The Gatekeeper's Trial
The towering gate to the Abyssal Hollow stood before them, etched with runes that seemed alive, shifting and pulsing with a rhythm that mimicked a heartbeat. The air was heavy, thick with a foreboding presence that seeped into the bones. Lyssandra stepped closer, her hand instinctively resting on the hilt of her blade.
"Do we just... open it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Eren didn't reply immediately. His crimson eyes scanned the runes, their glow mirrored in his steely gaze. He placed his palm against the cold metal, feeling the faint hum of power coursing through the gate. The System materialized in his vision, a new prompt appearing:
System Notification:Trial of the GatekeeperTo enter the Abyssal Hollow, you must prove your resolve. The Gatekeeper awaits. Failure will result in annihilation.Accept the Trial? Yes/No.
Eren grimaced. There was no turning back now. He pressed "Yes."
The moment he accepted, the runes blazed with light, and the gate trembled. A low growl echoed from the other side, growing louder until the entire cavern vibrated with its intensity. The gate creaked open, revealing a swirling void of shadows and ash. From the darkness emerged the Gatekeeper.
It was a monstrous figure, towering at least fifteen feet tall, its body composed of jagged obsidian and molten lava. Its eyes burned like twin suns, and in its hands, it held a massive glaive, the blade crackling with energy. The creature's presence exuded pure malice, an oppressive weight that made even Lyssandra falter.
"Prove your worth," the Gatekeeper rumbled, its voice like an avalanche. "Or perish."
A Battle of Strength and Wit
Eren was the first to move, dashing forward with blinding speed. His twin blades, infused with the Fragment of Ember, left trails of fire in their wake as he struck at the Gatekeeper's legs. The creature roared, swinging its glaive in a wide arc. Eren narrowly evaded the attack, the force of the swing carving a deep gouge into the cavern floor.
Lyssandra joined the fray, her spear glowing with a faint blue aura. She targeted the creature's joints, aiming to exploit any weaknesses in its massive frame. Her strikes were precise, but the Gatekeeper's molten form quickly regenerated any damage.
"It's healing too fast!" she shouted, dodging a downward strike that sent shards of obsidian flying.
"We need to find its core!" Eren replied, his mind racing. The System provided no guidance, leaving him to rely on instinct and observation. As he circled the Gatekeeper, he noticed a faint glow in its chest—a pulsing light that matched the rhythm of the runes on the gate.
"There!" Eren pointed. "Its core is in its chest!"
Lyssandra nodded, pivoting to distract the Gatekeeper. She unleashed a flurry of attacks, her movements fluid and deliberate, drawing the creature's attention. Meanwhile, Eren scaled the beast's back, using his blades to anchor himself as he climbed toward its chest.
The Gatekeeper roared in fury, its massive hands clawing at Eren. He narrowly avoided being crushed, finally reaching the glowing core. With a fierce battle cry, he drove both blades into the center of the light.
The creature let out a deafening roar, its body convulsing as cracks spread across its molten frame. In a final act of defiance, it swung its glaive in a wild arc, forcing Lyssandra to retreat. Eren leaped from the creature's back just as it collapsed, its core shattering into a cascade of fiery sparks.
The Gate Opens
As the Gatekeeper dissolved into ash, the gate to the Abyssal Hollow creaked open further, revealing a spiraling descent into pure darkness. The oppressive energy grew stronger, making the air almost unbreathable.
Eren dropped to his knees, panting heavily. The fight had drained him, but the Fragment of Ember pulsed within him, revitalizing his strength. Lyssandra helped him to his feet, her expression a mix of relief and concern.
"You're insane, you know that?" she said, offering a faint smile.
Eren smirked, though his exhaustion was evident. "Takes one to know one."
The System chimed, breaking the moment of levity.System Notification:Trial of the Gatekeeper complete. Reward: +5 Strength, +5 Agility. Entry to the Abyssal Hollow granted.
Eren dismissed the notification and turned his gaze to the yawning chasm before them. "This is it," he said, his tone serious. "Once we go in, there's no turning back."
Lyssandra nodded. "We've come this far. Whatever's down there, we face it together."
The Descent
The stairs spiraled downward, each step feeling steeper than the last. The air grew colder, and the whispers from earlier returned, louder and more coherent. They spoke in voices Eren recognized—his comrades, his enemies, even himself.
"You'll never be enough.""They only followed you out of fear.""You'll betray her, just as they betrayed you."
Eren clenched his fists, his teeth grinding as he forced himself to ignore the voices. Lyssandra seemed equally affected, her face pale and her eyes darting nervously.
"Stay focused," Eren said, his voice firm. "It's trying to get into our heads."
Lyssandra nodded, but her grip on her spear tightened. "Easier said than done."
As they descended further, the darkness became absolute, broken only by the faint glow of the Fragment of Ember within Eren. The stairs finally ended, opening into a vast cavern illuminated by an unnatural light. The ground was covered in a fine layer of ash, and in the center of the cavern stood a massive obsidian altar.
On the altar rested the Fragment of Despair, a swirling mass of black and violet energy that seemed to pulse with malevolence. Surrounding the altar were statues of warriors, each one frozen in a pose of anguish, as if they had been turned to stone mid-scream.
"This doesn't feel right," Lyssandra whispered.
Eren nodded, his instincts screaming that this was a trap. But the System provided no guidance, leaving them to face the unknown on their own.
The Guardian of Despair
As they approached the altar, the statues began to move. Cracks appeared in their stone surfaces, and one by one, they came to life, their eyes glowing with the same black and violet energy as the Fragment. Each statue wielded a weapon, their movements unnervingly fluid.
"We've got company," Eren said, drawing his blades.
Lyssandra positioned herself back-to-back with him, her spear at the ready. "How many of these things are there?"
"All of them," Eren replied grimly.
The first statue lunged, its sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. Eren parried the blow, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through his arms. Lyssandra countered with a thrust of her spear, shattering the statue's chest, but it quickly reformed, its pieces knitting back together.
"They're regenerating!" Lyssandra shouted.
Eren gritted his teeth. "We need to destroy the source—the Fragment."
"But how do we get past them?" Lyssandra asked, dodging another attack.
Eren's mind raced. The Fragment of Ember pulsed within him, its energy flaring as if responding to his desperation. He made a decision. "Cover me. I'm going for the Fragment."
Without waiting for her response, Eren charged toward the altar. The statues converged on him, their weapons gleaming with malevolent energy. Lyssandra fought to hold them back, her spear a blur as she intercepted attack after attack.
Eren reached the altar, his hands closing around the Fragment of Despair. The moment he touched it, a surge of cold darkness coursed through him, threatening to overwhelm his senses. But he held on, focusing on the ember within him. The two opposing forces clashed, and for a moment, the cavern was filled with blinding light.
When the light faded, the statues were gone, and the Fragment of Despair rested quietly in Eren's hand. But its energy still pulsed, a reminder of the power—and danger—it held.
To Be Continued...