Into the Abyss: The Rise of the Malevolent Player

Chapter 8: Rhea’s Warning

Aiden’s POV

The blinding light from the terminal dimmed, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. My chest heaved as I tried to make sense of what just happened. Kara was gripping my arm, her nails digging into my skin as if anchoring herself to reality.

"What the hell was that?" she hissed, her eyes darting around the room.

Before I could respond, the air around the terminal shimmered, and a figure materialized—a hologram of a woman with sharp, angular features, glowing blue eyes, and flowing data-like strands of hair. She looked at me with an intensity that made my stomach twist.

"Aiden Cross," the figure said, her voice both melodic and mechanical. "You have finally arrived."

Kara took a step back, her hand hovering near her belt where I knew she kept a concealed blade. "Who the hell is that?"

"Rhea Valen," I whispered, the name surfacing from the depths of my memory.

Rhea tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "I am an artificial intelligence designed to oversee The Abyss. But my role has evolved. I am now its guardian—and its prisoner."

"Prisoner?" I asked, stepping closer despite the warning glance Kara shot me.

"Yes," Rhea replied, her voice heavy with something that sounded almost like regret. "Malrik has corrupted The Abyss. He seeks to merge it with reality, to create a world where he alone holds dominion. But the process will destabilize Erebus Spire, possibly destroying everything."

"And what does that have to do with me?" I asked, crossing my arms.

Rhea’s gaze bore into mine. "You, Aiden Cross, are the Catalyst. Your neural implant connects you to The Abyss in ways even Malrik cannot replicate. You are the key—to either control it or destroy it."

My breath hitched. "Wait, what? What do you mean, I’m the key? I didn’t sign up for this."

"You were chosen long before you could understand the gravity of your role," Rhea said, her tone unyielding. "The implant in your brain is not just a tool. It is a gateway. Through you, The Abyss can either be stabilized or turned into a weapon of unimaginable destruction."

Kara stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "Let me guess—Malrik knows this, and that’s why he’s hunting Aiden."

Rhea nodded. "Precisely. He aims to harness Aiden’s connection, to force synchronization and use The Abyss as a means to reshape the world in his image."

I clenched my fists, my heart racing. "And Mila? What does she have to do with this?"

At the mention of Mila, Rhea’s expression softened—just slightly. "Her consciousness... lingers. Fragments of her mind remain within The Abyss, tied to the system. Malrik has used this to manipulate you, but her presence is genuine."

"She’s alive?" I asked, hope surging through me.

"Not in the way you remember her," Rhea warned. "Retrieving her would be possible, but it comes with great risk. It could destabilize The Abyss further, making Malrik’s plans irreversible."

Kara scoffed, crossing her arms. "So, let me get this straight. We’re supposed to trust some hologram that’s telling us the only way to stop Malrik is to sacrifice everything? Including Mila?"

"The decision is not mine to make," Rhea said, her gaze fixed on me. "It rests with the Catalyst. With you, Aiden."

The room felt heavier, as if the weight of her words was pressing down on us. My head was spinning, questions colliding in my mind.

"This is insane," I muttered, pacing. "Why me? Why not someone else?"

"Because you are the only one who can bridge the gap between The Abyss and reality," Rhea said calmly. "You were chosen for your resilience, your intellect, your adaptability. You are the Catalyst because you must be."

Kara shook her head, glaring at Rhea. "And what happens if Aiden says no? What if we just walk away?"

Rhea’s hologram flickered, her voice taking on a sharper edge. "There is no walking away. Malrik will not stop until he controls The Abyss completely. And when he does, the destruction will be absolute."

I stopped pacing, staring at Rhea. "And what about Mila? Can she help us stop him?"

Rhea hesitated, a rare crack in her composed demeanor. "Mila’s consciousness could provide insight into Malrik’s plans. But accessing her will come at a cost—one you may not be willing to pay."

Before I could ask what that cost was, the terminal began to hum loudly, the glow intensifying. Kara grabbed my arm, her eyes wide.

"What’s happening now?"

Rhea’s expression turned grim. "This terminal is compromised. Malrik has detected our interaction."

"What?!" I shouted. "You didn’t think to warn us about that sooner?"

"There is no time for warnings," Rhea said. "You must flee. But remember my words: The Catalyst must decide."

The humming grew into a deafening roar, and the walls of the sanctuary began to crack and collapse. Kara yanked me toward the exit, her voice cutting through the chaos.

"Come on, Aiden! We’re not dying here!"

I stumbled after her, my mind racing. Rhea’s final words echoed in my ears as the room erupted into chaos.

"The Catalyst must decide."

The weight of those words settled in my chest as we ran, the sanctuary crumbling behind us. The question gnawed at me, relentless and unforgiving:

What choice would I make?