2025-01-12 10:44:27The night was quiet, but Miko’s mind wasn’t. He wandered aimlessly around the academy grounds, the pendant his father had left him clutched tightly in his hand. It felt heavier than usual, like it carried some hidden weight he couldn’t explain.
He found himself at the training fields, now empty and eerie under the moonlight. His gaze fell on an old, cracked mirror leaning against one of the walls. It looked out of place, the glass warped and dull, but something about it pulled him closer. As he stood in front of the mirror, he noticed his reflection seemed… wrong. The longer he stared, the more it looked like the surface was moving, rippling like water. “What’s going on?” Miko whispered, taking a hesitant step back. That’s when he saw it—thin streams of smoke curling out from the edges of the mirror. At first, it was faint, but then it grew, twisting and swirling until it was thick and dark. “Smoke? From a mirror?” Miko muttered, his voice shaky. Suddenly, a memory came rushing back—his father’s stories about the Abyss. “Smoke… mirrors… isn’t that…” His breath hitched. “A sign of a door to the Abyss opening?” The smoke began to take shape, forming a hollow skull in the mirror’s surface. Its empty eyes seemed to stare straight at him. Miko’s chest tightened as he staggered back. “No way,” he stammered. “This can’t be real!” The smoke poured out faster, spilling onto the ground and racing toward him like a living shadow. “Stay away!” Miko shouted, turning to run, but the smoke was too fast. It shot forward and wrapped around him, cold and suffocating. “No!” he screamed, struggling as the smoke pulled him closer to the mirror. “Let me go!” The last thing he saw was the skull’s menacing grin before everything went black. When Miko opened his eyes, the world around him was completely different. The sky above was blood-red, with dark clouds that seemed to pulse like they were alive. The ground was dry and cracked, stained with what looked like dark red sand. In the distance, he could see broken ruins scattered across a barren wasteland. “What… what is this place?” Miko whispered, his voice barely audible. The pendant around his neck was warm, almost as if it was reacting to the strange world around him. He clutched it tightly, looking around for any sign of life. “This has to be the Abyss,” he muttered, dread settling in his chest. A low growl echoed from behind him, sending chills down his spine. He turned quickly, his heart pounding. In the distance, he could see shadows moving. They were large and unnatural, shifting through the red mist like predators hunting their prey. Miko’s legs froze in place. His body screamed at him to run, but fear had rooted him to the spot. One of the shadows stepped closer, revealing itself. It was a monstrous figure with a hulking body and glowing red eyes. Its face was twisted, its features barely human. Another figure slithered out of the mist, its snake-like body dragging across the ground. “No… no, no, no,” Miko whispered, backing away. “This can’t be real. This isn’t happening.” The creatures began to close in, their glowing eyes fixed on him. Miko turned and ran, his feet slipping on the unstable ground. The pendant bounced against his chest as he sprinted, its warmth almost comforting. “I have to get out of here,” he said, his breathing ragged. “There has to be a way out!” But the creatures weren’t slowing down. Their snarls grew louder, echoing in the desolate landscape. Miko’s chest burned as he pushed himself to keep running, but the wasteland seemed endless. He stumbled, falling to his knees as the shadows loomed closer. Miko’s hands trembled as he forced himself to his feet. The creatures were almost upon him, their grotesque forms becoming clearer. “I’m not going to die here,” he said through gritted teeth. “I won’t let them win.” Clutching the pendant tightly, he turned to face the oncoming monsters. “You want me?” he shouted, his voice shaking. “Then come get me!” The pendant grew hotter, its faint glow spreading through his chest. Miko could almost hear a whisper, like a distant voice urging him to stand his ground. The creatures jumped at him.
