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The forsaken Code. Chapter Thirteen:. The Riftborn's Hunger.
The Riftborn loomed over them, its form flickering between states—sometimes solid, sometimes a twisting mass of shadows, its edges fraying like torn fabric against the eerie violet glow of the sky.Noah’s body went rigid. His pulse roared in his ears. He had read about Riftborns in old texts—creatures that should not exist in any reality, beings that belonged to the space between worlds. But reading about them and standing in front of one were two different things entirely.Killian took a step back, his fingers twitching toward his dagger. Vance remained eerily still, his golden eyes narrowed as he studied the creature.The hooded woman—the one who had spoken to them—lifted a hand, as if holding the Riftborn at bay. “The Veil is weak,” she intoned. “And so, they come.”Noah forced himself to find his voice. “They? There are more of these things?”The woman nodded slowly. “Where the Rift thins, they gather.”The Riftborn let out a low, reverberating growl that rattled Noah’s bones.
The forsaken Code. Chapter Fourteen:. The mark of the abyss.
Noah’s breath hitched. His fingers brushed over the dark mark curling around his wrist, feeling the unnatural heat pulsing beneath his skin. It didn’t hurt, but the sensation was wrong, like something alive was beneath the surface.Killian was the first to break the silence.“What do you mean, ‘he’ll become one of them’?” His voice was sharp, demanding answers.The hooded woman didn’t flinch. “The Abyss doesn’t let go of its chosen. Once it marks you, it slowly drains your essence. Your thoughts… your will… your very existence fades until you are nothing but a hollow shell.”Noah’s pulse pounded in his ears. He clenched his fists. “So you’re saying I’m cursed?”She nodded. “In a way, yes.”Vance sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fantastic. Another problem added to our never-ending list.”Noah barely heard him. His mind raced, his heartbeat erratic.He had barely escaped the Abyss, and now it was inside him?Killian stepped forward, jaw tight. “How do we stop it?”The woman hes
The forsaken Code. Chapter fifteen:. Abyss Battle
The shadows twisted and writhed, forming grotesque figures with glowing, hollow eyes. They didn’t move like normal creatures. They slithered, shifted, and melted into the darkness before reforming elsewhere, always just out of reach.Noah’s grip on his weapon tightened. His breathing was shallow, the weight of the Abyss pressing against his chest like an invisible force. The dark mark on his wrist pulsed violently, as if responding to the creatures in front of him.Killian stepped in front of him, sword raised. “Stay close.” His voice was steady, but Noah could hear the tension beneath it.Vance cracked his knuckles. “I don’t suppose we can reason with these things?”The hooded woman shook her head. “They are not creatures of reason. They are fragments of the Abyss itself, drawn to its mark on Noah.”“Great.” Vance sighed, pulling a dagger from his belt. “Then I guess we do this the hard way.”The shadows attacked.Noah barely had time to react as one lunged at him, its form stretchin
The forsaken Code. Chapter sixteen: The abyss Hunger.
The darkness surged forward, swallowing the last slivers of light. Noah gripped his weapon tighter, his breath quick and uneven. The Abyss was alive around them, twisting, shifting, waiting to consume.Killian stood beside him, sword raised, his stance firm. "We need a plan. Fast."Vance kept his back to them, scanning the shadows. "Plan? Pretty sure our plan is to survive."The hooded woman remained motionless, watching. "The Abyss is testing you."Noah frowned. "Testing us? For what?""To see if you belong." Her voice was calm, but her eyes carried a warning. "If you fail, it will keep you."Noah’s heart pounded. The dark mark on his wrist burned, pulsing like it had a life of its own. He could hear the whispers again, creeping into his mind, tempting him to let go, to surrender.He shook his head. "We’re not losing to this thing."The shadows moved again, faster this time. A clawed hand lashed out from the void. Noah barely dodged, stumbling back as Killian slashed at the creature.
