Silence settled over the chamber once more.
The five elders stood at their assigned positions.
None of them spoke.
Each pair of hands moved across the ancient formation with practiced precision.
Mana flowed steadily from their bodies.
One rune after another awakened.
Soft crimson light spread through the countless inscriptions carved into the stone.
The enormous formation gradually came to life.
A deep vibration spread beneath everyone's feet.
**Hummm...**
The chamber itself seemed to resonate.
Ancient power slowly stirred.
Draven stood quietly near the centre of the formation.
His crimson eyes remained fixed upon the countless runes.
Not a single fluctuation escaped his notice.
Perched comfortably upon his shoulder—
the little black cat lazily swayed its tail from side to side.
The little slime rested beside it.
Perfectly still.
A short distance away—
Kaelira hugged Draven's cloak against herself.
His spatial ring.
His gloves.
His communication earring.
Everything remained safely in her care.
Her wolf ears twitched every so often as she watched the formation awaken.
"...There are so many..."
She murmured quietly.
"...I don't understand any of it."
Pythia stood beside her.
Her own eyes never left the glowing runes.
"...Very few people do."
She spoke calmly.
"...Each section serves a different purpose."
She gestured toward one part of the enormous formation.
"...That layer stabilises space."
Her finger shifted elsewhere.
"...This one anchors the ritual."
Another.
"...And that regulates the flow of Abyssal mana."
Her gaze slowly swept across the countless overlapping circles.
"...Every layer depends upon the others."
"...If even one were removed..."
"...the entire ritual would collapse."
Kaelira slowly nodded.
"...Sounds complicated."
A brief pause.
"...I'm glad I'm not the one doing it."
A voice answered from nearby.
"...Good."
"...Because you'd probably explode."
Kaelira immediately puffed out her cheeks.
"...I would not."
A tiny pause.
"...Probably."
Aldric snorted.
"...See?"
"...Even you don't believe yourself."
She shot him an annoyed glare.
"...Shut up."
Aldric only grinned.
Ryke remained several steps behind everyone.
Deliberately.
His eyes wandered between the glowing formation...
...the five elders...
...and Draven.
*...This is insane.*
*Opening an Abyssal Breach...*
*Actually opening one...*
*I'm really standing here watching this happen...*
He swallowed unconsciously.
The atmosphere within the chamber continued growing heavier.
One by one—
more runes awakened beneath the floor.
Ancient symbols slowly rotated across the enormous formation.
Some shifted position.
Others slid silently across hidden channels carved into the stone.
The glow steadily intensified.
The mana density continued rising.
The air itself became noticeably heavier.
Even drawing a breath required slightly more effort than before.
Around the chamber—
the massive stone pillars slowly awakened.
Intricate runes carved deep into their surfaces ignited one after another.
Hidden mechanisms buried within the pillars began to turn.
**RUMBLE...**
Massive stone rings concealed inside them slowly rotated.
The entire underground chamber trembled.
Dust drifted from the ancient ceiling.
Tiny fragments of stone rolled across the floor.
One of the elders carefully adjusted a section of the formation.
Almost immediately—
another altered the neighbouring runes to match.
A third redirected the flow of mana.
The remaining two responded in perfect synchronisation.
Not a single unnecessary movement was made.
Not a single motion was wasted.
Watching them felt less like observing mages...
...and more like watching master craftsmen assembling something that could destroy everyone present should even the slightest mistake occur.
Standing at the centre of the formation—
the masked elder calmly oversaw every adjustment.
His aged voice echoed quietly through the chamber.
"...Maintain the flow."
A brief pause.
"...Do not force it."
The remaining elders silently acknowledged the instruction.
None replied aloud.
They simply adjusted their mana.
The formation responded immediately.
More ancient inscriptions awakened.
Crimson light spread farther across the chamber floor.
The humming gradually deepened.
From a low vibration...
...into something almost alive.
**Hummmm...**
The air itself began trembling.
Tiny strands of dark mana slowly gathered above the centre of the formation.
Like wisps of black mist—
they spiralled together without dispersing.
Suspended in place.
Growing denser with every passing moment.
Pythia quietly observed the phenomenon.
"...The anchor point..."
She spoke softly.
"...is beginning to form."
Draven remained expressionless.
"...Mm."
Nothing more.
Silence returned.
Minute after minute passed.
The elders continued their work without interruption.
Layer after layer of ancient runes awakened beneath the chamber.
Each newly activated circle caused another to respond.
The entire formation resembled an enormous living mechanism.
Countless independent parts slowly locking together.
Perfectly.
Methodically.
Without error.
The oppressive mana continued increasing.
Even the surrounding cultists unconsciously straightened.
Some quietly wiped sweat from their brows.
Others instinctively slowed their breathing.
No one dared disturb the ritual.
The consequences of failure were known to every person in the room.
Kaelira glanced back toward the elders once more.
"...They're still pouring mana into it."
Pythia nodded.
"...The formation is only now awakening."
"...Most of its functions have remained dormant for centuries."
She looked across the countless glowing inscriptions.
"...Every layer must be activated separately."
"...Only then can they be synchronised."
Kaelira blinked.
"...There are layers?"
Pythia answered without hesitation.
"...Dozens."
Kaelira's mouth slowly fell open.
"...Seriously?"
"...Yes."
Her answer remained calm.
"...This formation was never designed to be simple."
"...It was built to open a path into the Abyss."
Silence settled between them once more.
Across the chamber—
Aldric let out a long yawn.
"...This is boring."
He folded his arms behind his head.
"...Watching rats work isn't exactly entertaining."
None of the elders acknowledged him.
Their complete concentration remained fixed upon the ritual.
Another section of the formation awakened.
More crimson light spread beneath everyone's feet.
The humming deepened again.
Ryke quietly watched everything unfold.
His eyes slowly drifted toward the centre of the formation.
*...Just looking at it makes my skin crawl.*
*...It's like the entire chamber is breathing.*
The masked elder remained perfectly composed.
Both hands hovered above the intricate runes.
His mana flowed with remarkable precision.
Every few moments—
one of the other elders would subtly alter the rhythm.
Without exchanging so much as a glance—
the remaining four immediately adjusted to match.
Years of experience revealed themselves through every movement.
There was no hesitation.
No confusion.
Only flawless coordination.
The ritual continued advancing.
Steadily.
Relentlessly.
The humming filling the chamber grew deeper still.
Dark mana continued gathering above the centre of the formation.
The black mist slowly condensed.
Twisting into an increasingly dense vortex.
The surrounding space began to ripple ever so slightly.
As though reality itself had started to bend.
Pythia quietly observed the distortion.
"...The boundary..."
She murmured.
"...is beginning to weaken."
No one replied.
There was nothing left to say.
Every person present could feel it.
The ritual had passed the point of preparation.
It had begun.
Time continued slipping by.
Steadily.
Silently.
The five elders never faltered.
Their mana flowed in perfect harmony.
Layer after layer of the ancient formation awakened beneath the chamber.
The path...
Toward the Abyss...
Drew closer with every passing moment.