Kapitel 28: Chapter 28: Whispers of the Abyss
The victory over Maldrak and his Shadow Titan brought little comfort. The air still felt heavy, as if unseen eyes were watching Azarion and Sera's every move. The dark sorcerer's parting words lingered in their minds, a foreboding promise of greater challenges yet to come.
As the duo traveled through the rugged terrain of the valley, the once vibrant land around them grew increasingly barren. Trees stood lifeless, their branches twisted like skeletal hands reaching for the heavens. Streams ran dry, leaving cracked earth in their place.
"This place…" Sera said, her voice hushed. "It's like something sucked the life out of it."
Azarion nodded, gripping his sword tightly. The Eternal Flame within him flickered uneasily, as though it sensed a presence hiding in the shadows.
"We're being watched," he said, his tone low. "Stay alert."
Sera smirked, twirling one of her daggers. "When am I not?"
---
The path ahead led them to a massive canyon. Its walls stretched high into the sky, and a narrow bridge of stone spanned the deep chasm below. On the other side stood the ruins of an ancient fortress, its once grand towers reduced to crumbling remnants.
Sera peered at the fortress. "That place looks like a deathtrap."
Azarion's golden eyes narrowed. "It's where we need to go. The Flame is pulling me there."
"Great," Sera muttered. "Nothing bad ever happens in abandoned fortresses, right?"
As they stepped onto the bridge, a faint whispering sound reached their ears. It was soft at first, like the murmur of the wind, but it grew louder with every step. The voices spoke in a language neither of them recognized, yet their words carried a weight that made Azarion's chest tighten.
"Do you hear that?" Sera asked, her voice tinged with unease.
"I do," Azarion replied, his gaze scanning the canyon walls. "And it's not the wind."
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled. From the depths of the chasm, a wave of black mist surged upward, swirling around the bridge. The whispers became a deafening chorus, and the mist began to take shape, forming spectral figures with hollow, glowing eyes.
"Wraiths," Azarion said, his sword igniting with the Eternal Flame.
Sera cursed under her breath. "Just once, I'd like to cross a bridge without something trying to kill us."
---
The wraiths attacked in unison, their incorporeal forms darting toward Azarion and Sera like shadows given life. Azarion swung his blade in wide arcs, the golden flames slicing through the misty figures. Each strike dissipated a wraith, but more rose from the chasm to take its place.
Sera moved with practiced precision, her daggers spinning as she danced between the wraiths. Though her weapons couldn't harm them directly, she used her agility to distract and misdirect, giving Azarion openings to strike.
"These things just keep coming!" she shouted.
Azarion gritted his teeth, the Flame within him burning hotter. "They're tied to this place. If we can cross the bridge, we might be able to stop them."
The two pushed forward, step by grueling step. The wraiths grew more aggressive, their claws raking at Azarion's armor and grazing Sera's arms.
"Any faster ideas, hero?" Sera called out, narrowly avoiding a spectral claw.
Azarion closed his eyes for a brief moment, reaching deep within himself. The Flame responded, surging to life. With a shout, he released a wave of golden fire, forcing the wraiths to retreat momentarily.
"Go!" he yelled.
They sprinted across the remaining length of the bridge, the fortress looming closer with every step. As they reached the other side, the mist began to recede, the wraiths vanishing back into the chasm below.
Breathing heavily, Sera leaned against a crumbling wall. "Please tell me that's the worst of it."
Azarion's expression remained grim. "I doubt it."
---
The entrance to the fortress was marked by a massive, rusted gate. Azarion pushed it open, the screech of metal echoing through the silent halls. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of decay. The walls were covered in strange symbols, glowing faintly with an eerie blue light.
"This place feels wrong," Sera said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Azarion nodded. "It's steeped in dark magic. Be ready for anything."
As they ventured deeper, the whispers returned, louder and more distinct. This time, they carried a sinister edge, as though mocking their presence.
The corridor led to a large chamber, its center dominated by a massive stone altar. Chains hung from the ceiling, and the floor was marked with intricate runes. At the far end of the room stood a figure cloaked in tattered robes, their face obscured.
"You have come far, bearer of the Flame," the figure said, their voice echoing unnaturally. "But this is where your journey ends."
Azarion stepped forward, his sword glowing brightly. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The figure chuckled darkly. "I am merely a servant of the Abyss, a herald of what's to come. The Eternal Flame is a relic of a dying age, and you… you are nothing more than a spark waiting to be snuffed out."
Sera drew her daggers, her eyes narrowing. "We've dealt with your kind before. You're not the first shadowy creep to underestimate us."
The herald raised a hand, and the runes on the floor began to glow. The chamber shook as a portal of swirling darkness opened behind the altar. From it emerged a monstrous being, its form shifting and writhing like liquid shadow. Its many eyes glowed with malevolence, and its roar shook the very foundations of the fortress.
"You face the Abyssal Devourer," the herald intoned. "A fragment of the true Abyss. Let us see if your precious Flame can survive."
Azarion took a deep breath, the Eternal Flame roaring to life within him. "Sera, stay close. This is going to be a fight unlike any other."
Sera grinned, despite the fear in her eyes. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."
Together, they prepared to face the Abyssal Devourer, the shadows of the fortress closing in around them.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein