Chapter 17: Echoes of the Past

Jian stepped through the stone door, his body still aching from the battle with Kaltharos. The Abyssal Core shard he'd received pulsed softly in his palm, a subtle reminder of the power he had unlocked. The door slammed shut behind him, and the air in the new chamber felt different—thick with ancient energy, almost as if time itself stood still within these walls.

The space he had entered was cavernous, and the ceiling stretched out beyond his sight. The floor was uneven, lined with shattered remnants of stone and the debris of forgotten battles. The dim light from the chasm's remnants faded, replaced by a cold, unearthly glow that illuminated a series of massive stone pillars arranged in a large circle. At the center of the circle stood an altar, carved with symbols that echoed the Abyss' power.

Jian's eyes narrowed as his gaze swept over the area. The silence was unnerving, yet the weight of history seemed to hang in the air, pressing against his senses. Something told him this wasn't just another trial—it was something deeper.

[Nexus Update: New Area Detected] Name: Chamber of the Forgotten Danger Level: High Trial Type: Mind-Bending

Jian reached for his pendant instinctively, feeling the faint hum of its energy. The Pendant of Resonance seemed to react to the environment, its glow intensifying in response to the chamber's strange aura.

As he took a step forward, the air rippled before him, and the ground seemed to warp. A deep, rumbling voice echoed throughout the chamber, carrying with it the weight of untold eons.

"Only those who confront their past may proceed. What will you sacrifice, Challenger?"

Jian's breath hitched. He wasn't sure what to make of the voice. It was ancient and far-reaching, yet there was something oddly familiar about it. As if the words themselves were meant for him alone.

Before he could respond, an apparition appeared from the shadows, materializing out of the very stone. It was a man, tall and imposing, with eyes that gleamed with cold determination. His hair flowed like ink, and his armor bore a strange symbol that seemed to pulsate with dark power.

Jian's heart skipped a beat as recognition surged through him. The figure before him was a face he had not seen in years but one he would never forget: Zion Valen, his father.

"Father?" Jian whispered, the word escaping his lips before he could stop it. His voice was tinged with disbelief, but the figure before him remained unchanged.

Zion's eyes met his with an unreadable expression. "So, you've come," he said, his voice carrying a weight that made Jian's chest tighten. "You still carry the burden of the past, even after all this time."

Jian stepped back, his mind reeling. "This... this can't be real. You're dead. I—"

"I died long ago, yes," Zion interrupted, his voice soft yet firm. "But the Abyss holds many secrets. And sometimes, those secrets reach out to those who dare to challenge its depths. Your strength is commendable, Jian, but you have not faced the truth of your lineage."

Jian clenched his fists, anger and confusion surging through him. "What are you talking about? What does this have to do with me?"

"Everything," Zion replied, his gaze sharpening. "The Abyss is not just a test of power—it is a test of will. A test of one's soul. You seek to conquer it, to rise beyond its reach, but the truth is, you cannot escape your origins. Your bloodline is entwined with the Abyss in ways you cannot yet comprehend."

A sudden flash of memories surged within Jian's mind—fragments of long-forgotten moments, pieces of his childhood, his father's teachings, and the day his family had been destroyed. The Abyss had always been a part of him, a dark shadow that loomed over everything he had done. But now, it felt as though that shadow was no longer just an external threat. It was within him, tied to his very existence.

"You carry the curse of the Abyss, Jian," Zion continued. "It is within you, and it will always be. No matter how far you climb, no matter how many trials you overcome, the Abyss will never let you go."

Jian's chest tightened as the weight of his father's words hit him like a physical blow. "You lied to me," Jian spat, his voice bitter. "You said I was the hope. You said I could destroy the Abyss!"

Zion's expression softened, but there was no pity in his gaze. "I did not lie. You are capable of great things, Jian. But you must accept the truth—your path will never be easy. You are destined to walk the line between light and dark, and the Abyss will always find a way to test you."

The room seemed to shift again, the walls closing in, the shadows growing longer. The echo of the voice reverberated through the chamber once more.

"The price of passage is sacrifice. You must choose, Challenger. The Abyss will not relinquish its hold easily."

Jian's heart pounded in his chest. The vision of his father flickered, and the reality of the chamber pressed in on him. He had no idea what was happening, but something told him that the next trial was about to begin.

"You have to let go of the past to move forward," Zion's voice echoed, growing fainter. "Remember that."

Jian reached out instinctively, but the apparition faded before he could touch it. The room fell silent again, and the altar at the center of the chamber glowed brighter, the runes dancing across its surface.

Jian closed his eyes, breathing deeply. He knew what he had to do. His father's words had cut deeper than anything he had faced in the Abyss. The trial ahead was not just physical; it was psychological. To truly conquer the Abyss, he had to face not only the darkness of the world but also the darkness within himself.

He turned toward the altar, his steps determined. The Abyss was testing him—not just his strength, but his very soul.

[Nexus Update: Trial of the Soul Activated] Objective: Confront the Darkness Within. Warning: The trial may induce mental and emotional strain. Resist or succumb to your inner turmoil.

Jian's eyes sharpened. "Let's see what you've got."

The altar's glow intensified, and the shadows of the room seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heart. He had already overcome countless physical threats, but this... this was different. This was a battle he couldn't fight with weapons.

It was a battle for his very identity.

End of Chapter 17