the trials of the abyss

The moment Ochi touched the altar, the world around him seemed to dissolve. His body trembled, caught in an unseen current that pulled him deeper into the Abyss. The visions came fast, like waves crashing against his consciousness, each one blurring the lines between reality and the unknown.

He saw ancient cities, once grand, now reduced to ruins. Titans of darkness standing tall against armies of light. Figures—some familiar, others unrecognizable—fighting in battles that spanned centuries. Souls lost to the Abyss, drifting in endless voids. He saw himself too—his future self, standing in the heart of the Void, a king of nothing.

But what struck him most was the overwhelming feeling of power—the Abyss was immense, unyielding. It wasn't something that could be tamed easily. It wasn't just darkness, but an entire force that twisted and reshaped the very fabric of reality. It was life and death, destruction and creation, all at once.

The visions suddenly stopped. Ochi was standing in an infinite void, floating weightlessly in a space that defied all logic. The ground beneath his feet was gone, replaced by an endless ocean of swirling shadows and flickering lights. He was alone, but not truly alone—he could feel something watching him, lurking in the darkness.

A voice—low and deep, echoing from all directions—spoke.

"You have chosen the path of the Abyss."

Ochi's heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to stand tall. "I don't have a choice."

The voice chuckled, a sound that seemed to rattle his very soul. "Ah, yes. The path of necessity. How fitting. But know this, Ochi Nakagura. The Abyss does not bend to those who are weak. It devours those who seek to control it without understanding its true nature."

Ochi clenched his fists, determination flaring in his chest. "I've lost everything. Everyone. My family… I will do whatever it takes to bring them back. If I have to control you, then I will."

The voice was silent for a moment, and then it responded, its tone more somber. "Then you must prove yourself worthy. The Abyss will not grant its power freely. You must pass the Trials. Only then will you have the right to command it."

The air around Ochi began to distort, like the world was crumbling at the edges. Suddenly, the shadows coalesced into something solid—an immense creature, towering over him. Its eyes burned with an unnatural light, and its body was made of a swirling mass of darkness, with tendrils that slithered like serpents.

It was the first trial. The Trial of Strength.

"Defeat it," the voice commanded. "Prove you are strong enough to claim the Abyss as your own."

Ochi didn't hesitate. He drew his sword, feeling the weight of it in his hand, the connection to his own power deepening as the Abyss responded to him. His senses sharpened, his body ready for the battle ahead. The creature charged, its tendrils lashing out, and Ochi was forced to dodge, his speed amplified by the power now coursing through his veins.

He struck, his sword slicing through one of the tendrils, but it immediately regenerated, and the creature roared in fury. He gritted his teeth. This was no ordinary foe. It was a manifestation of the Abyss itself—relentless, unyielding. But Ochi knew this was his trial. His chance to prove he could withstand its power.

His movements became a blur as he fought back, striking with precision, his blade cutting through the darkness. But the more he fought, the stronger the creature seemed to grow. The Abyss was testing him—pushing him to his limits.

And then, it happened. The creature's body expanded, and Ochi felt the ground beneath him tremble. The air grew heavy, suffocating. It wasn't just a battle of strength anymore—it was a battle of will. The Abyss was trying to consume him, drag him into its depths.

But Ochi refused to back down.

"I won't be consumed!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the void.

The Abyss roared in response, its dark energy surging forward like a tidal wave. Ochi planted his feet, his sword crackling with energy as he held it steady. The power surged through him, and he met the creature head-on, unleashing a torrent of strikes with everything he had.

The clash of their forces sent shockwaves through the void, rattling the very fabric of reality. Ochi's sword cleaved through the creature's form, and with one final strike, he severed its core. The creature let out a final, horrific scream before disintegrating into the shadows, its form fading into nothingness.

For a moment, everything was silent. The void around Ochi seemed to hold its breath.

And then, the voice spoke again, its tone acknowledging his victory. "You have passed the Trial of Strength."

Ochi's body was covered in sweat, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He stood tall, his sword still in hand, but his heart was pounding—not from the fight, but from the realization of what lay ahead. This was only the first trial. There would be more. The Abyss would not make it easy for him.

But he had already made his choice.

"I'll fight until the end," he said, his voice steady, his resolve solidified. "I will master the Abyss. And I will bring them back."

The shadows around him shifted, and the next trial began to take form. Ochi steeled himself, ready to face whatever came next. He had already walked through the darkest depths. Now, he would walk through them with the Abyss itself by his side.