The sound faded.
But the tension didn't.
Zael remained still for a moment longer, his senses stretched to their limit, tracking the direction of the disturbance. Whatever had moved—
It hadn't approached.
Yet.
That alone didn't ease anything.
Because in a place like this…
Delay didn't mean safety.
It meant something was deciding.
Behind him, Aurelia spoke.
Calm.
Unhurried.
As if the situation wasn't spiraling into something far beyond normal.
"…We don't have much time."
Zael didn't turn immediately.
"…Explain."
A pause.
Then—
"You already know this isn't a dungeon."
Zael's gaze remained forward.
"…The Abyss."
Aurelia nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Then she added—
"…But not all of it."
That made him turn.
Just slightly.
Enough to look at her fully again.
Aurelia continued.
"…This is only the first layer."
Zael's brows furrowed faintly.
"Only?"
The identical girl beside her gave a small, amused smile.
"…He's going to love the deeper ones."
Zael ignored her.
His focus stayed locked on Aurelia.
"Layers."
Aurelia didn't elaborate immediately.
Instead—
She pointed.
Far into the distance.
At first—
Zael saw nothing.
Just the jagged, broken terrain stretching endlessly beneath the crimson sky.
Then—
He noticed it.
A silhouette.
Faint.
But unmistakable.
Something towering.
So far away it looked almost unreal.
"…That."
Aurelia said quietly.
Zael's eyes narrowed.
"…What is it?"
A brief pause.
Then—
"The only way out."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Zael's gaze sharpened.
"…Explain properly."
Aurelia didn't argue this time.
"…The Abyss isn't like a dungeon with an exit portal waiting somewhere."
Her tone was steady.
Measured.
"…It's a closed system."
"A layered structure."
"Each layer has fixed entry points."
A pause.
"…And fixed exits."
Zael's mind processed that instantly.
"…So we're not at the exit."
Aurelia shook her head.
"No."
Then—
Her next words landed heavier.
"…We're at the opposite end."
Zael's expression didn't change.
But the implication settled immediately.
Distance.
Time.
Exposure.
Risk.
All multiplied.
"…How far?"
Aurelia didn't soften it.
"…Far enough that most people wouldn't make it."
The identical girl hummed lightly.
"…Especially first-tier ones."
Zael ignored her again.
But this time—
There was a faint shift in his aura.
Subtle.
But present.
Aurelia noticed.
Of course she did.
"…The exit is at a place called Blood Peak."
Zael's eyes flicked back toward the distant silhouette.
"…That?"
Aurelia nodded.
"Yes."
Then—
"At the very top of it… is the Sky Pillar."
Zael's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…And that leads out."
"Yes."
A pause.
Then—
"But reaching it…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
She didn't need to.
Because everything around them already said enough.
Zael exhaled slowly.
His mind already adjusting.
Recalculating.
"…So the plan is simple."
Aurelia looked at him.
"Simple?"
Zael's voice remained calm.
Flat.
"…We cross the Abyss."
The identical girl let out a soft laugh.
"…He says it like it's a walk."
Zael didn't respond.
Because in his mind—
It was already decided.
There was no alternative.
No second option.
Forward—
Or die here.
Aurelia watched him for a moment longer.
Then—
"…There's more."
Zael's eyes shifted back to her.
"…Of course there is."
Aurelia's expression remained steady.
"…The first layer is the safest."
Silence.
Then—
The identical girl grinned wider.
"…Relatively."
Zael's gaze hardened slightly.
"…Define safe."
Aurelia answered plainly.
"…Low-tier demons."
"…Scouts."
"…Predators."
A pause.
"…Things that hunt."
Zael didn't flinch.
"…And the deeper layers?"
Aurelia didn't respond immediately.
But the slight shift in her gaze—
Said enough.
"…We won't survive those."
Direct.
Blunt.
Honest.
Zael processed that without reaction.
Because survival wasn't about guarantees.
It was about decisions.
And right now—
The only decision was movement.
Another low sound echoed across the land.
Closer this time.
Not loud—
But clearer.
Zael's head turned slightly.
His instincts flared again.
Stronger.
More urgent.
Something was approaching.
Aurelia's voice dropped slightly.
"…We've already been marked."
Zael didn't ask how she knew.
Because he felt it too.
That subtle pressure.
That lingering awareness.
Like something unseen had locked onto them.
"…Then we move now."
Aurelia nodded.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No disagreement.
The identical girl stretched lightly, as if preparing for something entertaining.
"…This should be fun."
Zael finally looked at her fully.
Cold.
Assessing.
"…You're not worried."
Not a question.
An observation.
She smiled.
Wider this time.
"…Should I be?"
Zael didn't respond.
But he didn't look away either.
Because that answer—
Confirmed something.
She didn't fear this place.
Not like she should.
Not like anyone should.
Which meant—
She either didn't understand it.
Or—
She understood it too well.
Aurelia stepped forward.
"…We move toward Blood Peak."
Her voice was firm now.
Commanding.
"…Stay alert."
Zael didn't argue.
Didn't question.
Because for now—
Their goals aligned.
Escape.
Survive.
Get out.
But even as he took his first step—
His mind remained sharp.
Focused.
Because this—
Was no longer just about the Abyss.
It was about information.
Secrets.
And the two people walking beside him.