The forsaken Code. Chapter seventeen: Shadows in the Dark.
The darkness shifted around them, restless and alive. Noah gripped his weapon tighter, his pulse quickening as the whispering voices grew louder. They slithered through his mind, their words just out of reach, teasing and taunting.Killian stepped beside him, his blade steady. "We need to move. Standing here makes us easy targets."Vance exhaled sharply. "Easier said than done. We can barely see where we're going."The hooded woman raised her hand. A faint glow flickered from her palm, illuminating the swirling void. "Follow my lead. The Abyss thrives on hesitation. If we falter, it will consume us."Noah swallowed, nodding. "Then let’s keep moving."They pressed forward, their steps cautious. The ground beneath them felt strange—solid yet shifting, like walking on the surface of a deep ocean. Noah’s mark pulsed again, the heat spreading up his arm. He clenched his jaw, ignoring the unease crawling up his spine.A low growl rumbled from the shadows.Killian stopped abruptly, his eyes
The forsaken Code. Chapter Eighteen:. The abyss Call.
A deep hum resonated through the cavern, vibrating in Noah’s bones. The pulsing core before them shifted, dark tendrils snaking outward like it was alive.Killian stepped in front of Noah, his sword raised. "I don’t like this."Vance rolled his shoulders. "We came all this way. Might as well see what happens."Noah swallowed hard. He could feel the pull of the Abyss, stronger than ever. It wasn’t just calling him—it was waiting.The hooded woman finally spoke. "The Abyss does not give power freely. It demands something in return."Noah’s hands clenched into fists. "What does it want?"Her gaze locked onto his. "A choice."The pulsing core brightened, and suddenly, shadows swirled around Noah, wrapping around him like chains. He gasped, struggling against the unseen force."Noah!" Killian lunged forward, but an invisible barrier sent him flying backward. Vance cursed, trying to reach him, but the darkness pushed them away.Noah gritted his teeth. The Abyss’s voice slithered into his
The forsaken Code. Chapter Nineteen: A lingering Threat
The moment Noah stepped through the portal, the air around him changed. The heavy, suffocating presence of the Abyss faded, replaced by the crisp night breeze. He stumbled slightly, his body still weak, but Killian was there to steady him.They stood in the ruins once more, the moon casting long shadows across the broken stones. For a moment, everything was silent—too silent.Vance exhaled loudly. “I can’t believe we actually made it out.”Noah didn’t respond. His mind was still reeling from what he had seen inside the Abyss. The whispers, the shadows, the thing that had nearly swallowed him whole.The hooded woman stepped forward, her voice calm as always. “The Abyss may have let you leave, but it hasn’t forgotten you.”Killian tensed. “What does that mean?”She looked at Noah. “The mark remains. The connection is still there. The Abyss has touched you, and that touch does not simply vanish.”Noah glanced at his wrist. The mark no longer burned, but it was still there, a dark reminde
The forsaken Code. Chapter Twenty:. Into the Abyss
The darkness was no longer just a presence—it was a force. It clung to their skin, filled their lungs, and whispered secrets that none of them wanted to hear. Noah braced himself, gripping his weapon tightly as the shadows circled them like a predator sizing up its prey.Killian’s stance was firm, his blade reflecting what little light remained in this forsaken place. "Noah, can you feel that?"Noah nodded. "Yeah. It’s getting stronger."Vance narrowed his eyes, scanning their surroundings. "This is wrong. We need to move—now."The hooded woman remained eerily still. Her voice, when it came, was almost a whisper. "There is no escape. The Abyss has already claimed us."Before anyone could respond, the darkness lunged.Noah barely had time to react as something massive slammed into them. He was thrown back, the impact knocking the wind from his lungs. He hit the ground hard, pain jolting through his body as his vision blurred.Killian shouted his name, but the sound was drowned out by t
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Chapter Thirty- nine: Noah's past Reflection (3)
