Chapter 21: The Abyssal Pact

The Abyssal Entity recoiled, its form distorting like a mirage, tendrils of darkness curling and writhing as if in agony. It had felt pain.

And that, more than anything, was unnatural.

Aldric stood before it, his breathing steady, his heartbeat eerily slow. His brothers and Orin watched from a distance, their expressions a mix of caution and awe.

The battlefield was silent.

For a moment, it seemed like time itself had frozen.

Then—

The entity stopped moving.

Its colossal form began to collapse inward, spiraling into itself as if being devoured by some unseen force. The ground beneath it trembled, ancient sigils igniting in dark red flames.

And then… it spoke.

"You... have heard the whispers."

"You... have felt the abyss."

"You... are worthy."

Aldric's eyes narrowed.

This thing—whatever it was—was not merely a beast. It was something ancient, sentient, and intelligent beyond comprehension.

"You stand at the precipice, Magus-Knight."

"Do you embrace the abyss... or turn away?"

The Choice of Ascension

Leonidas muttered under his breath. "It's trying to form a pact."

Tiberius' grip on his staff tightened. "Aldric is not ready for this."

Orin was barely keeping himself from bolting. "What the hell is it saying? What does it mean by 'embrace'?"

Valerius, however, remained still.

His gaze was fixed on Aldric, analyzing every movement, every reaction.

And then—he saw it.

Aldric wasn't afraid.

He wasn't even hesitating.

He was… listening.

The Abyss Speaks

"In every era, there are those who hear my call."

"They rise beyond mortal flesh, beyond the limits of magic and steel."

"They become something greater."

"Abyssal Magi. Abyssal Knights. Those who stand between the known and the unknown."

"You, Aldric Darius, have been chosen."

"Will you accept?"

The words echoed in his soul.

His instincts screamed yes—but his training, his logic, his brothers' watchful eyes urged caution.

Valerius, sensing his hesitation, finally spoke through their mental link.

"Do not rush. Listen, but do not submit blindly."

Aldric exhaled slowly.

Then, he raised his head and answered.

The Pact is Formed

"I do not reject the abyss," Aldric said, his voice steady. "But I will not be a slave to it, either."

A silence fell over the battlefield.

Then—the entity laughed.

A sound like cracking ice, like whispers in a forgotten tomb.

"Good... Good...!"

"Then you shall take your first step."

The sigils beneath Aldric's feet blazed brighter.

A rush of energy flooded his body—but unlike before, it did not burn.

It merged.

The Abyssal Entity began to dissolve, its massive form breaking apart into streams of dark energy. These spirals of power surged into Aldric, fusing with his very essence.

His veins darkened. His aura shifted.

Something new was being born.

And for the first time in centuries, the Abyss had a successor.