Chapter 3: Descent into the Abyss
Kael stepped through the newly opened gate, his breath steady despite the exhaustion weighing on his body. The fight with the Gatekeeper had drained him, but something new now coursed through his veins—raw understanding. He could feel it, an invisible force flowing around him, pulsing within his body.
[Skill Gained: Mana Manipulation – Control and shape mana to influence the world.]
Kael clenched his fists. This wasn't just some passive ability—he could feel the energy. It was like having an extra limb, an unseen force at his command.
The passage before him stretched into darkness, the air thick with damp cold. Faint torches flickered along the stone walls, casting eerie shadows. The architecture was different from the previous chambers—older, worn down by time. Strange markings lined the walls, twisted symbols that made his head ache when he looked at them too long.
Each step echoed through the corridor, his boots pressing against the damp stone. The deeper he went, the more oppressive the air became, as if something was watching him.
Then, the system spoke again.
[Warning: Entering the Abyssal Zone. Mana density increased. Unknown entities detected.]
Kael's steps slowed. "Abyssal Zone?"
He had no time to ponder.
A whisper slithered through the air, distant at first. Then another, layered over it, then dozens. It was as if countless voices were speaking at once, their words unintelligible.
His hand tightened around the broken sword he had salvaged from the Gatekeeper's remains. He had no idea if it was still durable, but it was better than nothing.
The corridor widened into a massive underground cavern, its walls stretching so far into the shadows that Kael couldn't see the end. Towering stone pillars jutted from the ground like skeletal remains, carved with glowing red runes. A narrow stone bridge stretched across the abyss, leading to another platform where a massive stone door stood, locked with thick iron chains.
Kael's stomach twisted. Something wasn't right.
His Arcane Insight skill activated instinctively.
The air around him shifted. His vision adjusted, revealing pulses of invisible energy that swirled across the cavern like mist. Dark tendrils of mana leaked from the walls, seeping into the bridge like veins.
Then, he saw them.
Shadows—not cast by light, but living things.
They slithered across the stone, rising from the bridge in twisted, shifting forms. Limbs stretched unnaturally, faces formed and melted away, their eyeless voids locked onto him.
The whispers grew louder.
[Entity Detected: Abyssal Wraiths.]
Kael's heartbeat pounded.
The shadows surged forward.
With no time to think, Kael moved.
The first Wraith lunged, its formless body twisting as a clawed hand swiped at him. Kael ducked, the cold air slicing against his cheek like a blade. He slashed with his broken sword, but the weapon passed through the creature with little resistance.
It wasn't physical.
Another wraith lunged from the side. Kael barely dodged in time, twisting his body to avoid the attack. His breathing was sharp, his mind racing. His weapon was useless.
Think! Use what you've learned!
He focused, tapping into the new skill he had just received.
[Mana Manipulation Activated.]
For the first time, Kael could feel the flow of mana in his own body—a burning river beneath his skin. He reached for it, shaping it, letting it flow into his hands. A faint blue light flickered around his fingers.
The Wraiths hesitated.
Kael smirked. They were made of mana. And now… he could touch them.
The next shadow leaped. Kael swung his fist directly into its core.
A burst of blue energy erupted from his strike. The Wraith shrieked, its body unraveling like smoke caught in a storm. The other Wraiths flinched, their whispers turning into distorted howls.
They were vulnerable.
Kael charged forward.
The Wraiths swarmed, but this time, he was ready. He weaved through their attacks, striking with pulses of raw mana. Each blow sent shockwaves through their forms, dissolving them into nothingness.
One by one, they vanished.
Then, silence.
Kael exhaled, his body trembling. His fists still crackled with residual energy, his newfound power exhilarating yet exhausting. His clothes were soaked in sweat, his muscles sore from the battle.
[Abyssal Wraiths Defeated.]
[Skill Progression: Mana Manipulation (Beginner → Novice).]
Kael looked at his hands, still buzzing with mana. He was getting stronger.
But there was no time to celebrate. The massive door ahead remained shut, bound by thick iron chains covered in glowing red glyphs. The inscriptions pulsed with a sickly light, ancient and ominous.
[Objective: Unseal the Abyssal Gate.]
Kael stepped closer, his Arcane Insight still active. He studied the symbols carefully. They weren't just locks—they were warnings. Whatever was behind this door, it had been sealed away deliberately.
A shiver crawled down his spine.
Still, there was only one way forward.
Kael reached out, placing his hand on the glyph-covered chains. The moment his fingers touched the cold iron, a shock ran through his body—not pain, but knowledge.
Memories that weren't his own.
Visions of an ancient battle, of gods and demons clashing in a war that shattered the world. A being of pure darkness, its form shifting, devouring everything in its path.
A name echoed in his mind, whispered by a thousand voices.
[…Nyx'thar, the Abyssal Sovereign.]
Kael's breath caught. What the hell did I just touch?
The glyphs flared brightly, reacting to his mana. The chains rattled, loosening slightly, as if recognizing him.
[Abyssal Seal Disrupted. Proceed with caution.]
Kael swallowed. Whatever was behind this door… wasn't meant to be freed.
But he had no choice.
He had to go deeper.
He pushed harder, pouring his mana into the seal. The glyphs flickered wildly before shattering like glass.
The chains snapped.
A deep rumble shook the cavern as the massive stone doors began to open.
Beyond them was only darkness.
And something within it… was waiting.
Kael took a final breath and stepped forward.
End of Chapter 3