Chapter 5: Whispers of the Abyss

**Chapter 5: Whispers of the Abyss**

Darren sat on the cold dungeon floor, breathing heavily. The shadow creatures were gone, dissolved by his Abyssal powers, but the weight of what had just happened clung to him like a suffocating blanket. The other hunters stood nearby, their faces etched with uncertainty and fear. They avoided looking at him directly, as if they were afraid of what they might see.

The system window lingered in Darren's vision:

[Corruption Level: 1%]

The number was small, but it felt like a death sentence. He had no idea how high it could go before something irreversible happened, but he instinctively knew that if it reached a certain point, there would be no turning back.

Captain Hwang approached cautiously, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "We need to talk," he said, his voice low and calm, but there was an edge of caution in his tone. "That power you used… it's unlike anything I've ever seen. It's dangerous."

Darren looked up at the captain, feeling the weight of his words. He knew it was dangerous. He could feel it in every pulse of dark energy that still thrummed through his veins. But what could he do? This power had saved him, had saved all of them.

"I didn't ask for this," Darren said quietly. "I don't even know what it is."

Hwang studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "I believe you, but the others—" he glanced toward the rest of the group—"they're scared. Hell, I'm scared. That power… it's not natural."

Darren's hands tightened into fists. He didn't need to be reminded of that. "I understand if you want me out," he said, his voice thick with frustration. "But this power saved us. Without it, we'd all be dead."

Hwang sighed, rubbing his forehead. "You're right. But this is bigger than just one raid. The Association will want answers, and they won't take kindly to someone wielding Abyssal powers. There are laws about this sort of thing. If they think you're a threat..."

The implication hung in the air. Darren wasn't just fighting monsters anymore—he might soon be fighting his own kind.

Before Hwang could continue, a strange sound echoed through the dungeon. It was faint at first, almost like a distant whisper, but it grew louder with each passing second. Darren's blood ran cold as he realized the sound wasn't coming from the dungeon itself—it was inside his head.

[The Abyss calls.]

Darren flinched, grabbing his head as the whispering intensified. It wasn't just one voice. It was many, overlapping and merging into a single, insidious presence.

*Embrace the power...*

*Submit to the Abyss...*

*You are chosen...*

The voices were relentless, pressing against his mind like a tidal wave. Darren gritted his teeth, trying to push them away, but the more he resisted, the stronger they became. The dark energy inside him surged, responding to the whispers as if it had a life of its own.

"Darren?" Hwang's voice cut through the noise. He was looking at him with concern. "What's going on?"

Darren shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. "It's nothing," he lied. But deep down, he knew the truth. The Abyss wasn't just a source of power—it was something more. It was alive, and it was trying to take control.

The whispers receded, but the ominous presence lingered. Darren stood up, forcing himself to focus. "We need to get out of here," he said, his voice steadier than he felt. "This dungeon isn't normal. Something… something's wrong."

Hwang nodded, though his eyes were still filled with uncertainty. "Agreed. We're pulling out. This mission is over."

The other hunters seemed relieved to hear that, quickly gathering their gear and preparing to leave. But Darren couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them, lurking just out of sight.

As they made their way back through the dungeon's winding corridors, the oppressive atmosphere only grew worse. The air was thick, almost suffocating, and the shadows seemed to stretch and twist unnaturally. Darren's "Sense Danger" ability was on high alert, but it wasn't giving him clear warnings. It was more like a constant, underlying tension, as if the entire dungeon was a threat.

Finally, they reached the dungeon's entrance. The massive stone gates stood before them, a welcome sight after the horrors they had faced inside. But just as they were about to step through, Darren's system pinged again.

[Warning: Abyssal Rift Detected.]

Darren froze, his heart pounding in his chest. An Abyssal Rift? Here?

Before he could react, the ground beneath them trembled violently. The air around them rippled, distorting as if reality itself was being torn apart. And then, without warning, a massive tear in the fabric of space appeared before them—an Abyssal Rift, swirling with dark, malevolent energy.

The hunters stumbled back, eyes wide with terror.

"What the hell is that?!" Joon screamed, his face pale.

Darren didn't need an explanation. He could feel it—the pull of the Abyss, stronger than ever. This rift was connected to the power inside him, and it was calling to him.

[The Abyssal Rift offers power.]

The system's notification sent a chill down Darren's spine. The rift wasn't just dangerous—it was tempting him, luring him deeper into the darkness. He could feel the energy radiating from it, a raw, overwhelming force that promised unimaginable strength.

But at what cost?

Captain Hwang stepped forward, his sword drawn. "We need to close that thing. If it stays open, it'll flood the dungeon with Abyssal monsters."

Darren's eyes remained locked on the rift. The voices had returned, louder than before, whispering promises of power, of freedom from his weakness.

*Accept the gift…*

*You cannot resist…*

Darren clenched his fists, fighting the urge to step closer. The corruption warning flashed in his vision again, but the allure of the Abyss was almost too strong to ignore.

"I can close it," Darren said, his voice low but resolute.

Hwang and the others turned to him in shock. "How?" the captain asked, his eyes narrowing.

"I don't know," Darren admitted, "but I can feel it. This power… it's connected to me. If I use it, I can shut the rift."

"But you'll be risking yourself," Hwang said, his tone grave. "You don't know what that thing will do to you."

Darren hesitated. He knew the risks, but he also knew that if they didn't close the rift, it would destroy them all. The power of the Abyss was already inside him. Maybe… just maybe, he could control it.

Taking a deep breath, Darren stepped forward, toward the swirling rift.

The whispers grew louder.

The Abyss was waiting.