The abyss calls

The room was suffused with an eerie stillness, broken only by the faint hum of the city beyond. Ochi stood at the edge of the table, the weight of Karin's words pressing against him like a thousand-ton burden. He had always known the Abyss was dangerous, but he never anticipated it would demand so much from him—his family, his sanity, even his soul. Now, every choice felt like a gamble, each step forward a deeper dive into darkness.

"Where do we begin?" Ochi asked, his voice quiet but firm, an edge of impatience creeping in. His fingers brushed over the maps and symbols on the table. Some locations shimmered, as though they were shifting in real-time, responding to his touch, drawing him deeper into their mystery.

Karin's cold eyes met his. "We begin with the Temple of Evernight. It lies beneath this city, hidden in plain sight. It's one of the last remaining sanctuaries connected to the Abyss, and it holds the key to understanding its true power." Her voice carried the weight of years of searching, of failed attempts to decipher what the Abyss had taken from her.

Ochi's gaze didn't leave the map, his eyes narrowing at the spot she had marked. "Why is it so important?"

She stepped closer, her boots making soft echoes against the stone floor. "The Temple houses the original seal of the Abyssal Lords—the first beings to ever harness this power. If we can breach its gates, we may find the knowledge to control the Abyss... or at least understand how to wield it without losing ourselves to it."

The words struck Ochi like a thunderclap. Control. Wield. The power that had consumed him for so long could be harnessed, used to bring back his family—but only if he could survive whatever the Temple threw at him.

He clenched his fists, determination hardening his resolve. "What's stopping us from going now?"

Karin's lips twisted into a thin smile. "It's not that simple. The Temple is guarded. The Abyss has its own protectors—beasts, spirits, and worse—creatures bound by ancient rituals to keep the knowledge contained. Those who attempt to enter are often never seen again. The price for seeking that knowledge is steep."

A chill crawled up Ochi's spine. He had faced countless horrors in his quest for power, but this—this was different. The Temple wasn't just a place; it was a force in itself, a living embodiment of the Abyss, drawing the weak to their demise.

The silence in the room grew oppressive as Ochi processed her words. "And you think I can survive this?"

Karin's gaze softened, a hint of respect flickering in her eyes. "You may be the only one who can. But it won't be easy. You're not just fighting to survive the Temple, Ochi. You're fighting against the very essence of the Abyss itself. And you must be ready for what lies ahead."

Ochi exhaled sharply, the weight of her words settling on his chest like a boulder. He wasn't just a survivor. He wasn't just chasing power. He was about to face something far beyond anything he had prepared for. But he had no choice. His family was out there, trapped in the very chaos he sought to control.

"And how do we get there?" Ochi asked, his voice steady, though the fire in his chest was burning brighter than ever.

Karin stepped back, motioning to the silent figure beside her. The man, Taro, who had been watching from the shadows, now stepped forward. His presence was imposing, his eyes unreadable. He said nothing but moved to a corner, pulling out an old map, unmarked but for a single symbol. With a flick of his hand, the map unfurled, revealing a path leading deeper into the city.

"This is our route," Taro said, his voice a gravelly monotone. "It won't be easy, and it won't be fast. We'll need to move quickly, avoid detection, and stay ahead of those who are already looking for the Temple."

Ochi studied the map, his mind already racing ahead, planning the steps. "Who else is looking for it?"

Karin's expression darkened, and she exchanged a brief glance with Taro. "Others who seek the Abyssal power... people who don't care about the cost. People who would sacrifice anything, anyone, to gain its strength." Her voice faltered slightly, revealing the weight of the enemies they were up against. "And they will stop at nothing to claim it."

Ochi's pulse quickened. He could sense the danger in her words, the gravity of what they were facing. But there was no turning back now. He would have to face this head-on if he was going to bring his family back.

"How do we stop them?" Ochi asked, his eyes burning with purpose.

Taro looked up at him, his expression cold and unreadable. "You don't stop them. Not by fighting head-on. You survive. You keep moving. The Abyss will reveal itself to you in time, but not if you're dead."

The silence in the room thickened. It wasn't a comforting statement. It was a warning.

Karin turned back to the table, tracing a line across the map with her finger. "The Temple of Evernight is hidden beneath layers of both physical and spiritual protection. We need to be swift, strategic. If we're caught by the others, we might not get another chance. But if we can breach its gates, we might find the answers we need... and the power to change everything."

Ochi felt the burning desire to act surge through him. He wasn't doing this just for the power. He wasn't seeking control for the sake of control. It was for his family. It was to bring them back. To undo the tragedy that had been forced upon him. He was ready.

"I'll do whatever it takes," Ochi said firmly. "I'll get to the Temple. No matter the cost."

Karin nodded, a flicker of approval in her eyes, but there was no joy in it—only the understanding that the path ahead would demand sacrifices. She glanced at Taro, who stood by, his arms crossed, his gaze sharp.

"We leave now," she said, her tone brokering no argument. "We need to move quickly. The longer we wait, the more dangerous it becomes."

Taro didn't say anything, merely motioning for Ochi to follow him. As the three of them stepped into the dark hallway, the weight of what lay ahead hung heavily in the air. Every step Ochi took felt like it brought him closer to something he couldn't fully understand yet—a power, an abyss that had the potential to either remake him or destroy everything he had left.

The door closed behind them with a soft click, sealing them into the cold, empty night of the city. Ochi's resolve hardened. Whatever lay ahead—whatever cost the Abyss demanded—he would pay it. For his family. For the chance to make things right.

And so, with the dark road ahead and the looming Temple beneath the city, Ochi Nakagura, the Dead Man, took his first step into the unknown, prepared to face whatever horrors awaited him.