The trio pressed onward, their resolve strengthened by Meera’s newfound connection to the Sanctum. The corridors began to shift, rearranging themselves as if responding to the energy of the crystal in Meera’s grasp. The glowing glyphs that had previously flickered erratically now burned steady and bright, illuminating their path.

Arin couldn’t take his eyes off the crystal. It pulsed in rhythm with Meera’s heartbeat, a constant reminder of the fragile balance between her and the Abyss. He finally broke the silence.

“What did you see in there?” he asked, his voice soft.

Meera’s steps slowed as she considered her response. “The Sanctum showed me everything—the origin of the Abyss, the purpose of the shards, and… what I’ve become.”

Kaelen glanced back, his brows furrowed. “And? Are you going to keep us in the dark, or are you ready to share?”

Meera stopped, turning to face them both. Her voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed the weight of her words. “The Abyss isn’t just a place or a force. It’s a fractured entity, a consciousness torn apart by its own hunger for power. Every shard we’ve collected is a piece of that entity, and every time we use them, we’re tapping into its essence.”

Arin felt a chill run down his spine. “So, we’re carrying pieces of the Abyss with us?”

“Not just carrying,” Meera said, holding up the crystal. “We’re feeding it. Every time we wield its power, we strengthen its hold on this world. The Abyss wants us to keep going. It wants to reunite its fragments.”

Kaelen swore under his breath. “So what’s the plan? If we can’t use the shards, how do we fight it?”

Meera’s gaze hardened. “The Sanctum revealed a way to sever its connection permanently. But it requires us to confront the Abyss directly—and destroy its core.”

The Abyss Stirs

As Meera spoke, the air around them began to shift. A low rumble echoed through the corridors, followed by a chilling wind that carried whispers.

Kaelen tightened his grip on his blade. “It knows we’re coming.”

The glyphs along the walls flickered and dimmed, plunging the corridor into near darkness. Arin raised his shards, their light cutting through the gloom. “Stay close. Whatever’s out there, we face it together.”

The whispers grew louder, coalescing into a voice that reverberated through the air.

You think you can destroy me, little mortals? You are nothing but vessels for my return.

A shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, its form shifting and undulating like smoke. Its eyes burned with a malevolent light, and its voice dripped with scorn.

“Is that supposed to intimidate us?” Meera said, her shadows flaring around her.

The figure laughed, a sound that sent shivers down Arin’s spine. Intimidate? No. I am here to offer you a choice. Surrender the shards, and I will spare your pitiful lives. Refuse, and I will consume you piece by piece.

Arin stepped forward, his voice steady. “We’re not afraid of you. Your time is over.”

The figure’s form twisted, its laughter echoing like thunder. Then you will perish.

The Abyss’s Wrath

The shadow surged forward, its tendrils lashing out like living whips. Kaelen moved first, his blade slicing through the darkness, but the tendrils reformed almost instantly.

“Strike at its core!” Meera shouted, her shadows coiling around her like armor. She thrust her hand forward, sending a wave of dark energy toward the figure.

The shadow recoiled, but its laughter persisted. You cannot destroy what you cannot understand.

Arin raised the shards, their light flaring brilliantly. He focused their energy, forming a barrier that pushed the tendrils back. “We don’t need to understand you to end this.”

The figure snarled, its form growing larger. The air grew colder, and the ground beneath them cracked and splintered.

Meera’s eyes glowed with determination. She held the crystal high, its light merging with her shadows. “You’ve fed on fear and chaos for too long,” she said. “But I’m not afraid of you anymore.”

The crystal’s light intensified, piercing through the shadow. The figure screamed, its form unraveling as the light consumed it.

A Moment of Respite

When the light faded, the corridor was silent. The shadow was gone, and the glyphs along the walls glowed faintly once more.

Kaelen lowered his blade, breathing heavily. “That was just a fragment of its power. The real fight is still ahead.”

Meera nodded, her grip on the crystal tightening. “But now we know it can be hurt. And that’s enough.”

Arin placed a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll face it together. No matter what.”

Meera managed a small smile. “Together.”

As they continued down the corridor, the weight of their mission settled over them. The Abyss was watching, waiting, and it would not go down without a fight.

But neither would they.