Chapter 12: Echoes of the Abyss

Droplets of water shimmered faintly in the darkness, their ripples spreading gently across the still air. Ye Huang and Chitong held their breath, eyes fixed on the mesmerizing sight before them. The resonating droplets rose slowly, drawn to each other by an unseen force, as if forming a mysterious pattern in the void.

Ye Huang raised a hand cautiously, allowing his Night Phantom Power to brush against one of the droplets. The moment he made contact, a strange pull surged through his consciousness. An invisible force yanked at his mind, and in an instant, a vast, deep-blue world unfurled within him.

Chitong noticed the shift in Ye Huang's expression and asked in a low voice, "What do you see?"

Ye Huang furrowed his brows, his eyes glinting with uncertainty. "These droplets… they're not just water. They seem to be ancient vessels of memory… they're trying to communicate something to me."

Closing his eyes, he allowed his Night Phantom Power to resonate further. A fragmented vision suddenly flooded his mind—

Countless shadowy figures knelt before a glowing blue lake, their voices murmuring in hushed, reverent tones. It was a ritual, an ancient ceremony long lost to time. At the heart of the lake stood a towering stone tablet, its surface etched with cryptic demon-script, glowing faintly in the eerie light.

"…Seal… Fracture… Devourer of the Void…"

Ye Huang's eyes snapped open, his pulse quickening.

Chitong's gaze sharpened. "What did you see?"

"This place… it's sealing something. And the seal—" Ye Huang's voice dropped, laced with tension. "It's starting to break."

As soon as the words left his lips, the surrounding droplets quivered violently. Their glow dimmed, the ground beneath them trembled, as if the very space around them was being disturbed.

"Damn it, we triggered some kind of restriction," Chitong cursed, gripping his weapon tightly as his eyes darted around, scanning for threats.

Before Ye Huang could probe further, a calm, chilling voice echoed from the shadows ahead.

"Well, it seems you've stumbled upon secrets you were never meant to uncover."

Ye Huang and Chitong spun around. Standing just a short distance away was Liuli, her poised fingers resting lightly on a folding fan that pulsed with a soft, ethereal blue glow. A knowing smile played on her lips, her eyes dark and unreadable, as though she held the key to everything that lay hidden in the depths of this place.

Chitong tensed. "You already knew why we came here?"

Liuli chuckled softly. "Of course. Otherwise, why would I be here?"

Ye Huang studied her closely, his gaze steady. "How much do you know about this place?"

Liuli flicked open her fan, the gentle motion carrying an air of elegance as she murmured, "Far more than you think."

Her gaze drifted to the trembling droplets, her expression darkening ever so slightly. "This is no ordinary seal. What you're witnessing is the Echo of the Abyss—an ancient resonance of power. If the seal shatters completely, the demon realm will face an unimaginable catastrophe."

Ye Huang's expression grew grim. "Do you know how to stop it?"

Liuli's smile remained, but there was an enigmatic glint in her eyes. "Perhaps. But the real question is… do you truly have the right to interfere?"

A tense silence filled the air as the invisible weight of her words settled over them.

Ye Huang's gaze didn't waver. His voice was calm, yet carried an edge of quiet defiance. "If not us, then who?"

Liuli closed her fan with a soft snap. "It's not about permission. It's about whether you can bear the consequences."

Chitong scoffed. "Enough riddles. What exactly is sealed here?"

For the first time, Liuli hesitated. Then, with a soft sigh, she answered, "Beneath this seal slumbers the 'Echo of the Abyss'—an ancient curse capable of devouring demon energy and twisting consciousness itself. Long ago, it nearly reshaped the entire demon realm in chaos, until countless powerful beings banded together to lock it away."

Ye Huang glanced at the suspended droplets. They were now swirling faintly, as if whispering to something unseen.

"If the seal breaks…"

Liuli cut him off, her voice grave. "It will spread. Anything it touches will be corrupted." Her gaze darkened. "Once tainted, a demon's energy will warp. Their mind will be lost. They will become nothing more than mindless monsters."

Chitong's face stiffened. "You mean… the Abyss Demons?"

Liuli nodded. "Yes. The terrifying creatures of legend—beasts that cannot be reasoned with, that exist only to destroy—every single one of them was once a victim of the Echo of the Abyss."

A heavy silence followed.

Ye Huang let his thoughts sink in before raising his hand again. His Night Phantom Power reached out, seeking deeper truths hidden within the droplets. But the moment his energy touched them, a frigid, suffocating presence wrapped around his consciousness.

"…Help… us…"

Ye Huang's breath hitched. The voice was hoarse, layered with countless echoes of despair. He tried to see its source, but in the depths of his mind, he saw only a pair of pitch-black eyes, staring straight into his soul.

"Ye Huang!" Chitong's voice yanked him back to reality.

Ye Huang gasped, cold sweat trailing down his forehead.

Liuli observed him intently, a flicker of something unreadable in her gaze. "So, you've felt its presence."

Taking a steadying breath, Ye Huang clenched his fists. "If we want to prevent the seal from breaking, what must we do?"

Liuli lifted her fan and gestured toward the center of the suspended droplets. Ancient demon-script glowed faintly, forming a complex web of symbols. "Find the core of the seal. Before the Echo of the Abyss fully awakens, we must reinforce it."

Chitong frowned. "Sounds simple, but if the seal is already unraveling, do we even have the power to suppress it?"

Liuli exhaled slowly. "That depends… on your strength."

Ye Huang's gaze hardened as he watched the shifting demon-script. The delicate glow reflected in his determined eyes.

"If we lack the strength," he said, voice unwavering, "then we'll just have to become stronger."

A tense stillness filled the space, broken only by the faint flickering of light between the droplets.

Ye Huang met Liuli's gaze. "If we have no right to be here, then why did you appear before us?"

Liuli's lips curved into a faint smile. She folded her fan, her expression unreadable. "Because… the seal's unraveling can no longer be ignored."

At that moment, a deep rumbling resonated through the cavernous space. From within the lake's depths, a low, ominous hum rose, as if something ancient was stirring from its slumber. The droplets trembled violently, their glow fluctuating wildly.

"Look!" Chitong pointed sharply ahead.

The towering stone tablet at the heart of the lake was now cracking apart, its demon-script flickering like a dying flame.

Liuli's expression grew solemn. "The seal's core is destabilizing. We must act now."

Ye Huang tightened his grip, his eyes filled with resolve. "Tell me what needs to be done."