Chapter 35: Threads of Deception

The oppressive silence returned as Daniel and Mira swam through the murky waters of the Abyss. The faint glow of their shards provided minimal comfort, casting eerie shadows on the surrounding rocks. The recent battle with the Wraith Alpha lingered in their minds, a grim reminder of the dangers they faced.

Daniel flexed his fins, feeling the faint hum of his newly acquired skill fragment. Abyssal Resonance thrummed within him, its power untapped but potent. "This new skill," he began, breaking the silence. "It's... different. I can feel it, like a second pulse in my system."

Mira glanced at him, her expression cautious. "Skills tied to the Abyss are powerful but unpredictable. They're not just tools—they're pieces of something ancient, something alive. Use it wisely, or it might use you."

"Comforting," Daniel muttered, though he couldn't deny the truth in her words.

The system chimed softly: