Trials in the Abyss(1)

In the space...

Aiden drifted silently through the expanse of space, the stars twinkling faintly in the distance, the black void stretching endlessly around him. His body, weightless, moved effortlessly through the vacuum as he approached his destination.His mind was sharp, though exhaustion crept at the edges.

The planet **Ithara** loomed ahead, an icy-blue sphere hanging against the dark backdrop of space. From up here, it almost seemed tranquil, like a frozen jewel floating in the cosmos. But Aiden knew better—this was no safe haven. It was an inhospitable world, its very nature designed to crush intruders like him.

"You're approaching Ithara's atmosphere," the AI voice echoed in his mind, calm and methodical. "Once you enter, gravitational forces will increase exponentially. Prepare for impact."

Aiden exhaled slowly, his muscles already tensing for what was to come. "How much are we talking?"

"Ithara's gravity is approximately ten thousand times that of Earth. The surface will exert forces similar to those of a black hole."

He blinked at that. "A black hole? And you're telling me this now?"

"I calculated that the information would not change your course of action," the AI said flatly. "But I thought it prudent to warn you."

Aiden grinned despite the tension. "Nice of you."

The AI didn't respond, and silence once again filled the void as Aiden steeled himself. He angled his body, aiming directly for the planet. The calm of space was about to be violently interrupted.

As he hit the outer edge of the atmosphere, the temperature plummeted almost instantly. His skin froze over with a thin layer of ice as the cold air bit at him. Flames began to ignite around his body from the sheer speed of his descent. The force of gravity slammed into him like a fist, rapidly increasing in intensity, pulling him faster toward the surface. Ithara's thick, icy clouds whipped past him, blinding him to what lay below.

Everything hurt. His muscles strained, his bones groaned under the pressure. Every second, the weight increased.

"The gravitational force is increasing at an alarming rate," the AI warned. "Your regenerative capabilities are being pushed to their limits."

Aiden tried to slow his fall, but it was like trying to swim through quicksand. His powers, which had always been more than enough on Earth, struggled against Ithara's crushing pull. His descent became more rapid as the ground rushed up toward him.

*BOOM!*

Aiden hit the planet's surface like a meteor, smashing into a frozen plain with such force that the ice cracked and shattered around him, sending out a shockwave that echoed through the frozen wasteland. The impact created a massive crater, and Aiden lay at its center, his body partially buried in the ice and snow.

He groaned, blood dripping from his mouth. His muscles screamed in agony. The crushing gravity pinned him to the ground, making every breath a battle. His vision blurred, and for the first time in a long while, Aiden felt vulnerable.

"The planet's surface temperature is far below freezing," the AI said, its voice cutting through the pain. "And the gravity here is even stronger than expected. Your regenerative powers are struggling to adapt."

Aiden tried to push himself up, but it felt like his body was glued to the ice. The immense pressure pressed down on him, making every movement feel like a herculean effort. His arms and legs felt like they weighed a ton each.

"This is… brutal," he muttered through gritted teeth. His breath came out in sharp, ragged gasps, crystallizing in the freezing air.

"You have sustained significant internal injuries," the AI informed him. "You are currently operating at 35% capacity."

Aiden winced. "Yeah, I can feel that."

But there was no time to rest. A low, guttural growl echoed across the icy plains, sending a chill down his spine that had nothing to do with the temperature. The fog around him thickened, and through it, a massive shadow loomed, moving with surprising grace across the frozen ground.

"What… is that?" Aiden asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He tried to focus, but his senses were dulled by the oppressive gravity.

"That," the AI began, its tone colder than usual, "is a **Vorath Beast**. Native to Ithara. These creatures have evolved to withstand both the extreme cold and gravity of this planet."

The beast emerged from the fog, revealing its towering form. It stood on four legs, each one as thick as tree trunks, its body covered in scales that shimmered like frozen steel. Its face was a grotesque mix of reptile and mammal, with sharp, frosted horns jutting from its skull and eyes that glowed a predatory yellow. Rows of jagged, ice-encrusted teeth lined its maw, and steam rose from its nostrils with each breath.

"Great," Aiden groaned. "Anything else I should know?"

"The Vorath is capable of speeds unmatched by most terrestrial creatures despite the planet's gravity. Its hide is nearly impenetrable, and its bite can crush through steel. It's the apex predator of Ithara."

Aiden sighed. "Of course it is."