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Miko stood in the middle of the red wasteland, his chest heaving as the monstrous creatures closed in. His legs were trembling, his hands clammy as he gripped the pendant around his neck like a lifeline. His thoughts were a mess, swirling in chaos. “What do I do? What should I do? Think, Miko, think!” he muttered under his breath, taking shaky steps backward. His eyes darted around, searching for an escape, but the creatures were everywhere. The guttural growls grew louder, closer, each sound cutting into his nerves like a blade. Miko’s pendant grew hotter on his neck, almost burning. “This thing… what are you supposed to do?!” he hissed as he took it off, holding it up and glaring at it like it would answer him. The creatures lunged. “No!” Miko shouted, shutting his eyes. A blinding blue light exploded from the pendant, so intense that it forced his eyes open again. The light shot outward like a wave, slamming into the creatures with a deafening roar. The creatures were obli
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More creatures emerged from the red mist, their forms twisted and grotesque. Miko gripped his ash-covered sword tighter, but exhaustion was already setting in. "Well," he muttered, "at least I lasted longer than expected—" Suddenly, a crack of thunder split the air. Lightning arced across the wasteland, striking the creatures with surgical precision. Each bolt found its mark, reducing the wraiths to ash in seconds. "My, my," a weathered voice called out. "Quite the predicament you've found yourself in, young man." Through the settling dust walked an elderly man, his white hair tied back in a loose ponytail. Despite his age, he moved with fluid grace, a sword hanging casually at his hip. Lightning still crackled around his fingers. "Who...?" Miko managed, still catching his breath but suddenly was lifted off the ground. "You? Want to know who I am? Sadly you are not on that level," the old man said, offering a slight bow. His eyes, though kind, held a sharp alertness that be
Sovereign of The Abyss Chapter 6
“But why was one here?” Miko asked, his voice filled with frustration. “Why was there no guard? Why didn’t anyone help me?” The principal let out a long sigh, then sat down. “That’s a question we don’t have an easy answer to. The Abyss—well, the wraiths—first appeared seventy years ago. Back then, the world was normal, peaceful. But one day, portals started opening. Mirrors, windows, random reflective surfaces. And with them, came the Eidolon wraiths.” Miko frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. “The wraiths?” “Yes,” the principal continued, nodding. “They’re not just monsters—they’re the result of a strange occurrence. The moment the Abyss started to leak mana into our world, it birthed elemental powers. Fire, water, air, earth, all of it became possible, but at a cost. The wraiths, these creatures you saw, are the products of that very leak. They are elemental beings, born from the Abyss’s influence.” “So... the wraiths are made from elemental magic?” Miko asked, pieci
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The cafeteria buzzed with the usual energy, filled with the clatter of trays and the chatter of students. Miko stepped inside, his return after weeks of being missing met with curious glances and murmurs. He ignored the whispers, keeping his head high as he scanned the room. His gaze landed on a table near the corner, where three students sat—Akiya Ren, Liam Draven, and Anna Elsin. He took a deep breath and walked toward them.As he approached, Akiya leaned back in her chair, her fiery red hair as vibrant as her sharp glare. "Look who finally decided to show up," she said, her tone cutting but not entirely hostile. “Thought you were gone for good, Miko.”Miko paused, unsure of how to respond. "I had... things to take care of," he said carefully, setting his tray down and taking a seat at the edge of the table.Liam, slouched in his chair with his arms crossed, smirked. "Yeah, 'things to take care of.’ Sounds like code for hiding from the clan games," he teased, his lazy demeanor faili
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“Whit whee whoe whoe whoe whit whee,” Miko whistled as he washed in the shower.“Hahh,” he exhaled softly as he washed his face, finally turning off the shower.He sat down on a bench, looking around at lockers before fixing his gaze on the large mirror before him.“After the encounter with the abyss,” he shivered. “Think I might have mirror-phobia,” he said as he giggled.**Soon after, he stepped out of the school bathroom.“Well, now that I’ve officially got no place to return to, I guess the school is now home,” he said as he looked around.“Hiyahh!““Hiyuh!”“Wind spike!!!”“Fire ball!”“Looks like the school is busy today, not everyone went back home,” Miko wandered through the quiet halls of the training arena late at night. As he approached the large doors of the practice room, faint sounds of combat echoed from within—fire crackling, wind slicing, and bright light beaming. He hesitated before pushing the door open slightly, peering inside. Akiya stood in the center of the
Sovereign of The Abyss Chapter 9
The sun blazed high above the academy’s arena, casting a golden hue over the expansive grounds. The stands were packed with parents, lecturers, and students, their excited chatter building an almost tangible energy in the air. The Transfer Trials had officially begun, and everyone was eager to see which clans would prove their worth—or disgrace themselves further. In the VIP section, Gerald Valon, dressed in a finely tailored suit, took his seat with an air of authority. His piercing gaze swept over the crowd before settling on the lecturers and parents who approached him with deference. “Lord Valon, it’s an honor,” A Professor greeted, his tone laced with respect as he shook Gerald’s hand firmly. “The honor is mine, Professor,” Gerald replied smoothly, his expression calm and unreadable. “I trust today’s games will be as enlightening as always?” Professor Ryn chuckled lightly. “Indeed. It’s always a spectacle to see the determination—or lack thereof—of the students.” Gerald