Behind them—
Far in the distance—
Something emerged from the cracks of the dark earth.
Watching.
Waiting.
Tracking.
And ahead—
Blood Peak stood unmoving.
Silent.
Like a promise.
Or a warning.
The path forward—
Had already begun.
------
They moved.
Not cautiously.
Not blindly either.
But with a rhythm that felt… unnatural.
At first, Zael didn't question it.
The Abyss was vast.
Chaotic.
Unpredictable.
Avoiding danger wasn't impossible.
Just unlikely.
But as time passed—
That "unlikely" began to feel impossible.
Because they weren't just avoiding danger.
They were bypassing it.
Entire stretches of terrain that should have been crawling with Abyssal creatures—
Were empty.
Not cleared.
Not disturbed.
Just… avoided.
Cleanly.
Precisely.
Like they were walking through gaps that shouldn't exist.
Zael's gaze shifted slightly.
Toward Aurelia.
Again.
She walked ahead.
Calm.
Unhurried.
Her steps never faltered.
Never hesitated.
Not once.
As if she already knew where to go.
Not guessing.
Not sensing.
Knowing.
Another pack appeared in the distance.
Low-tier demons.
Grotesque forms crawling across the cracked terrain.
Their presence should have forced a detour.
Or a fight.
Instead—
Aurelia changed direction slightly.
Just a few steps.
Barely noticeable.
But enough.
The pack passed by them completely.
Unaware.
Unresponsive.
As if Zael and the others simply didn't exist.
That—
Wasn't normal.
Even in the Abyss.
Especially not here.
Zael's eyes narrowed.
His suspicion, once subtle—
Now sharpened.
Because this wasn't luck.
This wasn't coincidence.
This was control.
Or something close to it.
His gaze shifted again.
This time—
To Auralis.
The twin.
She walked beside Aurelia.
Light.
Relaxed.
Almost… playful.
There was no tension in her posture.
No caution in her movements.
No reaction to the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on everything.
If anything—
She looked comfortable.
Too comfortable.
Like this place wasn't foreign to her.
Like it wasn't hostile.
Like it was… familiar.
Zael stopped walking.
Not abruptly.
But enough.
Aurelia stopped too.
Auralis turned halfway, already smiling.
"…Finally?"
Zael ignored her.
His gaze locked onto Aurelia.
Sharp.
Direct.
No pretense.
"There are things you shouldn't know."
A pause.
His voice lowered slightly.
"…At least not yet."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
But not tense.
Not on her side.
Aurelia met his gaze without hesitation.
No deflection.
No denial.
Just calm acceptance.
"…Yes."
The answer was immediate.
Flat.
As if she had expected this.
Zael's eyes hardened slightly.
"…And I'm supposed to trust you?"
This time—
The annoyance showed.
Not explosive.
But present.
Because this wasn't just suspicion anymore.
It was a variable he couldn't account for.
A risk he couldn't quantify.
And that—
Was unacceptable.
Aurelia didn't answer immediately.
But before she could—
Auralis stepped in.
With a bounce.
A smirk already forming.
"…It's not like you have a choice."
Her tone was light.
Amused.
Like the situation itself entertained her.
Zael's gaze snapped to her.
Cold.
Measured.
Dangerous.
For a brief moment—
The air shifted.
Subtly.
But clearly.
Because that answer—
Was wrong.
Not factually.
But in tone.
In intent.
In what it implied.
Auralis didn't react to it.
Didn't back down.
If anything—
Her smile widened slightly.
"…You need us."
She added.
Softly.
Zael didn't respond.
But his silence—
Was heavier this time.
Because she wasn't entirely wrong.
They knew the path.
They knew the Abyss.
And right now—
That knowledge was the difference between survival…
And death.
Aurelia finally spoke.
"…You don't have to trust me."
Zael's gaze shifted back to her.
"…But you should trust this."
She gestured slightly.
Not at herself.
Not at Auralis.
But at their surroundings.
The Abyss.
"…You can't navigate this place alone."
Her voice remained calm.
Unwavering.
"…Not yet."
A pause.
Then—
"…And not before something finds you."
Silence followed.
Zael processed it quickly.
Efficiently.
Emotion didn't cloud it.
Only logic.
Only outcome.
And the conclusion was simple.
She was hiding something.
A lot of things.
But she was also right.
For now.
That didn't mean he accepted it.
It meant he adapted to it.
Zael exhaled softly.
Then stepped forward again.
"…Fine."
One word.
But it wasn't agreement.
It was acknowledgment.
Temporary.
Conditional.
Auralis tilted her head slightly.
"…See? That wasn't so hard."
Zael didn't look at her.
Didn't respond.
Because the conversation—
Wasn't over.
Not really.
It had just been postponed.
For now.
They continued forward.
Toward Blood Peak.
Toward the Sky Pillar.
Toward the only way out.
But this time—
Zael's awareness wasn't just on the Abyss anymore.
It was on them.
Every movement.
Every reaction.
Every inconsistency.
Because one thing was now certain.
The Abyss wasn't the only danger here.
And the deeper they went—
The less he could afford to be wrong.
In the distance—
Unseen.
Unnoticed.
Something shifted beneath the cracked earth.
Tracking.
Waiting.
Not for all of them—
But for one.
And slowly—
Inevitably—
The distance between predator…
And prey…
Began to close.
[END OF CHAPTER]