Chapter 75: The Heart of the Abyss
Author: Stanterry
last update2026-01-23 09:35:34

The forest swallowed the villagers whole.

The trees loomed like skeletal sentinels, their branches twisted into grotesque shapes, casting fractured shadows across the uneven ground. The air was thick with the scent of rotting leaves and something older, something metallic, like blood left to rust in the dark.

Dain led the group, the black stone from the stranger clutched in his fist, its pulse weak but steady, like a dying heartbeat. The Blade of Severing rested at his side, its runes dormant, but the weight of it felt different now, lighter, yet heavier with the knowledge of what lay ahead.

Serra walked beside him, her sword unsheathed, its blue flame flickering in the gloom. "This place feels like a grave," she muttered, her eyes scanning the shadows.

Dain didn’t answer. He felt it too, the forest watching them, judging them, waiting for them to stumble.

The villagers followed in a tight group, their weapons drawn, their faces set with determination. Garrick clutched his hammer, his
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  • Chapter 75: The Heart of the Abyss

    The forest swallowed the villagers whole.The trees loomed like skeletal sentinels, their branches twisted into grotesque shapes, casting fractured shadows across the uneven ground. The air was thick with the scent of rotting leaves and something older, something metallic, like blood left to rust in the dark.Dain led the group, the black stone from the stranger clutched in his fist, its pulse weak but steady, like a dying heartbeat. The Blade of Severing rested at his side, its runes dormant, but the weight of it felt different now, lighter, yet heavier with the knowledge of what lay ahead.Serra walked beside him, her sword unsheathed, its blue flame flickering in the gloom. "This place feels like a grave," she muttered, her eyes scanning the shadows.Dain didn’t answer. He felt it too, the forest watching them, judging them, waiting for them to stumble.The villagers followed in a tight group, their weapons drawn, their faces set with determination. Garrick clutched his hammer, his

  • Chapter 74: The Nameless Heir

    The return to Black Hollow was not a victory march.The villagers trudged through the gates, their faces streaked with soot and exhaustion, their eyes hollow with the weight of what they had seen. The warding stone in the square pulsed with a faint, unsteady light, its golden glow flickering like a dying ember. The air smelled of burnt herbs and damp earth, but beneath it, something older lingered, a scent like metal left too long in the rain.Dain walked at the front, his steps slow, his hand clutching the Blade of Severing. The scar where the King’s name had once burned was gone, but the skin beneath it ached, a phantom pain that echoed the void’s hunger. His eyes were dull, the fire that had burned in them after the glade now extinguished. He felt hollow, like a vessel drained of its purpose.Serra stepped beside him, her sword sheathed, her expression grave. "You look like hell," she said, her voice low.Dain didn’t glance at her. "I feel like it.""The villagers are scared.""The

  • Chapter 73: The Final Bargain

    The void unfurled before them like a living storm.The figure that emerged from the pillar of black smoke was not a man, nor a beast, but something older, something carved from the absence of light itself. Its form shifted, rippling like oil on water, its edges blurring into the darkness.The villagers recoiled, their weapons raised, their breaths ragged in the cold air. The thing stood taller than the King, its presence pressing down on the valley like the weight of a thousand graves.Dain stepped forward, the Blade of Severing clutched in his hand, its runes flaring golden against the dark. The scar where the King’s name had once burned ached, a phantom pain that echoed the void’s hunger. "You are the thing beneath the roots," he said, his voice steady.The void laughed, a sound like cracking ice and rusted chains. "I am the hunger that birthed your King. I am the silence before the scream."The villagers shifted, their grips tightening on their weapons. Serra stood at Dain’s side,

  • Chapter 72: The Path of Thorns

    The forest swallowed the villagers whole.The trees loomed like skeletal sentinels, their branches twisted into grotesque shapes, casting fractured shadows across the uneven ground. The air was thick with the scent of rotting leaves and something older, something metallic, like blood left to rust in the dark.Dain led the group, the black stone from the stranger clutched in his fist, its pulse weak but steady, like a dying heartbeat. The Blade of Severing rested at his side, its runes dormant, but the weight of it felt different now, lighter, yet heavier with the knowledge of what lay ahead.Serra walked beside him, her sword unsheathed, its blue flame flickering in the gloom. "This place feels like a grave," she muttered, her eyes scanning the shadows.Dain didn’t answer. He felt it too, the forest watching them, judging them, waiting for them to stumble.The villagers followed in a tight group, their weapons drawn, their faces set with determination. Garrick clutched his hammer, his

  • Chapter 71: The Silence Before the Storm

    The village of Black Hollow stood under a sky the color of bruises, the air heavy with the scent of burnt herbs and damp earth.The villagers moved through the square like shadows, their voices hushed, their eyes flicking to the forest as if expecting the trees to part and release something worse than the King. The warding stone in the center of the village pulsed with a faint, unsteady light, its golden glow flickering like a candle in a draft.Dain leaned against the well, his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the tree line. The Blade of Severing rested at his side, its runes dormant, but the weight of it felt different now, lighter, yet heavier in ways he couldn’t name.Serra approached, her boots crunching on the gravel, her sword sheathed but her stance alert. She didn’t speak at first, just stood beside him, her eyes scanning the horizon. "The villagers are scared," she said finally, her voice low.Dain exhaled, rubbing the smooth skin where the scar had once burned. "They should

  • Chapter 70: The Void’s Hunger

    The clearing trembled as the figure emerged from the pit, its form wrapped in shadows that twisted like living smoke. The villagers recoiled, their weapons raised, their breaths ragged in the cold air. The thing stood taller than the King, its presence pressing down on the glade like a storm gathering. Its voice, when it spoke, was not a sound but a vibration in their bones:"You have woken me."Dain stepped forward, the Blade of Severing clutched in his hand, its runes flaring golden against the dark. The scar where the King’s name had once burned ached, a phantom pain that echoed the void before him. "We didn’t wake you," he said, his voice steady. "We came to end you."The thing laughed, a sound like stones grinding together. "You cannot end what you do not understand, little Heir."The villagers shifted, their grips tightening on their weapons. Serra stood at Dain’s side, her sword ignited, its blue flame casting eerie shadows across the clearing. Garrick clutched his hammer, his

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