Chapter 19: Into the Depths

The air grew heavier with every step Alexander took. The Gorge seemed alive, its pulse a constant thrum in the back of his mind. Each inhale brought with it the metallic tang of unrefined Essence, a stark reminder of the chaotic energy saturating this cursed place. His body, still recovering from the encounter with the molten Essence Beast, screamed for rest, but the Gorge wasn't a place for respite.

Rest meant vulnerability. Vulnerability meant death.

Alexander adjusted the satchel on his back, feeling the comforting weight of the few supplies he had left. The faint blue glow of the stabilizing crystal tucked into a side pocket caught his eye. He hadn't needed it yet, but the chaotic energy of the Gorge gnawed at the edges of his core, and he knew it was only a matter of time before he'd have to use it.

The jagged obsidian walls of the Gorge grew narrower, forcing him into a winding canyon. The ground beneath his feet felt unstable, cracks glowing faintly with molten Essence just below the surface. His heart raced at the thought of stepping on one of those cracks at the wrong moment.

As he pressed onward, a glint of light caught his eye near the base of a crumbled boulder. Crouching down, he found a shard of Essence-infused obsidian, its edges jagged and sharp. It wasn't a weapon in the traditional sense, but it would have to do. Sliding the shard into his belt, Alexander stood and pressed forward.

---

The canyon opened into a small clearing, and Alexander froze.

Four figures stood in the center, their appearances ragged but undeniably human. They wore mismatched armor, pieces of it charred and blackened, and their weapons were crudely forged from obsidian-like material. Each of them radiated a faint aura of Essence, but it was fractured and unstable, as if the Gorge itself had corrupted them.

At the center of the group was a fifth figure—bound and kneeling on the ground. The captive's head was bowed, their dark hair hiding their face. Chains made of glowing Essence bound their wrists and ankles, the links pulsing in time with the Gorge's rhythm.

"Do you think this one will last longer than the others?" one of the figures asked, his voice rough and laced with amusement.

"Doubt it," another replied. "The Gorge doesn't care about willpower. It chews everyone up eventually."

Alexander's stomach churned. He didn't need to guess what they meant. The captive was being forced to endure the Gorge's chaotic Essence, probably as part of some twisted experiment.

I should keep moving, he told himself. This isn't my fight.

But as he turned to leave, the captive's head lifted slightly, and Alexander caught a glimpse of their face. His breath caught in his throat.

It was a young woman, no older than himself. Her face was gaunt, her skin pale, and her eyes—burning with defiance—locked onto his. In that brief moment, she saw him, and her lips moved soundlessly, forming a single word: Help.

Alexander's heart pounded. Every instinct screamed at him to walk away. He wasn't strong enough to fight four Essence Users, not in this state. He'd barely survived the molten Essence Beast, and these people were clearly experienced in the Gorge's brutality.

But those eyes…

What kind of person would I be if I left her here?

He tightened his grip on the shard of obsidian, its sharp edges pressing into his palm. His gaze swept over the clearing. The captors were positioned near one of the larger Essence pools, its surface roiling with energy. A series of jagged rocks lined the edges of the clearing, providing ample cover. And then there was the Essence itself—chaotic, unstable, but potent.

An idea began to form.

---

The group of captors laughed, their attention focused on the woman.

"Maybe this one will beg," the leader sneered, crouching down to meet her eye level. "Go on, little rabbit. Scream for me."

The woman spat at him, her defiance earning her a sharp backhand. She crumpled to the ground, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth.

Before the leader could stand, a sudden, sharp crack echoed through the clearing. The group froze, their eyes darting toward the source of the noise.

Alexander crouched behind a rock, gripping a small Essence crystal he'd found earlier. The crystal had cracked when he threw it, creating the distraction he needed. He held his breath, waiting.

"What was that?" one of the captors muttered, gripping his weapon tightly.

"Probably just the Gorge messing with us," another replied.

"Check it out anyway," the leader ordered, his tone irritated.

Two of the figures moved cautiously toward the source of the noise, their weapons at the ready. Alexander watched them approach the pile of rocks where he'd thrown the crystal. His heart pounded as he gripped the obsidian shard.

As the first figure rounded the corner, Alexander sprang into action.

The shard slashed upward, catching the man across the throat. The crude armor did little to stop the blow, and the man crumpled with a gurgled cry. Before the second figure could react, Alexander shoved the first body into him, sending them both tumbling to the ground.

Shouts erupted from the clearing as the remaining captors rushed toward the commotion. Alexander darted back into the rocks, using the terrain to his advantage.

"Find him!" the leader barked.

Alexander's mind raced. He couldn't take them all head-on, but he didn't need to. The Gorge had given him the tools he needed.

He led the group on a chase through the rocks, careful to keep just out of reach. Every few seconds, he'd throw another crystal or disturb the ground, creating enough noise to keep them disoriented.

The chaotic Essence in the air began to react to the commotion. Small fissures opened in the ground, releasing bursts of molten energy. Alexander used these to his advantage, luring his pursuers into the unstable areas.

One by one, the captors fell. A poorly timed step sent one plunging into a fissure, the molten Essence consuming him in an instant. Another was caught in an eruption of energy, the blast hurling him into a jagged rock.

Finally, only the leader remained.

Alexander circled back to the clearing, his chest heaving and his body screaming in protest. The leader stood over the bound woman, his weapon drawn and his face twisted in rage.

"You think you're clever, boy?" he snarled. "You're nothing but a nuisance!"

Alexander didn't reply. He shifted his weight, readying himself for the final confrontation.

The leader lunged, his weapon crackling with chaotic Essence. Alexander sidestepped the blow, the obsidian shard in his hand cutting upward and catching the leader across the forearm. The man howled in pain but pressed the attack.

It wasn't strength that won Alexander the fight—it was the Gorge. He baited the leader toward the edge of the Essence pool, forcing him to overextend. At the last moment, Alexander ducked low, sweeping the man's legs out from under him.

The leader fell backward, his arms flailing as he plunged into the pool. The Essence erupted in a violent explosion, consuming him.

---

The clearing fell silent once more.

Alexander stumbled to the woman's side, his hands shaking as he cut through the glowing chains with the shard of obsidian.

"Can you stand?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

The woman nodded weakly, her defiance still flickering in her eyes despite her battered state.

"Who are you?" she murmured.

"Someone who couldn't walk away," Alexander replied.

Together, they hobbled away from the clearing, the pulsing hum of the Gorge fading into the background.