voidseed remained—a shattered husk, its tendrils limp and lifeless.
Elric dropped to his knees, his body aching, his breaths ragged. His shadow had receded, but the Void Echo within him pulsed faintly, as if pleased.
"You've proven yourself," the voice said, its tone almost... approving. "But this is only the beginning. The Abyss has more to show you."
Elric stared at the shattered remains of the Voidseed, his mind reeling. What was the Abyss turning him into?
He pushed himself to his feet, his gaze hardening. Whatever the answer, he wasn't going to stop now.
"Show me, then," he said, his voice steady despite the exhaustion. "Show me everything."
With that, he turned toward the newly opened path at the far end of the cavern, his steps resolute.
End of Chapter 6