Sovereign of The Abyss Chapter 10
The stadium was in complete silence, the only sound the distant echo of the commentator’s voice still ringing in the air. The crowd murmured in disbelief, their voices rising in volume, some in awe, others in confusion. The spectacle of a mage with two elements. They had always known Miko as the weakling with the Ash element, barely able to conjure a puff of smoke. Now, he had just summoned fire. Pure, blazing fire. “Wait… did he just… use fire?” someone whispered, their voice trembling in disbelief. “He’s an Ash mage… Ash, not fire!” another voice, filled with confusion, responded. The murmurs grew louder, echoing through the stands, bouncing off the stone walls of the arena. Even the respected Professor Ryn was taken aback, his eyes wide in astonishment. He exchanged a glance with another professor sitting nearby, both of them still processing what had just happened. “Impossible…” a voice from the back of the stands stuttered. “You need two separate affinities to use two e
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Luna stepped forward, her Wind magic spiraling around her as if she were a tempest in human form. Her eyes were filled with disdain, but there was an edge of curiosity too. “So, the so-called weakling has more up his sleeve than we thought,” she said, her voice smooth, almost mocking.Miko’s gaze remained steady. “You think this is surprising? You haven’t seen anything yet.”Jace, standing beside Luna, clenched his fists. He stared at Miko with disbelief. “How did you… how could you…” His words faltered. He was so sure Miko was just some Ash mage, barely able to do anything. But now?“You can’t just have fire,” Jace continued, his voice rising. “It doesn’t make sense. You’re supposed to be an Ash mage! This isn’t possible.”Miko smirked. “That’s your problem, Jace. You think things should make sense. But I never cared about what you thought. I just do what I want.”Luna stepped forward, raising an eyebrow. “So you think you can just show up and take us down with your tricks?”Miko’s f
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Chapter 59
Liam had claimed a corner table—the one with the slightly wobbly leg that he insisted gave the space "character." A half-eaten slice of cheesecake sat before him, more decoration than actual dessert. A spoon balanced precariously on the bridge of his nose, defying gravity with the same casual ease that he seemed to approach most of life."I'm telling you," he announced to his teammates, the spoon wobbling with each word, "this is a legitimate stress-management technique."Akiya rolled her eyes, flames dancing between her fingers—a nervous habit she'd never quite managed to control. "Balancing cutlery is your idea of stress management?""Some people meditate," Liam replied, not breaking his concentration. "I balance spoons."Across the table, Anna hunched over a stack of research papers, her dark hair falling forward to create a curtain between her and the world. Mumbled calculations escaped her lips—something about artifact resonance and magical frequency patterns."Did you say someth
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A group of four approached quickly, their expressions filled with irritation. Their leader, a tall, broad-shouldered man with sharp features, was the first to speak.“What the hell happened to you lot?” His tone was demanding, accusatory. “We were supposed to stick together, but your team disappeared. You abandoned the plan.”Anna, still nursing a bruise on her temple, raised a hand as if to calm him. “We didn’t—”“Don’t.” The man cut her off, his voice low but firm. “We found a clue. A direct lead to the relic. And instead of following procedure, your team vanished into thin air. We spent hours trying to figure out where you went.”“We had a lead of our own,” Anna tried again, her voice even. “We had no choice but to follow—”A sharp whistle cut through the tension.Hayes,The senior officer stood near the entrance of the makeshift command post, arms crossed, his face unreadable. But there was an unmistakable weight behind his stare as he looked directly at Miko and Keisha.“Is that
Chapter 57
Time seemed to slow as Miko faced his impossible choice. The wraith loomed over him, obsidian face mere inches away, reflecting his own distorted image back at him."Your decision time has expired," the wraith said, its voice laced with cruel amusement. "The relic. Now."Miko didn't move."Very well," the wraith's form seemed to expand, darkening the tunnel further. "Then you leave me no choice but to demonstrate the consequences of defiance." It gestured toward Akiya who was still struggling to her feet. "Perhaps I'll start with the fire girl. Her flames were... delicious.""No!" Anna tried to throw up another barrier, but her magic fizzled weakly, her reserves nearly depleted."How touching," the wraith mocked. "Such loyalty. Such devotion. Completely wasted, of course." It turned back to Miko. "Final opportunity, boy. Surrender the relic, or watch your friends suffer before they die."The tension in the tunnel was suffocating. Keisha clutched the relic container to her chest, her k
Chapter 56
