Chapter 73: Beneath the Abyss

Silence.

The entire underground ruin seemed to be frozen in time, the air so heavy it was suffocating. Lin Han, Noya, and A Rong pressed tightly against the edge of the ancient well, their eyes fixed on the pitch-black abyss below, as if something forbidden lurked within.

Thud—Thud—

A deep, rhythmic vibration echoed from the depths of the well, like the slow and steady beat of a heart, accompanied by faint currents of air rising from below. The densely packed inscriptions on the well's walls flickered with a dim, eerie glow, revealing cryptic symbols that pulsed with an unnatural light.

A Rong swallowed hard, his voice dry, "No way… is something actually sealed down there?"

Noya's face was pale, her lips trembling. "This well… it's not just a seal."

"It's not a seal." Lin Han's voice was low, his gaze locked onto the ancient inscriptions. He reached out, brushing his fingers over one of the carved symbols. The stone felt oddly warm, as if it still carried traces of life.

"It's more like… a prison."

Boom!

A sudden, earth-shaking rumble shattered the stillness. It was as if something colossal was stirring beneath the well. The entire ruin trembled. From the darkness below, a hoarse and guttural whisper emerged, layered with overlapping voices, forming an incomprehensible chant.

Sssssss…

The sound was akin to the hissing of a serpent, yet interwoven with something more sinister—an ancient language not meant for human ears. It bypassed the senses and drilled directly into the mind, bringing an overwhelming feeling of being consumed.

Noya clutched her ears, her expression pained. "No… this voice…"

A Rong's pupils constricted. His fingers trembled, struggling to resist the unseen pressure assaulting his consciousness.

"We need to leave," Lin Han said urgently. Without hesitation, he grabbed Noya's wrist and yanked A Rong forward, sprinting toward the exit of the ruins.

But—

The moment they moved, a force erupted from the well!

The very space around them twisted as an immense suction force pulled at them, dragging them back toward the abyss. The inscriptions on the walls pulsed wildly, and the ground beneath them cracked open, as if the entire underground world was collapsing into the well!

Lin Han felt his steps falter. Something was pulling them in!

"Hold onto something!" he shouted.

Noya desperately grasped the edge of a stone pillar, her fingers digging into the ancient grooves. A Rong clung to a protruding statue, his face drenched in sweat.

Hiss—Hiss—Hiss—

The whispering grew clearer, forming an eerie, rhythmic chant. Lin Han's mind was assaulted by fragmented visions—an altar shrouded in darkness, a massive shadow writhing upon it, countless figures bowing in worship, their mouths moving in insane murmurs…

"Don't listen! Block it out!" Lin Han bit down on his tongue, the sharp pain grounding his mind in reality.

Noya's face was ghostly white, her gaze distant. Her fingers began to slip, her body unconsciously leaning toward the well as if drawn by an invisible force.

"No!" Lin Han's pupils shrank. He lunged forward, seizing her wrist in an iron grip.

"Wake up!"

His voice cut through the chaos like a blade. Noya's body jolted, a flicker of clarity returning to her eyes. She gasped, her voice trembling, "I… I saw…"

"Don't say it! We have to move!" Lin Han interrupted sharply, turning back toward the well.

The whispers had grown louder.

And in the abyss, something was rising.

A colossal, serpentine figure emerged from the darkness.

But it was no ordinary serpent. Its body was stitched together from countless fractured bones, its jet-black scales gleaming with a deathly sheen. And at the center of its head—

A grotesque human face.

The face was not truly human, but an amalgamation of ancient, twisted bloodlines. Its hollow, soulless eyes locked onto them. Slowly, its lips curled into a chilling smile.

"You… have finally arrived…"

The voice didn't travel through the air—it detonated directly in their minds.

Lin Han's heart clenched. The sheer force of that voice caused a momentary distortion in his perception.

"RUN!!"

Before they could react, the shadow lunged from the well, its enormous body twisting through the collapsing ruins.

Lin Han pulled Noya and A Rong with all his strength, sprinting toward the exit.

Boom!

Just as they leaped past the altar, the entire underground ruin crumbled. The walls around the well shattered, sending a cascade of debris crashing down.

The monstrous entity screeched, a sound filled with rage and hunger. Dark tendrils surged outward like a tidal wave—but just as it was about to break free, the collapsing stone blocked its path, sealing it within once more.

Bang!

Lin Han hit the ground hard, his back slamming against the icy stone steps. His ears rang. His hands pressed against the cold surface as he slowly lifted his gaze—

The altar was gone. The well was buried beneath layers of fallen stone. The darkness had vanished, as if everything had been sealed away once more.

Silence returned.

A Rong panted heavily, his face pale. He gritted his teeth. "What the hell… was that thing?"

Lin Han didn't answer. His eyes remained fixed on the collapsed ruin, his expression dark.

He knew—

That thing… wasn't truly sealed.

It had awakened.