Killian didn’t press further, and for that, Noah was grateful. He wasn’t sure he had the strength to put everything into words just yet.The fire had long since burned out, leaving only glowing embers between them, and for a moment, the world felt still. But Noah knew better than to trust stillness. The Darklands had a way of lulling travelers into a false sense of security before striking when they least expected it.“I don’t sleep much either,” Killian admitted after a moment, breaking the silence. His voice was quieter than usual, almost contemplative. “Too many things in my head. Too many things I’ve done that won’t let me rest.”Noah glanced at him, surprised. Killian wasn’t the type to talk about himself. He had always been the steady one, the fighter who never seemed to flinch, the man who never hesitated. But now, sitting in the dim light, he seemed… human. Tired.Noah hesitated before speaking. “What did you do?”Killian sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “You ever make a
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Noah's past Reflection (2)
Noah sat by the dying embers of the campfire, his mind drifting to a time before the Darklands, before the Abyss had marked him. The others had settled in for the night, their breathing slow and steady, but sleep eluded him.His father’s voice echoed in his mind, sharp and unforgiving. "You were never meant to lead, Noah. You hesitate. You doubt. That’s what makes you weak."Noah had always struggled under the weight of his father’s expectations. The man had been a force of nature—unyielding, disciplined, and entirely without mercy. He had trained Noah from the time he could walk, pushing him beyond his limits, testing his resolve at every turn. But no matter how hard he tried, it had never been enough."A leader doesn’t second-guess himself," his father had said, after watching Noah hesitate before striking an opponent in one of their countless sparring matches. "A leader commands."Noah had never wanted to command. He had wanted freedom, choices that were his own. But fate had other
Chapter Thirty-seven: Noah's past Reflection
The fire crackled softly, its warmth a stark contrast to the cold weight settling in Noah’s chest. The others had drifted into restless sleep, exhaustion finally catching up to them after the ordeal in the Darklands. But Noah couldn’t close his eyes. Not yet.He stared into the embers, lost in thought. The hooded woman’s words echoed in his mind: You didn’t just restrain it. You claimed dominion over it.A bitter chuckle escaped him. He hadn’t sought power. He never had. But power had a way of finding him, twisting itself into his life whether he wanted it or not.The memory came unbidden—his father’s voice, sharp and full of disappointment.“You hesitate, Noah. You always hesitate. And that is why you will never be strong enough.”He had been a child then, no older than ten, standing in the courtyard of their old estate. His hands trembled around the hilt of the wooden practice sword, his opponent a boy two years older, taller, stronger. The clash of training blades echoed around the
Chapter Thirty-six: Finally
The air grew heavier, thick with a presence unseen but deeply felt. Each step forward sent a ripple through the Darklands, as though Noah’s very existence unsettled the slumbering force beneath them. The terrain twisted, shifting like a living thing reacting to their intrusion.Vance walked beside him, his daggers drawn but loose in his grip, his gaze darting to the shifting landscape. "You feel that, don’t you? It’s like the ground’s... breathing."Killian exhaled sharply. "More like watching. I don’t like it."The hooded woman kept her eyes forward, her posture rigid. "It knows you now, Noah. And it’s testing you."Noah tightened his fists, the mark on his wrist pulsing in time with his heartbeat. He could feel the connection deepening, the abyssal power within him stirring in response to the land’s awakening. The knowledge unsettled him—but fear would do him no good. He had already chosen this path.Then, without warning, the ground ahead of them cracked open.A deep, guttural soun
Chapter Thirty- five: Darklands Awakening
The silence was deafening. The darkness no longer writhed, no longer reached for him with insatiable hunger. Yet Noah could still feel its presence, distant but lingering, like an ember smoldering beneath the ash.He exhaled sharply, his muscles trembling from the effort of binding the creature. His mind swam with exhaustion, yet the weight of the moment kept him grounded.Killian staggered to his feet, dusting himself off. His usual smirk was absent, replaced by something almost wary. “So… does this mean it’s over?”Vance shot him a look, sheathing his daggers. “You really think something like that goes down without consequences?”Noah flexed his fingers, staring at the mark on his wrist. The pain had subsided, but an odd sensation remained—like a tether stretching into the void.The hooded woman stepped closer, her gaze sharp. “You’ve done what no one else could. But this is only the beginning.”Noah frowned, his heart still racing. “What do you mean?”She hesitated for the first ti