The Vorath Beast snarled and charged with terrifying speed. Aiden's body, still sluggish from the planet's gravity, barely moved in time to dodge. The beast's massive claws raked the ground where he had been, tearing through ice and rock like paper. It roared, the sound deafening in the thin air, and swung its tail, catching Aiden off-guard.

The blow slammed into his side, sending him tumbling across the ice. He crashed into a ridge, the impact forcing the air from his lungs. Blood trickled from his nose, freezing instantly as it hit the cold surface. His body screamed in protest as he tried to stand, the gravity making every motion feel like it was dragging him down into the core of the planet.

"Faster than expected," the AI noted.

"No kidding," Aiden growled, struggling to get to his feet. But the Vorath didn't give him a chance to recover. It lunged again, this time aiming for his throat with its massive jaws.

Aiden barely managed to throw up his arms in time. The beast's teeth sank into his forearm, piercing flesh and bone with ease. Aiden screamed in pain, blood pouring from the wound as the Vorath shook him like a ragdoll, trying to rip him apart.

His vision blurred from the pain, but he gritted his teeth and swung his free fist into the beast's snout. The impact was solid, a shockwave rippling through the Vorath's skull, but it barely flinched. It released him only to swipe with its claws, catching Aiden across the chest and sending him flying once more.

Aiden hit the ground hard, his body skidding across the ice as blood smeared behind him. His chest was a mess of torn flesh and shattered bone, his breathing ragged and shallow. The AI's voice echoed in his head, more clinical than before.

"Warning: multiple critical injuries. You are approaching terminal failure."

Aiden coughed, blood spattering onto the ice. "How… how is this thing so damn fast?"

"The Vorath's muscular structure is hyper-adapted to the gravity. Its density allows it to exert force exponentially beyond what is possible on Earth. You are at a severe disadvantage."

"No kidding…" Aiden whispered, struggling to stand. The Vorath wasn't done. Two more beasts emerged from the fog, circling him like sharks, their eyes glowing with primal hunger.

"They… they hunt in packs?" Aiden asked, barely able to remain standing.

"Correct. You are now facing a Vorath hunting party," the AI replied. "Your current strategy is unsustainable. Recommendation: initiate extreme response, or risk immediate death."

Aiden staggered, his vision swimming. The cold, the gravity, the blood loss—it was all overwhelming. His body, once invincible, was failing him under Ithara's oppressive weight. The Vorath pack closed in, growling, their massive bodies blocking out what little light filtered through the fog.

Aiden clenched his fists, barely able to stay upright. "I'm… not done yet."

The AI remained silent for a moment. "Acknowledged. Initiating adaptive response protocol."

As the Voraths lunged, Aiden's body began to shift. His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened. The AI wasn't taking control, but it was enhancing his reflexes, pushing his body to adapt faster. The creatures were strong, but Aiden wasn't out of the fight just yet.

With a roar of defiance, he met the Vorath's charge head-on.

Aiden gritted his teeth as the AI-enhanced reflexes surged through him, his senses snapping into razor-sharp focus. The cold stung his skin, his wounds screamed in agony, but his mind was crystal clear. The gravitational pull that had once felt suffocating now became manageable, though still oppressive.

The first Vorath lunged again, its jaws wide and ready to rip him apart. This time, Aiden was ready. With a burst of speed that surprised even him, he sidestepped the charging beast, its hulking mass crashing into the icy ground where he had stood a second earlier. The impact sent chunks of ice flying, but Aiden used the momentum to leap into the air, his fist connecting with the creature's skull.

*CRACK!*

The blow sent a tremor through the Vorath's body, and for a split second, it seemed dazed. But the beast was resilient, far tougher than anything he had faced before. It shook off the blow and whipped around with its massive tail, slamming into Aiden's torso with the force of a sledgehammer.

He flew backward, tumbling across the icy ground, each impact sending fresh waves of pain through his already battered body. Blood spattered the ice, freezing in streaks as he rolled to a stop. Gasping for air, Aiden struggled to rise again. His body, enhanced though it was, felt like it was being crushed by the sheer weight of Ithara's gravity.

Another Vorath charged in from his left. This one was smaller but no less deadly, its claws gleaming like shards of ice. It swiped at him, but Aiden managed to duck, barely avoiding the strike. His instincts kicked in, and he drove his elbow into the creature's ribs, a dull thud echoing as it recoiled.

Suddenly, a deep, guttural roar shook the ground beneath him. More shadows emerged from the fog—three, no, five more Voraths—each one more massive and grotesque than the last. They were converging on him, their glowing eyes locked onto their prey. The ground trembled beneath their feet, the ice cracking from the weight of their bodies.

