Chapter 46: A Glimpse of the Abyss

Chapter 46: A Glimpse of the Abyss

Kazuki's mind remained a tangled web of darkness and whispers. Even as Elara held him close, the chilling laughter of the Grizzly echoed, refusing to fade. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see it — those crimson eyes, burning through the darkness.

"Kazuki..." Elara's soft voice pulled him back. She pulled away slightly, her hands cupping his face. "Talk to me. What did you see?"

Kazuki swallowed, his throat dry. "It's... it's the Grizzly. It's still inside me. And it's getting stronger."

Elara's brow furrowed, worry flashing in her eyes. "But you resisted it. You didn't give in. That's a good sign, right?"

Kazuki's gaze fell, his jaw clenched. "But for how long?"

A heavy silence fell over them, broken only by the rustling of the leaves. Tara appeared then, her arms crossed, eyes narrowed.

"We need to move. The scent of blood is going to attract more predators."

Elara nodded, helping Kazuki to his feet. He winced as a wave of dizziness hit him, his legs wobbling beneath him. Tara stepped forward, draping one of Kazuki's arms over her shoulder to steady him.

"I don't like this," Tara muttered under her breath. "You're not in any condition to fight, Kazuki."

"I know," Kazuki said through gritted teeth. "But I can't just stop now. If I don't learn to control this..."

"We'll figure it out," Elara said firmly. "But not here. Let's find a safe place to rest first."

They found a small clearing near a bubbling stream. Tara set up a makeshift camp, while Elara knelt by the stream, wetting a cloth and bringing it back to Kazuki.

"Here," she said gently, pressing the cool cloth to his forehead. "This should help."

Kazuki leaned back against a tree, closing his eyes. The coolness of the cloth soothed his feverish skin, but the darkness in his mind still lingered.

[System Alert: Mental Stabilization Protocol activated.]

[Warning: Corruption rate stabilizing at 15%. Continued exposure to Grizzly's influence may result in permanent mental degradation.]

Kazuki flinched, his eyes snapping open. "Permanent... mental degradation?"

Elara and Tara exchanged worried glances. "What does that mean?" Elara asked.

Kazuki shook his head, forcing a bitter laugh. "It means... if I keep using this power, I might lose myself completely."

Night fell quickly, and the trio sat around the fire. Tara sharpened her blade, her eyes never leaving Kazuki.

"So, what's the plan?" she asked. "You keep using that power and risk going crazy, or we find another way?"

Kazuki's jaw clenched. "There is no other way. This power is the only thing that kept us alive against the Bloodfangs. Without it, I'm nothing."

"You're not nothing," Elara said firmly. "You're Kazuki. You're strong without that power."

Kazuki's eyes darkened. "Strong? I couldn't even protect you without it. If the Grizzly takes over, at least you'll be safe."

Tara threw her blade down, the metal striking the ground with a loud clang. "Damn it, Kazuki! Stop talking like that! You're not a monster. You're still you."

Kazuki's eyes flickered, the crimson light flashing for just a moment before fading. He squeezed his eyes shut, breathing heavily.

"I need to rest," he muttered, pushing himself to his feet. "Wake me up if anything happens."

He walked away from the camp, finding a spot under a large tree. As he sank to the ground, the Grizzly's laughter echoed in his mind once more.

"You can't ignore me forever, Kazuki. You need me."

Kazuki clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. "No. I don't need you."

"Oh, but you do," the Grizzly's voice purred, a dark, seductive whisper. "And the more you deny it, the stronger I get."

Kazuki's breaths came in harsh pants, his vision blurring. The crimson light flared behind his eyelids, and in the darkness, the Grizzly's eyes gleamed.

"Accept me, Kazuki," it whispered. "Accept me... and together, we'll become unstoppable."

Kazuki trembled, his body drenched in cold sweat as the Grizzly's presence grew stronger. And deep down, in the darkest corners of his mind, a part of him began to wonder — what if the Grizzly was right?