Chapter Thirty- four: Bound by shadows
The path ahead was a winding, narrow trail, barely visible under the creeping darkness that seemed to grow thicker with each passing moment. The trees loomed over them like towering giants, their twisted limbs blocking out any semblance of light. The further they went, the more Noah felt as though the land itself was closing in on them, as though the very earth were conspiring to keep them in this oppressive shadow. Noah’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. The mark on his wrist had not stopped pulsing, and the more he tried to ignore it, the more it seemed to demand his attention. It wasn’t just the mark, though—it was the whole of this place. The air felt heavy with something ancient, something old and powerful. It was the weight of forgotten things, of lost memories that no one wanted to remember. He glanced over at Killian, who was still tense and alert, his eyes darting to every shadow, every flicker of movement in the periphery. Even Vance, who usually carried himself with a s
Chapter Thirty-three: Into the Darklands
The journey toward the Darklands was unlike anything Noah had ever experienced. The air grew colder with every step they took, a biting chill that gnawed at their bones. The landscape around them transformed slowly, as though the world itself was warping in response to their approach. The once lush forests gave way to barren, twisted trees, their gnarled branches clawing at the sky like skeletal fingers. The ground was cracked and dry, with jagged rocks jutting out of the earth at odd angles. As they ventured further, the silence of the land weighed heavily on them. The usual sounds of nature—the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds—were conspicuously absent. Only the occasional screech of a distant bird of prey broke the oppressive stillness, but it was always followed by an unsettling silence, as if the land itself were holding its breath. Noah’s thoughts drifted back to the conversation they had before they left. The hooded woman had been cryptic in her explanations, offeri
Chapter Thirty- two:. The final confrontation
The Abyss was no longer a mere force to be reckoned with; it had become an entity in its own right, its tendrils frenzied, its eyes burning with hatred and fear. Noah could feel it gathering itself, preparing for one final strike, but something had shifted within him. The mark on his wrist pulsed with energy, its rhythm in sync with his heartbeat. He wasn't the man who had walked into this battle mere hours ago—he had grown. And now, the Abyss would face him, not as a victim, but as a force of nature itself. The hooded woman stepped back, her eyes narrowed as she observed the shifting shadows. "This is it. You’ve awakened the power within you, Noah. Now, you must wield it." Noah's eyes never left the swirling mass in front of him. The Abyss was taking form, its colossal figure now a twisted mirror of his own fears and weaknesses. The creature’s roar reverberated through the air, as though mocking him, daring him to challenge it one last time. “I don’t have a choice,” Noah muttere
Chapter Thirty-one: Defeated (2)
The Abyss let out one final, ear-splitting shriek as its form twisted and unraveled. The darkness that had once loomed over them like an eternal nightmare shattered, dissipating into the void like smoke caught in the wind. The oppressive weight that had suffocated Noah and his companions lifted, leaving behind only silence. Noah staggered, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. The mark on his wrist no longer burned; instead, it pulsed with a steady, quiet glow. He had done it. They had done it. Killian wiped the sweat from his brow, his sword still clenched in his hand as if expecting the Abyss to reform. When it didn’t, he let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “It’s… it’s actually gone.” Vance, who had been bracing for another wave of darkness, slowly lowered his hands, his fire extinguishing. “I can’t believe it,” he muttered. “I thought for sure we’d be swallowed whole.” The hooded woman stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Noah. “You have severed the Abyss’s hold,”
