Chapter 65: The Abyss Stirs

The underground chamber pulsed with a dark energy, the air thick with an unnatural weight. Arthur stood at the center, his fingers curled tightly around the grimoire, its pages fluttering with unseen power.

Something was awakening.

The sigils carved into the stone walls glowed faintly, reacting to the tome in his hands. This was it—the final step of the ritual. The abyssal entity sealed beneath this chamber was about to stir, and Arthur had come prepared.

He had no choice.

After everything that had happened—the betrayal, the hunt, the near-death experiences—this was his only path forward. He had to claim the power hidden within this place before his enemies did.

But the moment he stepped forward—

A whisper slithered through the air.

You seek power, child of the grimoire… but are you ready to bear the cost?

Arthur's body tensed.

It spoke.

The entity was aware of him.

A cold shiver crawled down his spine. But he couldn't back down. Not now.

He took a deep breath and pressed his hand against the altar. The sigils flared to life, and the entire chamber trembled.

The abyss was opening.

---

The Chains of the Forgotten

Dark tendrils erupted from the cracks in the stone floor, writhing like living shadows. A presence—vast and ancient—began to seep into reality.

Arthur's grip tightened on the grimoire. His mind pounded as fragmented memories—not his own—flooded his vision.

A battlefield.

A sorcerer bound in chains.

A city swallowed by the void.

The whispers grew louder, merging into something more than just voices. It was a presence—a will.

Then—

The shadows lunged.

Arthur barely reacted in time. He raised his free hand, summoning a barrier of arcane light. The tendrils struck against it, but they didn't retreat. Instead, they wrapped around the barrier, crushing it.

The entity laughed.

You are bold, little heir… but do you truly understand what you seek?

Arthur's jaw tightened. He forced himself to remain steady.

"I understand more than you think," he said coldly. "And I'm here to claim what is mine."

The abyss stilled.

Then, suddenly—

BOOM!

The tendrils recoiled, and a massive shackled form began to emerge from the depths of the void. A humanoid figure—bound in countless chains, its body covered in ancient runes.

Arthur's breath hitched.

This was it. The sealed being.

And then—

The chains shattered.

---

The Awakening of Malice

A force unlike anything Arthur had ever felt exploded outward. The sheer weight of it sent him stumbling back, his vision blurring. The chamber shook violently, as if the entire world was resisting the presence that had just been unleashed.

Laughter—deep, guttural, and inhuman—filled the space.

Freedom… after so long…

The abyssal entity stood before him now, fully unbound.

It was massive, its form constantly shifting between solid and shadow, as if reality itself couldn't contain its presence. Two glowing crimson eyes locked onto Arthur, burning with amusement.

Arthur forced himself to stand tall.

"You owe me a debt," he said, voice unwavering. "I was the one who freed you."

The entity tilted its head. Then—

It grinned.

And what do you desire in return, mortal?

Arthur didn't hesitate.

"Power."

The laughter returned, echoing like a chorus of voices overlapping each other.

Power… Yes. I can grant you that… but power is never given freely.

Arthur expected that much. "What's the price?"

The entity stepped closer, towering over him. Its shadowy form melted into the ground, slithering like living darkness.

The grimoire… it whispered.

Arthur's eyes narrowed. "You want my grimoire?"

The entity chuckled.

No… I want the piece of my soul bound within it.

Arthur's breath caught.

What?

His mind raced. Did that mean the grimoire he had been using all this time wasn't just a book—but a prison?

He tightened his grip. "And if I refuse?"

The air grew heavy.

Then your soul will remain weak… and your enemies will consume you before you can even resist.

A test.

Arthur knew this was a gamble.

But if the grimoire truly contained part of this entity's essence… then absorbing it would push his power to new heights.

He took a deep breath.

And then—

"I accept."

---

The Binding Pact

The entity smiled.

The sigils around the chamber flared violently, and the darkness surged forward.

Arthur felt it—the power rushing into him, flooding his veins, threatening to consume his very being. His grimoire burned with dark fire, and his mark pulsed.

For a moment—

Pain.

His body convulsed as his soul twisted, as if something deep inside him was being rewritten.

Then—

Silence.

Arthur collapsed to one knee, panting. His entire body felt different—heavier, stronger, darker.

He clenched his fist, and the very air around him distorted.

Power.

The entity chuckled.

Now, we are bound. Use this power well… heir of malice.

And with those final words—the abyss vanished.

Leaving Arthur alone.

Stronger than ever.