Shadows of the Abyss
The towering avatar's presence filled the digital void, radiating an oppressive energy that even seasoned Nitya could feel pressing against her resolve.
"You wear a mask," Leviathan's voice echoed, layered and cold, "but I see through it. Did you think I wouldn't notice an intruder in my domain?"
The whispers around them grew louder, like a rising tide of static. Vlada's voice broke through in Nitya's earpiece. "We need to pull you out. Now."
"Not yet," Nitya replied under her breath. She straightened her avatar, channeling a calm authority. "Intruder? Or opportunity? If you saw through my mask, then you know I bring value."
Leviathan tilted their faceless head, their shadowy form flickering. "You're bold. But boldness doesn't buy trust."
Behind her, the warped environment began to shift, fragments of corrupted code reshaping into jagged structures. It was a psychological game, an attempt to disorient her. Nitya refused to flinch.