"Wise advice from the Stormweaver," the wraith conceded. "But unnecessary. I don't need to create division when the truth will do it for me." It drifted closer. "Why do you think you were assigned to this mission, ash-wielder? Why you specifically?""Enough talking," Miko's fire burned brighter. "We're leaving.""Are you?" Another artifact in the wraith's shoulder began glowing, and suddenly the tunnel behind them collapsed, cutting off their retreat. "I think not.""Anna!" Miko called.She understood immediately, throwing up her strongest barrier between them and the wraith. But instead of attacking, the creature simply placed one elongated hand against the magical shield. The barrier didn't break—it dissolved, the magic seemingly absorbed into one of the artifacts embedded in the wraith's palm."Magic nullification," Anna gasped, stumbling backward. "That's not possible.""All things are possible with the right tools," the wraith replied. "Your human magic is just crude manipulation
Chapter 55
Miko didn't answer, but he had a feeling Keisha Stormweaver wasn't someone who gave up easily once her curiosity was aroused.The relic pulsed in its container, its blue light seemingly synchronized with Miko's heartbeat for just a moment before returning to its own rhythm. Whatever connection existed between them, Miko knew instinctively that it was only beginning.Someone had brought this team together specifically to find this relic. And he was increasingly certain that someone was playing a much longer game than any of them realized.Then suddenly,"That's the third time we've passed that support beam," Liam said, coming to a stop. His usual lazy demeanor had given way to sharp alertness, eyes darting between familiar markings on the tunnel wall. "The one with the red mining symbol, this is the third time we’ve passed it.""That's the third time we've passed that support beam," Liam said, coming to a stop. His usual lazy demeanor had given way to sharp alertness, eyes darting bet
Chapter 54
The guardian was now moving agitatedly around the clearing's perimeter, its wooden body creaking with tension. The forest itself seemed to respond to its distress—the not-sunlight dimming, the plants curling inward, the glowing insects scattering.Keisha made a quick decision, pulling a specially lined container from her pack. "This should contain it temporarily." She lifted the relic carefully, and as it left the pedestal, several things happened simultaneously.The forest darkened completely, plunging them into momentary blackness before Akiya's fire provided light. The guardian let out a sound like splintering wood and collapsed to the ground, its body suddenly lifeless. And from the direction they had entered, came a chittering noise that raised the hair on the back of their necks."Move!" Miko ordered as fire erupted around his hands. "Back to the entrance, now!"They ran, Keisha clutching the containment box, Akiya lighting their way with controlled flames. The forest that had s
Chapter 53
The branches parted slowly, deliberately. Squad Seven formed a defensive line instinctively—Miko and Keisha at the center, Akiya and Liam flanking, Anna providing barrier support from behind, with Trent and Devra protected in the rear, their detection equipment humming with activity.First came the sound—a clicking unlike any natural creature. Then movement—smooth, yet somehow mechanical. Finally, the figure emerged fully into the dappled not-quite-sunlight.It stood roughly the height of a tall human, but the resemblance ended there. Its body appeared to be made of interlocking wooden segments, like armor crafted from living trees. Where a face should have been, there was only a smooth wooden mask with intricate carvings instead of features. Tiny plants grew from crevices in its form, and glowing insects similar to those in the forest drifted lazily around it."Holy shit," Akiya whispered, flames dancing nervously between her fingers.The creature tilted its empty and featureless hea
Chapter 52
“They said we should all gather suddenly,” “Yeah let’s go,”Voices could be heard along the hall.The hall hummed but Coordinator Hayes stood at the center platform, his weathered face impassive as he surveyed the assembled teams. The morning's confrontation in the cafeteria seemed distant now as the reality of tomorrow's mission settled over everyone."Attention," Hayes called, his voice cutting through the chatter without needing to shout. "Final briefing for tomorrow's dungeon operation."The lights dimmed as a three-dimensional projection materialized, showing a complex network of tunnels and chambers carved into a mountainside."The Redstone Mining Complex," Hayes explained, "abandoned fifty-three years ago following an Abyssal breach. While the breach itself was contained, residual corruption remains throughout the facility."The projection highlighted different sections in color-coded threat levels – red for severe, yellow for moderate, green for minimal."As previously announ
Chapter 51
Suddenly, someone stepped up. With a plate on his shirt written, coordinator Hayes. Coordinator Hayes stood at the center, his weathered face betraying nothing of his thoughts as teams filed in."Punctuality," he noted as the last recruits took their places. "A promising start."The lights dimmed, and a three-dimensional projection of the mining complex materialized before them, rotating slowly to reveal its multiple levels."This facility," Hayes began, "was once the Redstone Mining Operation, abandoned fifty-three years ago following an Abyssal breach. The breach itself was contained and sealed by AAU response teams, but not before corruption spread throughout the complex."The projection highlighted sections in different colors – red for high corruption, yellow for moderate, green for minimal."As previously stated, Class A will investigate the deepest level." The lowest section glowed bright red. "Class B the middle chambers." The central area pulsed yellow with patches of red. "
