Eclipse Requiem

The ruins trembled, cracks spider-webbing across the ancient stone walls. Dust and debris rained from above as Kael pushed himself to his feet, his body aching from the clash with Malrik. The sinister aura of the abyss still lingered in the air, pressing against his skin like an unseen weight.

Saren coughed, brushing rubble from her shoulder. "Well, that could've gone better."

Kael's grip tightened around his sword. "He's getting away."

Saren groaned. "And you want to go after him? Right now? After nearly getting turned into abyss food?"

Kael's gaze burned with determination. "We don't have a choice. If Malrik escapes, he'll spread the abyssal corruption beyond these ruins."

A deep rumble echoed through the chamber. The **obelisk at the center of the room pulsed ominously**, its runes flickering as if gasping for energy. The abyssal energy within it had weakened—likely from their battle—but it was far from destroyed.

Kael exhaled. *One threat at a time.*

"We move. Now."

Saren rolled her eyes but didn't argue. "Fine. But if we die in some creepy abyss tunnel, I'm blaming you."

---

### **Descent into the Abyss**

Malrik's presence was a fading shadow, his essence barely perceptible along the corridor ahead. Kael led the way, following the residual traces of abyssal energy. The deeper they ventured, the colder the air became, laced with an unnatural stillness.

The passage narrowed, winding deeper underground. The torches lining the walls had long since burned out, leaving only the eerie glow of abyssal veins pulsing within the stone.

Saren's voice was hushed. "Why do I feel like we're walking straight into a trap?"

Kael didn't look back. "Because we are."

Saren sighed. "At least you're honest about it."

Suddenly—

**A sharp whisper slithered through the darkness.**

Kael stopped in his tracks, hand on his sword. The whispering wasn't just noise. It was **words.**

*"He is waiting…"*

*"The abyss calls…"*

*"Will you answer?"*

Saren shuddered. "Yeah, I hate that. Tell me you hear that too."

Kael nodded. He felt the abyss pulling at him, **testing his will.** The closer they got to Malrik, the stronger it became.

They pressed forward.

Then—**the walls came alive.**

---

### **The Abyssal Guardians**

Abyssal **arms** emerged from the stone, their blackened fingers reaching hungrily for Kael and Saren. The passage twisted, shifting unnaturally, as if the very ruins were alive.

Kael dodged the first grasping hand, swinging his sword to sever it—**only for the limb to reform instantly.**

Saren cursed. "Oh, that's new!"

The ground beneath them **split open,** revealing an abyssal chasm teeming with writhing shadows. Tendrils shot upward, aiming to drag them down.

Kael gritted his teeth. There was no time to hesitate.

"Saren, **jump!**"

She barely had time to react before Kael grabbed her arm and **leapt forward.** The abyssal hands reached for them, but they barely cleared the gap, landing hard on the other side.

Saren groaned. "Next time—warn me before you do that."

Kael ignored her, scanning the path ahead. The passage was warping, reshaping itself—**as if the abyss itself was trying to stop them.**

Malrik had to be close.

And the abyss **was protecting him.**

---

### **Confronting the Abyss**

A deep voice **echoed** through the chamber.

*"You are not ready."*

Kael froze. The voice wasn't Malrik's. It was something else.

Something… older.

Saren grabbed his arm. "Kael. Please tell me you heard that."

He swallowed. "Yeah."

The shadows **shifted.**

From the darkness ahead, **a figure emerged.**

At first glance, it looked human—cloaked, towering, its features obscured beneath a tattered hood. But its **eyes**—or rather, the lack of them—**were empty voids, staring into Kael's soul.**

It was no ordinary guardian.

This was **a Warden of the Abyss.**

And it **wasn't going to let them pass.**

Saren took a shaky step back. "Kael, this one feels… different."

Kael didn't answer. He could feel it too.

This wasn't just another abyssal creature.

It was **testing him.**

*"Turn back,"* the Warden's voice rumbled. **"Or be consumed."**

Kael exhaled. He knew the truth.

He couldn't turn back.

He stepped forward, **raising his sword.**

The Warden did not move. But Kael felt it watching, waiting.

And then—**it raised its hand.**

A surge of abyssal energy **exploded** from its palm, a tidal wave of darkness rushing toward them.

Kael **reacted.**

He didn't run. He didn't dodge.

He **embraced it.**

His own abyssal energy flared to life, colliding with the Warden's attack. For a moment, **the two forces clashed.**

Then—**the abyss recoiled.**

The Warden **paused.**

And then… **it knelt.**

Saren's breath caught. "Uh. What?"

Kael remained still, his sword still glowing with abyssal fire.

The Warden's voice was quieter now.

*"You walk the abyss… but you are not bound by it."*

A pause.

*"You may pass."*

Kael's fingers tightened around his sword. He didn't fully understand, but he **wasn't going to waste this chance.**

He nodded. "Then we'll go."

The Warden slowly rose, **stepping aside.** The passage behind it **opened,** revealing the final chamber.

Malrik was waiting.

Kael took a steadying breath. This was it.

The final battle was about to begin.

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