章 9: The Abyssal Crossing
The portal swirled with light and shadow, its energy pulling Kael and Zen into its depths. For a moment, Kael felt weightless, as though suspended in an endless void. Whispers echoed around him—fragments of voices speaking in languages he couldn't understand.
"Zen," Kael called, his voice sounding distant even to himself.
"I am here," Zen's voice replied, steady and calm despite the disorienting chaos. "Focus on the energy around you. The transition between realms can overwhelm those who are unprepared."
Kael closed his eyes and took a deep breath, centering himself. He felt the dual forces of light and shadow within him, steady and constant, like a heartbeat. The swirling void around him began to stabilize, the whispers fading into silence.
When Kael opened his eyes, they were standing on solid ground again.
---
The new realm was unlike anything Kael had ever seen. A vast ocean of black water stretched out in every direction, reflecting a crimson sky streaked with bolts of lightning. Floating platforms of polished stone formed a broken path over the abyss, and in the distance, towering spires of twisted metal jutted out from the water like the ribs of a colossal beast.
"What is this place?" Kael asked, his voice hushed.
Zen surveyed their surroundings, his expression unreadable. "This is the Abyssal Crossing, a liminal space between fractured realms. It exists outside of time and place, a nexus of forgotten power."
Kael frowned. "Sounds lovely."
Zen glanced at him. "Do not be deceived by its stillness. The Abyssal Crossing is fraught with dangers."
As if on cue, the water below began to ripple. Kael tensed, his hand instinctively going to his dagger. Shapes moved beneath the surface—dark, sinuous forms that sent chills down his spine.
"We are not alone," Zen said, his staff glowing faintly.
---
The first attack came without warning. A massive, serpentine creature erupted from the water, its body covered in glistening black scales. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural red light, and its maw was filled with rows of jagged teeth.
Kael dove to the side as the creature struck, its jaws snapping shut where he had just been standing. The platform beneath him cracked but held firm.
"Zen!" Kael shouted, summoning a blast of energy to hurl at the beast. The attack struck its side, but the creature seemed unfazed.
"These are Abyssal Wyrms," Zen said, his tone calm but urgent. "They are drawn to the life force of those who pass through this realm. Do not let them pull you into the water."
"Noted!" Kael yelled, narrowly dodging the creature's tail as it lashed out.
Zen raised his staff, chanting in the ancient tongue. A wave of energy surged outward, creating a protective barrier around their platform. The Abyssal Wyrm recoiled, hissing in frustration.
But it wasn't alone. More of the creatures began to emerge, their sinuous forms breaking the surface of the water.
"This just keeps getting better," Kael muttered.
---
The battle was a chaotic dance of movement and power. Kael leapt from platform to platform, using his light and shadow energy to strike at the wyrms. Their scales were tough, but Kael focused on their glowing eyes, which seemed to be their only vulnerable point.
Zen held his ground, using his staff to channel bursts of energy that kept the wyrms at bay. His movements were precise, each strike calculated and deliberate.
One of the wyrms lunged at Kael, its jaws snapping inches from his shoulder. Kael retaliated with a powerful blast of light, the energy piercing through the creature's eye. It let out a screech before collapsing into the water, its body dissolving into shadow.
"That's one down!" Kael called.
Zen nodded but didn't reply, his focus entirely on the fight.
The wyrms seemed endless, their numbers growing with every passing moment. Kael's energy was waning, his movements slowing as exhaustion began to take its toll.
"Zen, we can't keep this up forever!" Kael shouted.
Zen's gaze flicked toward the horizon, where a faint glow was beginning to appear. "The exit is near. We must reach it before the wyrms overwhelm us."
Kael followed his gaze, spotting a distant platform bathed in golden light. "How do we get there?"
Zen struck the ground with his staff, creating a shockwave that momentarily drove the wyrms back. "Run."
---
They sprinted across the floating platforms, the wyrms in furious pursuit. The creatures lashed out with their tails and snapped at their heels, their roars echoing across the abyss.
Kael pushed himself harder, his legs burning as he jumped from one platform to the next. Zen followed close behind, his staff glowing as he fired bursts of energy to keep the wyrms at bay.
The golden platform grew closer, its light brighter and more inviting. But the wyrms were relentless, their attacks becoming more desperate as Kael and Zen neared their goal.
One of the creatures lunged at Kael, its jaws closing around his leg. Kael cried out, the force of the attack nearly pulling him off the platform.
"Kael!" Zen shouted, spinning around to help.
Kael gritted his teeth, summoning his energy into a concentrated blast. The light and shadow exploded outward, striking the wyrm and forcing it to release him. He stumbled but managed to stay upright, his heart pounding.
"I'm fine," Kael said, though his voice was strained.
They reached the golden platform just as the wyrms launched a final, coordinated attack. Zen raised his staff, creating a barrier that deflected the creatures' strikes. The platform's light flared, and the wyrms recoiled, hissing in pain as they retreated into the water.
The portal ahead shimmered, its energy resonating with the golden light.
"We made it," Kael said, collapsing onto the platform.
Zen knelt beside him, his expression unreadable. "This was only the beginning. The true trials lie ahead."
Kael groaned. "Of course they do."
Zen helped him to his feet, and together they stepped into the portal, leaving the Abyssal Crossing behind.
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