Bab 17: The Shattered Path
The morning light was pale and weak as Kael and Zen continued their journey across the desolate landscape. The earth beneath their feet was cracked and brittle, remnants of a realm torn asunder by the Abyss. Shadows clung to the edges of their vision, and the faint, eerie whispers of the Abyss seemed to haunt every step.
Kael tightened the grip on the hilt of his dagger, his eyes scanning the horizon. The tension in the air was palpable, a weight that pressed against his chest with each breath.
"How far to the next anchor?" Kael asked, breaking the uneasy silence.
Zen didn't answer immediately. He closed his eyes, his hand resting lightly on his staff. A faint glow emanated from the runes carved into the wood, and Kael could feel the energy radiating from it.
"The next anchor lies in the Forsaken Expanse," Zen finally said, his voice low. "A place where the veil between realms is at its weakest. The Abyss has taken root there, corrupting everything it touches."
Kael frowned. "The Forsaken Expanse? That doesn't exactly sound inviting."
"It isn't," Zen said, meeting Kael's gaze. "Few who venture there return. The anchor's corruption will be stronger, its guardians more dangerous. You must be prepared for what lies ahead."
Kael nodded, though the weight of Zen's words sat heavy in his chest. The memory of the first anchor was still fresh in his mind—the terror, the illusions, the overwhelming sense of despair. If the next anchor was worse, Kael wasn't sure he was ready.
But he didn't have a choice.
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As the day wore on, the landscape began to shift. The barren plains gave way to jagged cliffs and deep ravines, the ground beneath them darkening as though stained by some ancient evil. The air grew colder, and an unnatural stillness settled over the land.
Kael felt the mark on his wrist begin to throb faintly, a dull ache that seemed to echo through his entire body.
"We're getting close, aren't we?" he asked, his voice tight.
Zen nodded. "The corruption of the Abyss is stronger here. Stay vigilant."
Kael's hand instinctively went to his dagger, his senses on high alert. The shadows seemed to move at the edges of his vision, twisting and writhing like living things.
The path ahead narrowed as they descended into a deep gorge, the walls on either side towering high above them. The air was heavy with the scent of decay, and Kael's stomach churned at the sight of the blackened ground beneath their feet.
As they moved deeper into the gorge, Kael caught a faint glimmer of light ahead—a soft, pulsing glow that seemed to flicker like a dying flame.
"What is that?" Kael asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"The anchor's influence," Zen said, his tone grave. "We're almost there."
Kael's heart pounded in his chest as they approached the source of the light. The gorge opened into a wide cavern, and at its center stood a massive crystalline structure, its surface dark and jagged. The faint glow emanated from within, pulsating like the heartbeat of some monstrous entity.
But it wasn't the anchor that held Kael's attention. It was the figure standing before it.
A tall, imposing figure cloaked in shadows, their features obscured by a hood. Their presence radiated an aura of malice, and Kael could feel the power emanating from them like a physical force.
"Another one comes to challenge the Abyss," the figure said, their voice cold and echoing. "How amusing."
Kael gritted his teeth, stepping forward with his dagger drawn. "Who are you?"
The figure chuckled, a low, menacing sound. "I am but a servant of the Abyss, a fragment of its infinite will. And you, child of light and darkness, are an anomaly that must be eradicated."
Kael's grip on his dagger tightened. "You'll have to try harder than that."
The figure raised a hand, and the shadows around them coalesced into a massive, writhing form. The creature that emerged was a monstrosity of darkness, its body composed of shifting, pulsating shadows. Its eyes glowed with an eerie light, and its movements were unnaturally fluid, like smoke given form.
Kael swallowed hard, his pulse racing. The creature let out a guttural roar, the sound echoing through the cavern like the wail of a thousand tormented souls.
Zen stepped forward, his staff glowing brightly. "Kael, focus on the anchor. I will deal with the guardian."
Kael hesitated, glancing between Zen and the crystalline anchor. The thought of leaving Zen to face the monstrous creature alone didn't sit well with him, but he knew the monk was right. Destroying the anchor was their priority.
"Be careful," Kael said, his voice tight.
Zen gave a slight nod. "Go."
Kael took a deep breath and sprinted toward the anchor, his dagger glinting in the dim light. The closer he got, the stronger the pull of the Abyss became, the whispers growing louder and more insistent.
"You cannot escape your fate, Kael," the voice of the shadowed figure echoed in his mind. "You will fall, just like the others before you."
Kael gritted his teeth, pushing the voice aside. He reached the base of the anchor and raised his dagger, preparing to strike. But as he did, a surge of energy erupted from the crystalline structure, throwing him backward.
Kael hit the ground hard, the air knocked from his lungs. He struggled to his feet, his vision swimming. The anchor pulsed with an intense light, and from within its depths, a figure began to emerge.
It was Elara.
Kael's breath caught in his throat as she stepped forward, her expression one of sorrow and pain.
"Kael," she said, her voice trembling. "Why are you doing this? Why are you trying to destroy me?"
Kael froze, his mind racing. He knew it wasn't real—he knew—but the sight of her, the sound of her voice, was enough to shake him to his core.
"Kael, listen to me!" Zen's voice rang out from across the cavern. "It's another illusion! Focus on the light within you!"
Kael's hand tightened around his dagger, his heart pounding. He could feel the Abyss's influence trying to pull him under, but he wasn't going to let it win.
"Enough," Kael said, his voice steady. He closed his eyes, focusing on the warmth of the light within him, the power that had been growing ever since his journey began.
When he opened his eyes, the illusion shattered. The figure of Elara dissolved into smoke, and the anchor's pulsing light began to flicker.
Kael raised his dagger once more and plunged it into the crystalline structure.
The anchor let out a deafening roar, its light erupting in a blinding flash. The cavern shook violently, and Kael was thrown to the ground as the anchor shattered into a thousand shards.
When the light faded, the cavern was silent. The creature of shadows was gone, and the figure in the hood had vanished.
Kael sat up slowly, his body aching. Zen approached him, offering a hand to help him to his feet.
"You did well," Zen said, his voice calm but firm. "The second anchor is destroyed."
Kael nodded, though exhaustion weighed heavily on him. The battle was far from over, but for now, they had won another small victory.
— Bab baru akan segera rilis — Tulis ulasan
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone