Bab 9: Whisper of the Abyss
The kelp forest gradually gave way to deeper, darker waters. Daniel and Mira swam in silence, their bodies aching from the battle with the Kelp Stalker. The currents were sluggish here, as if the water itself resisted their presence.
"Where exactly is this grotto?" Daniel finally asked, his voice low.
"Close," Mira replied curtly, though her gaze flicked nervously toward the shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly around them. "If we survive the Abyssal Pass."
Daniel stopped mid-swim. "Abyssal what now?"
Mira sighed, exasperated. "The Abyssal Pass. A trench that separates the kelp forests from the eastern waters. It's the only way to reach the grotto without passing through Garath's territory."
"Let me guess," Daniel said. "It's not just a trench."
"No," Mira admitted, her voice tinged with unease. "It's… haunted."
Daniel stared at her. "Haunted? Like ghosts?"
"Not ghosts," Mira corrected, her silver eyes narrowing. "Things worse than that. Creatures drawn to fear and desperation. They live in the depths, and they don't like intruders."
Daniel's fins drooped. "Fantastic. More murder fish."
Mira smirked, though the tension in her face didn't ease. "Stay close to me. The Pass reacts to weakness, and you're practically broadcasting yours."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Daniel muttered, swimming after her.
The entrance to the Abyssal Pass loomed ahead, a jagged chasm in the lakebed that seemed to swallow all light. The water grew colder as they approached, and Daniel's scales prickled with unease.
A faint whispering sound reached his ears, like distant voices carried on the currents. He shook his head, trying to clear it, but the whispers only grew louder.
"Do you hear that?" he asked, glancing at Mira.
Her lips tightened. "Ignore it. They're just trying to get inside your head."
"Who's they?"
"You don't want to know," Mira said flatly.
They descended into the trench, the walls of the Abyss closing in around them. The water was thick with silt and shadows, making it nearly impossible to see more than a few feet ahead.
The whispers intensified, a cacophony of disjointed voices that seemed to come from everywhere at once.
"Daniel…"
He froze. The voice was clear, distinct from the others. It sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it.
"Daniel… help me…"
"Mira, did you hear that?" he asked, his voice shaking.
"Hear what?" Mira said, her tone sharp. "Don't stop. Keep moving."
"But—"
"Keep moving!" she snapped.
Reluctantly, Daniel swam on, but the voice lingered in his mind. It sounded so real, so desperate.
The trench opened into a wider expanse, the walls lined with jagged rocks that seemed to glow faintly in the darkness. Daniel's heart raced as he spotted movement in the shadows—small, flickering shapes that darted in and out of view.
"Mira, what are those?"
She didn't answer immediately. When she finally spoke, her voice was low and tight. "Abyssal Phantoms. Don't let them touch you."
As if on cue, one of the shapes emerged from the shadows. It was a translucent, ghostly figure, its body shifting and writhing like smoke underwater. Its eyes were empty voids, and its elongated arms ended in claw-like appendages.
[New Entity Detected: Abyssal Phantom. Threat Level: Unknown.]
The Phantom glided toward them with unnerving grace, its claws outstretched.
"What do we do?" Daniel asked, panic rising in his chest.
"Stick close to the trench walls," Mira instructed, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. "They don't like confined spaces."
Daniel obeyed, pressing himself against the jagged rocks. The Phantom paused, its featureless face turning toward him as if sensing his fear.
Then it lunged.
[Combat Initiated: Abyssal Phantom.]
[Warning: The Abyssal Phantom cannot be fought directly. Evasion and stealth are critical.]
Daniel activated Shadow Veil without hesitation. His body blurred, blending seamlessly with the murky water. The Phantom stopped mid-lunge, its claws swiping through empty space.
The system chimed softly in his mind:
[Shadow Veil Active: 15 seconds remaining.]
"Mira, move!" he hissed, darting along the trench wall.
She followed, her movements quick and fluid. The Phantom let out a low, mournful wail before turning its attention to her.
"Over here!" Daniel shouted, trying to draw it away.
The Phantom hesitated, torn between its targets. Then it split—literally. Its ghostly form divided into two smaller figures, each pursuing a different prey.
"You've got to be kidding me," Daniel muttered.
The second Phantom swooped toward him, its claws raking the water just inches from his tail. The system chimed again, urgent this time:
[Warning: Shadow Veil Cooldown Initiated. 5 minutes remaining.]
"Not good," Daniel growled, his mind racing.
The trench walls narrowed ahead, forming a tight crevice barely large enough for him to squeeze through. He angled his body toward it, ignoring the sharp rocks that scraped his sides.
The Phantom followed, its form distorting as it tried to fit into the confined space. It let out a frustrated screech, its claws scraping uselessly against the rocks.
Daniel didn't stop. He swam as fast as his fins could carry him, the crevice growing darker and more claustrophobic with every passing second. Finally, the walls opened into another clearing, where Mira was waiting.
"You made it," she said, relief flickering across her face.
"Barely," Daniel panted, his body trembling from the effort.
The Phantoms hovered at the edge of the crevice, their ghostly forms writhing as if debating whether to pursue. After a tense moment, they retreated into the shadows, their whispers fading into the distance.
[Event Complete: Abyssal Pass Survived.]
[Rewards: +20 Experience, +1 Stat Point.]
Daniel collapsed onto the rocky floor, his energy completely spent. "Tell me the grotto is close."
"It is," Mira said, her tone soft. "But rest first. You'll need your strength for what comes next."
Daniel's eyes narrowed. "What's next?"
Mira's gaze darkened. "The Serpent's enforcers are the least of your worries. If you want to survive here, you'll need to face the Abyss itself."
The weight of her words settled over him like a crushing tide. For the first time, he wondered if he'd bitten off more than he could chew.
But there was no turning back now.
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