Jian moved cautiously down the corridor, the glowing runes on the walls pulsating faintly. They seemed alive, responding to his presence. The air carried an oppressive weight, thick with an unseen force that pressed against his chest. Despite the unease, his resolve remained unshaken.
The further he walked, the more the corridor warped. The walls stretched and twisted, their surfaces shifting between solid stone and shadow. Jian activated his Abyssal Resonance, and the oppressive force lessened, allowing him to breathe more easily.
His instincts screamed as the shadows along the walls began to ripple. From within the darkness, whispering voices emerged—low, unintelligible murmurs that crawled into his mind. He stopped, gripping his sword tightly.
"Jian… Jian…" the whispers grew louder, coalescing into a singular voice—one disturbingly familiar.
He turned sharply, his blade ready. A figure emerged from the shadows, its form unclear but undeniably human. As it stepped into the faint light of the runes, Jian's breath caught in his throat.
It was his mother.
"Mother?" he asked, disbelief lacing his voice. The figure smiled, a soft and gentle expression that tugged at buried emotions.
"Jian," the figure said, her voice tender. "It's been so long. I've missed you."
Jian's grip on his sword loosened slightly. "This isn't real. You're not her."
The figure stepped closer, her form solidifying. She looked exactly as he remembered—her soft features, kind eyes, and the faint scent of lavender that always clung to her. "Why do you doubt me? Don't you recognize your own mother?"
He took a step back, his heart pounding. "The Abyss is trying to play tricks on me. You're just another test."
Her smile faltered, replaced by an expression of sorrow. "Is it so hard to believe I might want to see you again? Even for just a moment?"
Jian's mind raced. He wanted to believe her, to fall into the comforting embrace of his mother. But the Abyss had taught him that nothing in this Tower was as it seemed.
The whispers returned, louder and more invasive. They spoke of his failures, his doubts, and the guilt he carried for surviving when others had not.
"You blame yourself, don't you?" she said, her voice tinged with sadness. "For not being strong enough to protect us. For being too late. But it wasn't your fault, Jian. You were just a child."
Jian's hands trembled. The guilt that he had buried deep threatened to resurface. "Stop it," he whispered.
She reached out to him, her touch ghostly and cold. "Let it go, my son. The pain, the guilt—release it, and find peace."
Jian closed his eyes, the memories of his village's destruction flashing in his mind. He had always blamed himself, even though he knew, logically, that there was nothing he could have done. The weight of that guilt had driven him forward, pushing him to become stronger so he would never feel so helpless again.
But now, as he stood before this apparition, he realized the truth. The pain and guilt weren't just burdens—they were part of who he was. They had shaped him, forged his resolve, and driven him to survive.
When he opened his eyes, his gaze was steady. "You're not my mother. She's gone, and nothing in this Tower will bring her back."
The figure's expression darkened, her form rippling like disturbed water. "You would deny her? You would cling to your pain rather than accept her love?"
Jian's voice was firm. "I don't need to deny my pain. I've accepted it, and I'll carry it with me. But I won't let you use it against me."
The shadows around the figure exploded outward, twisting into grotesque forms. Her face contorted, her kind eyes replaced with glowing crimson orbs. The comforting visage of his mother dissolved, replaced by a monstrous entity made entirely of shadow. It let out a guttural screech, lunging at him with clawed hands.
Jian raised his sword, the blade glowing faintly with his own energy. He activated Abyssal Resonance, drawing on the surrounding shadows. The energy surged through him, and he felt the familiar tug of the Abyss. But this time, he was in control.
The shadow creature attacked relentlessly, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying speed. Jian parried each strike, his movements fluid and precise. The creature's strength was immense, but it lacked the discipline and strategy that Jian possessed.
With a swift motion, Jian redirected one of its strikes, plunging his blade into the creature's core. The shadows hissed and recoiled, but the creature didn't fall. Instead, it split into multiple smaller forms, each one as deadly as the original.
Jian gritted his teeth. "Of course, it couldn't be that easy."
He focused, extending his control over the Abyssal energy around him. The shadows responded to his will, slowing the smaller creatures' movements. He slashed through them one by one, his blade cutting through their forms like a hot knife through butter.
As the last creature dissolved, the whispers faded. The corridor returned to its normal state, the glowing runes now steady and calm.
---
[Nexus Update: Trial of Shadows Completed] Reward: Abyssal Barrier Skill Unlocked
[Abyssal Barrier] Rank: Epic
Effect:
1. Creates a shield of Abyssal energy that absorbs physical and magical attacks.
2. Can reflect a portion of absorbed energy back at attackers.
3. Duration and strength scale with the user's control over Abyssal Resonance.
---
Jian exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow. The trial had been grueling, both physically and emotionally, but he had emerged stronger.
He looked down the corridor, where a faint light marked the next step of his journey. The Abyss had tested him, but he would not falter. Each challenge brought him closer to understanding the Tower's secrets—and to discovering the truth about himself.
With renewed determination, Jian sheathed his s
word and continued forward, the whispers of the Abyss now silent.
End of Chapter 20