"You've got to be kidding me," Aiden muttered, wiping blood from his mouth.

"More of them are coming," the AI's voice chimed in. "The pack is fully engaged. You are now facing nine Voraths. Probability of survival without extreme measures: less than 1%."

"Thanks for the pep talk," Aiden growled, his breath coming in sharp bursts.

The pack closed in, their snarls and growls vibrating through the air. The lead Vorath, the largest of the group, let out a roar so powerful it caused the surrounding ice to crack even more, sending fissures spiraling out from where Aiden stood.

"Recommendation: do not engage further," the AI stated. "Your body is nearing its physical limits."

"I don't have a choice," Aiden whispered, his eyes locked on the approaching beasts. "I can't let them tear me apart."

As the pack encircled him, Aiden's mind raced. His regenerative powers were keeping him alive, but just barely. His strength was failing fast, and the gravity made every move a struggle. These creatures, adapted to Ithara's brutal environment, were unlike anything he had ever encountered. How could they move so fluidly under this crushing weight, when he could barely stand?

The AI answered his unspoken question. "The Vorath's physiology is designed to harness Ithara's gravitational field. Their bodies generate energy from the planet's unique magnetic currents, allowing them to move with ease. You do not have the same adaptation."

"Good to know," Aiden muttered, staggering to his feet, his eyes scanning the encircling beasts.

Suddenly, the lead Vorath roared again and charged. Aiden braced himself, the ground shaking under the force of its gallop. Just before it reached him, he launched himself into the air, narrowly avoiding its gaping jaws. But the gravity yanked him down faster than expected, and before he could regain his footing, another Vorath was on him.

The beast's claws raked across his back, shredding his suit and cutting deep into his flesh. Aiden screamed in pain as blood sprayed across the ice. His vision blurred from the shock, but he managed to twist his body, driving his knee into the creature's jaw. It recoiled with a snarl, but before he could recover, another one of the beasts pounced.

Aiden was slammed to the ground, the weight of the Vorath pinning him down as its teeth sank into his shoulder. He howled in agony as the beast tore at his flesh, blood pouring from the wound. His vision darkened at the edges, the cold creeping into his bones, his strength fading fast.

"Vital signs critical," the AI's voice echoed in his mind. "You must retreat. You cannot survive this encounter."

Aiden's body screamed at him to give up, to just let the darkness take him. The pain was unbearable, his bones felt like they were being crushed by the immense gravity. The Voraths were relentless, their claws and teeth tearing at him from every direction. He was being overwhelmed, outmatched, and outnumbered.

But something deep within him—something primal, something that refused to die—ignited. A spark of rage flared in his chest, pushing back against the cold, against the crushing weight of Ithara, against the overwhelming odds.

"No," Aiden growled, his voice low but filled with defiance. "I'm not done yet."

He summoned every ounce of strength he had left and roared, his muscles bulging as he forced himself to stand. The Vorath that had pinned him down was thrown off as Aiden's body surged with power. His fists clenched, blood dripping from his wounds, but his eyes burned with fury.

The lead Vorath charged again, but this time Aiden was ready. With a speed that defied the planet's gravity, he darted forward and slammed his fist into the creature's snout. The impact echoed like a thunderclap, and the beast's head snapped back with a sickening crack. Blood sprayed from its mouth as it staggered, dazed.

Before the other Voraths could react, Aiden launched himself at the next closest beast. His fist connected with its ribcage, the force of the blow sending it skidding across the ice, its body crumpling from the impact. He moved with a ferocity and speed that even he hadn't known he was capable of, his instincts and the AI's enhancements pushing him to the edge.

But the Voraths weren't finished. The remaining beasts regrouped and attacked in unison, their massive bodies closing in from all sides. Aiden barely had time to react as they descended on him, their claws and teeth flashing in the dim light. He fought back with everything he had, but the numbers were overwhelming.

One of the beasts caught him off-guard, its claws sinking deep into his side. Another latched onto his arm, its teeth tearing through muscle and bone. Aiden screamed in agony as they pulled him in different directions, trying to rip him apart.

Blood poured from his wounds, staining the ice red. His vision blurred, his strength failing. The AI's voice became distant, barely audible through the haze of pain and exhaustion.

"Warning: fatal injuries sustained. Regeneration failing. You are—"

But Aiden wasn't listening anymore. His world had narrowed to the primal instinct to survive, to fight, to not give up. Even as the Voraths tore at his flesh, even as the cold darkness crept closer, he refused to die here. Not like this.