Ebon Shard of the Eternal Abyss

Chapter 4: The Whispering Abyss

The deeper they ventured into the forest, the more the world seemed to change. The trees grew taller, their gnarled branches twisting together to form a canopy so thick that even the crimson light of the sun struggled to penetrate. The air was heavy with the scent of decay, and the ground beneath their feet was soft, almost spongy, as if the earth itself was alive.

Sui Xuanchi walked in silence, his hand resting on the hilt of the Ebon Shard. The whispers in his mind had grown louder, more insistent, and he could feel the shard’s cold energy pulsing through him like a second heartbeat. The Fire Fang Snake remained coiled around his arm, its flames subdued, as if wary of the abyssal power that now shared its host.

Lian Mei walked beside him, her Silver Moon Lynx prowling silently ahead. She had been quiet since the battle with the wolf, her sharp eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger. But Sui Xuanchi could tell that her mind was elsewhere, her thoughts weighed down by the same questions that haunted him.

“We need to find shelter,” Lian Mei said at last, breaking the silence. “It’s not safe to travel at night, especially in a place like this.”

Sui Xuanchi nodded, though he wasn’t sure if anywhere in this forest could truly be considered safe. The whispers in his mind seemed to grow louder with every step, urging him to embrace the shard’s power, to let it guide him deeper into the abyss.

They found a small clearing, the ground covered in a thick layer of moss. The trees here were less dense, allowing a faint glimmer of moonlight to filter through. Lian Mei set to work gathering wood for a fire, while Sui Xuanchi stood watch, his hand never straying far from the Ebon Shard.

As the fire crackled to life, casting flickering shadows across the clearing, Lian Mei finally spoke the question that had been hanging between them.

“What is the Ebon Shard, Xuanchi?” she asked, her voice soft but firm. “And why does it feel like… like it’s alive?”

Sui Xuanchi hesitated, his gaze fixed on the flames. He had been dreading this moment, but he knew he couldn’t keep the truth from her any longer.

“It’s a fragment of the Eternal Abyss,” he said at last. “A piece of something… ancient. Something that shouldn’t exist in this world. When I awakened it, I felt its power, but I also felt its will. It’s not just a weapon, Lian Mei. It’s a key. And it wants to be used.”

Lian Mei’s eyes widened, but she didn’t interrupt. Sui Xuanchi continued, his voice low and steady.

“The Shadow Fang Sect isn’t just after me because of the shard’s power. They know what it is, and they want to use it to open the gates of the Eternal Abyss. If they succeed…”

He trailed off, the unspoken words hanging heavily in the air. Lian Mei’s expression hardened, and she nodded slowly.

“Then we can’t let them,” she said. “No matter what it takes.”

Sui Xuanchi looked at her, his heart heavy with guilt. “This isn’t your fight, Lian Mei. You shouldn’t have to risk your life for me.”

She met his gaze, her eyes filled with determination. “You’re not just fighting for yourself, Xuanchi. You’re fighting for all of us. If the Shadow Fang Sect gets their hands on the Ebon Shard, the entire cosmos will suffer. I’m not going to abandon you.”

Her words filled him with a strange mix of gratitude and sorrow. He wanted to argue, to tell her to leave while she still could, but he knew it would be pointless. Lian Mei had always been stubborn, and once she set her mind to something, there was no changing it.

The fire crackled softly, its warmth a stark contrast to the cold energy of the Ebon Shard. For a while, they sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. But as the night deepened, the whispers in Sui Xuanchi’s mind grew louder, more insistent.

“Embrace us,” they seemed to say. “Let us guide you.”

He closed his eyes, trying to block out the voices, but they only grew stronger. Images flashed in his mind—dark, twisted landscapes, ancient ruins, and a vast, endless void. The Eternal Abyss. It was calling to him, urging him to unlock its secrets.

“Xuanchi?” Lian Mei’s voice cut through the haze, pulling him back to reality. He opened his eyes to find her watching him, her expression filled with concern.

“I’m fine,” he said, though the words felt hollow. He could see the doubt in her eyes, but she didn’t press him.

“Get some rest,” she said instead. “I’ll keep watch.”

Sui Xuanchi nodded, though he knew sleep would be impossible. The whispers in his mind were relentless, and the Ebon Shard’s energy pulsed through him like a living thing. But he lay down anyway, his back against the cool moss, and closed his eyes.

As he drifted into a restless half-sleep, the whispers grew louder, more coherent. They spoke of power, of destiny, of the abyss that awaited him. And deep within his mind, a single thought took root—a thought that filled him with both dread and anticipation.

The Ebon Shard was only the beginning.

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