SWNOVELXO Chapter 15: THE ABYSS BECKONS
Chapter 15: The Abyss Beckons
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The Doorway of Secrets
The ancient stone archway loomed before Yuki, Kaida, and Aria like a silent guardian. Now that the whispers had faded and their fears were defeated, the structure radiated an eerie calm. Strange glowing symbols pulsed faintly across its surface, humming with dormant energy.
Yuki placed a hand on the cold stone, squinting as he traced the symbols with his fingertips. "So… what do we do now? Knock?"
Kaida shot him a look. "It's not a door to someone's house, Yuki. It's clearly some kind of gate."
Aria stepped closer, her silver eyes narrowing as she examined the carvings. "This is a Voidgate. An ancient portal used to traverse dimensions of power and energy. It's said only those who have overcome their fears can open it."
Yuki looked at her skeptically. "And what happens when we open it? Is there a welcoming party on the other side, or just more creepy shadows?"
Aria didn't answer immediately. Instead, she pulled out a small, intricately etched crystal from her satchel. "We'll find out soon enough. But be prepared—this will likely take us deeper into the Whispering Depths."
Yuki swallowed hard. "Deeper? You mean this wasn't the end?"
"No," Aria said firmly. "This was only the first layer."
Kaida stepped forward, determination shining in her eyes. "Then let's not waste any more time."
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The Gate Opens
Aria pressed the crystal into the center of the archway, fitting it into a small indentation Yuki hadn't noticed before. The second the crystal touched the stone, the symbols flared to life, glowing a brilliant blue. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and a low rumble echoed through the clearing.
Slowly, the empty space within the arch began to shimmer, like ripples in water. The air grew colder, and a gust of wind rushed out, carrying with it the scent of something ancient and powerful.
Yuki stumbled back, shielding his eyes as the glow intensified. "Is it supposed to do that?!"
"Yes," Aria said, her voice barely audible over the roar of the gate. "Stay close. The Voidgate is unpredictable."
Kaida gripped her sword tightly and glanced at Yuki. "You ready for this?"
Yuki let out a nervous chuckle. "Do I look ready? I don't think anyone's ready for this."
"Good enough," Kaida replied with a small smirk.
The glowing portal stabilized, and for a moment, the clearing fell silent. The swirling energy within the arch was now still, like a mirror reflecting nothingness.
Aria turned to the others. "Once we step through, there's no turning back. Are you sure you want to do this?"
Yuki inhaled deeply, his fists clenching at his sides. "We've come this far, haven't we? Let's see what's on the other side."
With that, Aria stepped into the portal first, disappearing into the swirling void. Kaida followed without hesitation, her figure swallowed by the shimmering energy.
Yuki hesitated for a heartbeat, staring into the nothingness. You can do this, he told himself. You've faced worse.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped through.
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Into the Abyss
The sensation of crossing the Voidgate was like plunging into icy water. Yuki felt his entire body freeze for a moment before a sudden pull yanked him forward. A thousand colors swirled around him—blues, purples, blacks—all twisting and turning like liquid shadows.
When he finally stumbled onto solid ground, his knees buckled, and he fell to the floor with a groan. "Ugh… I'm never getting used to that."
He looked up to find Aria and Kaida standing beside him, both unharmed but clearly shaken. The environment around them was… unsettling. They stood on an endless, floating platform made of black stone, suspended in what looked like a vast abyss. Shadows stretched infinitely into every direction, swirling like living mist.
Above them, the "sky"—if it could be called that—was a deep void, dotted with strange glowing lights that flickered and pulsed like dying stars.
"This place…" Kaida whispered, her voice low with awe. "It doesn't feel real."
"It's not," Aria replied, her tone grim. "This is the Abyss. A dimension of the Void, where reality and illusion blend together."
Yuki shivered. "So what now? Do we just keep walking until something tries to eat us?"
Aria pointed toward the far end of the platform, where a colossal staircase led upward, disappearing into the mist. "The path forward is there. But beware—the Abyss plays tricks on the mind. We'll need to trust each other."
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The Shadows Stir
As they began to climb the endless staircase, the shadows around them began to shift. Whispers returned, this time louder, and the mist curled and coiled like living tendrils.
Yuki couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. He turned to look behind him, but the staircase seemed to stretch forever, as though they hadn't moved at all.
"Anyone else getting major creepy vibes right now?" he muttered.
Kaida nodded. "Yeah, and I don't like it. Stay alert."
The whispers grew louder, swirling into words that clawed at their minds.
"You don't belong here..."
"Turn back..."
"This is not your place..."
Yuki covered his ears, his heartbeat pounding in his chest. "Okay, that's enough! If you're going to talk, at least say something useful!"
As if in response, the mist surged, and shadowy figures began to rise from the depths. They had no faces, only glowing eyes that flickered like embers. Their forms were twisted, humanoid but unnatural, like distorted reflections in a broken mirror.
Kaida drew her sword, stepping in front of Yuki. "Here they come!"
The shadows lunged.
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Fighting the Shadows
The battle erupted in an instant. Kaida's blade flashed as she cut through the shadowy figures, their bodies dissolving into mist with each strike. Aria raised her staff, releasing bursts of energy that illuminated the dark surroundings and sent shadows scattering.
Yuki, meanwhile, fumbled to activate his artifact. "Come on, come on—work already!"
One of the figures lunged at him, its claw-like hands reaching out. Yuki yelped and swung the artifact wildly. To his surprise, it released a pulse of energy that vaporized the creature in an instant.
Yuki blinked. "Uh… that was intentional. Totally intentional."
"Less talking, more fighting!" Kaida shouted, ducking beneath another attack and countering with a powerful slash.
The shadows kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless. For every one they destroyed, another rose to take its place.
"They're not stopping!" Yuki yelled. "What do we do?!"
Aria's eyes narrowed as she looked up the staircase. "We have to move! They're a distraction. If we linger here, we'll be overwhelmed."
Kaida nodded. "Then let's go!"
Together, they fought their way up the staircase, cutting through the endless waves of shadows. The climb seemed endless, the air heavy with exhaustion, but they pushed forward with sheer determination.
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The Gateway Above
After what felt like hours, they finally reached the top of the staircase. Before them stood another gate—smaller than the first but radiating a blinding light.
Aria turned to them, her voice calm but urgent. "This is the way forward. Once we step through, the Abyss can no longer hold us."
"Good," Yuki panted, wiping sweat from his brow. "Because I've had enough of this nightmare."
Kaida slashed through one last shadow, then turned toward the gate. "Let's go."
One by one, they stepped into the light.
As the shadows howled in fury behind them, Yuki felt the weight of the Abyss lift from his shoulders. They were leaving the darkness behind—but what lay ahead remained a mystery.
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End of Chapter 15