The air inside the Abyss thickened, pressing against Noah’s skin like an unseen weight. Every breath felt heavier, every step slower. The shadows around them twisted and shifted, whispering in voices that didn’t belong to any living being.Killian moved closer to Noah, his grip tightening on his sword. “I don’t like this. It feels like we’re being watched.”Vance let out a humorless chuckle. “That’s because we are.”The hooded woman didn’t turn. “Stay focused. The Abyss feeds on fear.”Noah swallowed hard. His wrist burned where the dark mark pulsed, reacting to the Abyss in ways he didn’t understand. Was it calling him deeper? Or warning him?A gust of cold wind swept through the void, carrying with it a sound—a low growl, deep and guttural. It came from everywhere and nowhere at once.Killian stopped walking. “Tell me that was just the wind.”The hooded woman finally turned to them, her expression unreadable. “It knows you’re here.”Before anyone could react, the darkness moved.A s

The shadows twisted violently as the Abyss roared, its deep, guttural sound reverberating through the void. Noah felt his pulse quicken. The swirling mass before them was no longer just an entity—it was a force, a will bent on consuming him.The hooded woman’s protective barrier flickered under the pressure of the Abyss’s encroaching darkness. “It’s testing us,” she warned, her voice steady despite the chaos. “It wants to see how far you can go before you break.”Noah tightened his grip on his weapon. “Then we don’t break.”Killian smirked, adjusting his stance. “That’s the spirit.”The Abyss did not wait. Tendrils lashed forward, whipping through the air with lethal precision. Noah ducked, narrowly avoiding one as another wrapped around his leg, yanking him off his feet. He gasped, slashing wildly, but the darkness was relentless.Vance sent a surge of fire, the flames cutting through the tendrils and forcing the Abyss to recoil. “Not today,” he muttered, helping Noah up. “Stay on yo

Noah took a steadying breath as the remnants of the Abyss faded into the void. His heart was still pounding, his body aching from the battle. He glanced at his wrist where the mark had cooled, the pain a distant echo now. But the memory of its burn lingered. He wasn’t free—not yet.Killian exhaled sharply, running a hand through his sweat-damp hair. “So, what now? We just keep moving forward?”Vance dusted off his coat, shaking his head. “Forward is the only option. Unless you’d rather set up camp and wait for the next nightmare to come crawling out of the dark.”Noah turned to the hooded woman. “You said this was just the beginning. What did you mean?”She studied him for a moment, her gaze unreadable. “The Abyss tested you, but it has not given up. You rejected it today, but it will try again. Stronger. Smarter. You must be ready.”Noah clenched his fists. “Then tell me how. How do I fight it?”“The answer lies beyond this passage,” she said, motioning to the path ahead. “But be war

Noah steadied his breathing as they ventured deeper into the Abyss. The oppressive weight of the void seemed to retreat, but he knew better—it was watching, waiting for the moment to strike again. His mark still pulsed, a steady rhythm against his wrist, reminding him of the tenuous connection he had forced into submission.Killian walked beside him, sword drawn, his eyes scanning their surroundings for any movement. Vance trailed slightly behind, flicking embers from his fingertips as if to reassure himself that his magic was still intact. The hooded woman, ever enigmatic, led the way, her steps sure despite the shifting darkness beneath them.“This isn’t over,” she murmured, breaking the silence. “The Abyss does not relinquish what it has claimed without consequence.”Noah clenched his jaw. “Then let it try again. I’ll be ready.”A chuckle escaped Killian. “That’s the spirit, but let’s not tempt fate too much.”Vance let out a low whistle. “I hate to agree with the swordsman, but we

Noah's breath was steady, his resolve hardened by the confrontation with the Abyss. Though the darkness had retreated, the sensation of being watched remained. The hooded woman stood beside him, her glowing symbols dimming slightly, her gaze unreadable."It will return," she warned. "And next time, it will not hesitate."Noah flexed his fingers, the mark on his wrist tingling with residual energy. "Then we make sure we're ready."Killian sheathed his sword, his usual smirk replaced with a contemplative frown. "I still don’t get what you did back there. The way the Abyss reacted… it was like you turned its own power against it."Vance whistled. "Whatever it was, let's hope you can do it again. We’re far from done here."The ground beneath them shifted slightly, as though the world itself was adjusting to their presence. They were in the heart of the Abyss now, and the path ahead was uncertain.The hooded woman turned to Noah. "There is something you must see. Come."They followed her d