Chapter 20: The Abyss Beckons
The wind howled through the jagged peaks as Ishar, Lin Yao, and Fei descended from the Crimson Citadel. Though their victory over Sovereign Valkar was a triumph, the shadow of what lay ahead loomed heavily over them. The Shard of Dominion pulsed faintly in Ishar's grasp, its energy radiating a cold, unrelenting power that seemed to seep into the very air around them.
Lin Yao walked in silence, her staff glowing faintly as she glanced at Ishar. "You're getting stronger, but this isn't sustainable. These fights are pushing us to the edge."
Fei nodded in agreement, his expression weary but determined. "She's right, Master. That… thing in the citadel was unlike anything we've faced before. What if the next Sovereign is even stronger?"
Ishar stopped and turned to face them, his pale eyes as cold as the mountain wind. "Then we adapt. Power demands sacrifice. If you can't keep up, you're free to leave."
Lin Yao frowned, her grip tightening on her staff. "We're not saying we'll quit. We're just saying that even you have limits, Ishar. Don't let this throne consume you."
Ishar said nothing, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. The Shard pulsed again, a silent reminder of the enemies yet to come.
The Abyssal Rift
The group continued their journey eastward, the landscape growing harsher with every step. The jagged cliffs gave way to barren, rocky plains, where the air was thick with an unnatural energy. The ground beneath their feet seemed to hum, resonating with the same dark power as the Shard.
Eventually, they reached a massive chasm that stretched endlessly in both directions. The Abyssal Rift. The dark void below seemed to ripple like liquid, its surface reflecting faint, distorted images of the group as they peered over the edge.
Fei took a cautious step back, his face pale. "What is this place?"
"The Abyssal Rift," Lin Yao said, her voice low. "A barrier between realms. It's said that those who fall into it are lost forever."
Ishar's eyes narrowed as he studied the chasm. "The throne's power lies beyond this rift. We'll cross it."
Lin Yao raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you plan to do that? Fly?"
The system's voice echoed in Ishar's mind.
Abyssal Rift Detected. Pathway Available Through Activation of the Shard of Dominion. Warning: Extreme Risk of Hostile Entities.
"The Shard will guide us," Ishar said. "Prepare yourselves. This won't be easy."
He raised the Shard, its crimson glow intensifying as he channeled its power. The ground trembled, and a bridge of shadows began to form, stretching across the rift. The structure pulsed with dark energy, its surface unstable but solid enough to support them.
"You've got to be kidding me," Lin Yao muttered, staring at the shadowy bridge. "This thing looks like it could collapse any second."
"Then don't fall," Ishar said, stepping onto the bridge without hesitation. His skeletal warriors followed, their iron weapons clanking softly against the shadowy surface.
Lin Yao and Fei exchanged a glance before following, their movements cautious as the bridge shifted beneath their weight.
The Rift's Guardians
Halfway across the bridge, the air grew colder, and the void below began to ripple violently. From the depths rose shadowy forms, their glowing eyes piercing through the darkness. The creatures were humanoid but twisted, their bodies shifting and writhing as if they were made of liquid shadow.
The system's voice echoed again.
Hostile Entities Detected: Abyssal Wraiths. High Agility. Weakness: Disruption of Core Stability.
The first Wraith lunged at the group, its clawed hands reaching for Ishar. He raised his hand, summoning Dark Grasp to intercept, but the Wraith dissolved into mist and reformed behind him, slashing at his back. The skeletal warriors moved to protect him, their weapons clashing with the Wraiths as more emerged from the void.
"These things are fast!" Lin Yao shouted, spinning her staff to release a burst of energy. The light struck one of the Wraiths, causing it to screech and dissolve into the void.
Fei darted forward, his dagger flashing as he targeted the glowing core within one Wraith's chest. His strike landed true, and the creature let out a piercing wail before collapsing into mist.
"Focus on their cores!" Ishar commanded, summoning Shadowforge Blade. He struck down one Wraith with a precise slash, its form disintegrating under the force of his attack.
The Wraiths continued to swarm, their movements erratic and unpredictable. One lunged at Lin Yao, but she raised her staff just in time, a shield of energy deflecting the attack. Another closed in on Fei, but he sidestepped and drove his dagger into its core, his movements growing more confident with each strike.
Ishar unleashed Obsidian Dominion, the shadows around him coiling into a massive vortex that engulfed several Wraiths at once. Their screeches echoed through the void as they were consumed by the swirling darkness.
The Other Side
After what felt like an eternity, the last of the Wraiths was defeated, their forms dissolving into the void below. The bridge stabilized, and the group hurried across, the shadowy structure fading behind them as they reached solid ground.
The landscape beyond the rift was unlike anything they had seen before. The sky was a swirling mass of crimson and black, and the ground was covered in jagged, obsidian-like shards that pulsed faintly with dark energy. In the distance, a massive structure rose from the ground—a towering citadel that seemed to hum with power.
"That's it," Ishar said, his voice steady. "The throne's core lies there."
Lin Yao glanced at him, her expression wary. "And what happens when you claim it? What happens to you?"
Ishar didn't answer. He began walking toward the citadel, his skeletal warriors following in silent formation. Lin Yao and Fei exchanged a glance before falling in step behind him, their resolve hardening as the next trial awaited.
As they approached the towering structure, the shadows seemed to ripple in anticipation, and a faint, malevolent laughter echoed through the air. The Abyss had tested them, but the true challenge was just beginning.