Bound in the Abyss

Chapter 31: Bound in the Abyss

Darkness. Cold and all-encompassing, it clung to Li Qing like a second skin. She floated weightlessly, her senses dulled and her thoughts fragmented. Time had no meaning here—seconds stretched into eternity, and eternity folded in on itself.

Where am I?

A voice echoed through the void, cold and mocking. "You're in my domain now, Li Qing."

Zhao Heng's presence enveloped her like a shroud, suffocating and omnipresent. She couldn't see him, but she could feel him, his laughter reverberating in her mind.

"Did you truly believe you could challenge me?" he taunted. "This is the abyss, where light is extinguished, and hope is a fleeting dream. Here, you are nothing."

Li Qing clenched her fists, struggling to summon her True Soul Force. But the golden light that had always been her strength flickered weakly before vanishing entirely.

"No," she whispered, her voice trembling. She forced herself to take a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. Focus, Li Qing. You've faced worse than this.

But had she? This place was unlike anything she had ever encountered. It wasn't just a void—it was alive, pulsating with malice and hunger. The abyss sought to consume her, to erode her will and leave nothing behind.

"Do you feel it?" Zhao Heng's voice dripped with satisfaction. "The abyss doesn't merely destroy. It devours. It will strip you of everything—your power, your memories, your very sense of self. And then, you'll belong to me."

Li Qing gritted her teeth. "You underestimate me, Zhao Heng."

Her defiance only seemed to amuse him. "Do I? Look around you, Li Qing. There is no escape. No light. No salvation. Just the endless hunger of the abyss."

As if in response to his words, the darkness around her began to shift. Shadows coalesced into writhing forms, their glowing red eyes piercing through the void. The creatures snarled and hissed, their bodies twisted and grotesque, resembling a fusion of beasts and spirits.

One lunged at her, its fangs glinting in the faint light of the abyss. Instinct took over, and Li Qing dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding its attack. She reached for her sword, but her hand grasped at empty air.

Her weapon was gone.

The realization hit her like a blow to the chest, but she didn't have time to dwell on it. More of the creatures emerged from the darkness, circling her like predators stalking their prey.

"These are the echoes of the abyss," Zhao Heng said, his voice resonating in her ears. "Fragments of those who came before you. They were strong once, like you. But now, they are nothing more than tools of my will."

Li Qing's jaw tightened. She wouldn't let herself become one of them. She couldn't.

The first creature lunged again, its claws slashing toward her. This time, she met it head-on, channeling what little energy she had left into her fists. Her strike connected with its chest, and the creature dissolved into shadows, its form unraveling in an instant.

But the victory was short-lived. The remaining creatures closed in, their snarls growing louder. Li Qing's heart pounded as she fought them off, her movements growing more desperate with each passing moment.

I can't keep this up, she realized. Her energy was almost completely drained, and the abyss seemed to sap what little remained with every passing second.

"You're prolonging the inevitable," Zhao Heng said, his tone laced with amusement. "Why not surrender? The abyss is merciful to those who accept it willingly."

Li Qing didn't answer. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

As she struggled to fend off the creatures, a faint glimmer of light caught her attention. It was small and distant, but it stood out against the oppressive darkness like a beacon.

Her heart leapt. Light? Here?

Without hesitation, she surged toward it, her movements fueled by sheer determination. The creatures tried to block her path, but she struck them down one by one, her focus unyielding.

The closer she got to the light, the stronger it became. It wasn't golden like her True Soul Force—it was silvery and ethereal, like moonlight reflecting off water.

When she finally reached it, the light erupted, forcing the creatures back. They hissed and shrank away, their forms dissolving into the shadows.

In the center of the light stood a figure. It was humanoid, but its features were indistinct, as though it were made of pure energy. Its voice was soft but commanding, echoing in her mind.

"You are not alone, Li Qing," it said. "The abyss cannot claim those who refuse to yield."

Li Qing stared at the figure, her breath catching in her throat. "Who… are you?"

"I am but a fragment," it replied. "A remnant of those who came before you, who fought against the abyss and refused to be consumed."

The figure extended a hand, and in its palm materialized a weapon—a gleaming blade unlike any Li Qing had ever seen. Its surface shimmered with silvery light, and runes of an ancient language were etched along its length.

"Take this," the figure said. "It is not much, but it will help you endure."

Li Qing hesitated for only a moment before reaching out and grasping the blade. The moment her fingers closed around the hilt, a surge of energy coursed through her, banishing the fatigue that had weighed her down.

The figure began to fade, its light growing dimmer. "Remember, Li Qing. The abyss thrives on despair. Do not let it claim your spirit."

As the figure disappeared, the darkness around her began to shift again. The creatures reemerged, their snarls echoing through the void. But this time, Li Qing stood tall, her newfound weapon glowing brightly in her hands.

Zhao Heng's laughter rang out once more, but it was tinged with annoyance. "So, you've found a crutch. No matter. It will not save you."

Li Qing raised the blade, her resolve burning brighter than ever. "I don't need saving," she said, her voice steady. "I'll carve my way out of this abyss—and I'll take you down with me."

The creatures lunged, and Li Qing met them head-on, her blade cutting through the darkness like a beacon of hope.

The battle was far from over, but for the first time since entering the abyss, she felt a glimmer of hope.