The road to the Abyssal Wastes was long and unforgiving, stretching across a desolate expanse of cracked earth and jagged rocks. Shadows clung to the terrain like a living shroud, their movements subtle but watchful. The air grew heavier with each step the Dominion took, charged with an energy that pressed against their senses.
Kael led the group in silence, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The shard and ring pulsed faintly in his hands, their energy a steady rhythm that resonated with the Abyss's whispers. Though the camp behind them was safe for now, Kael knew that the real danger lay ahead.
"They're out there," Ryn said as she walked beside him, her voice low. "Watching us. Waiting."
Kael nodded, his expression grim. "Then let them wait. We're not stopping."
The First Signs
The first sign of the Wastes' influence appeared as the terrain began to shift. The ground beneath their feet grew darker, the jagged rocks gleaming with a faint, unnatural sheen. Shadows moved more freely here, twisting and coiling in ways that defied logic.
Vaelon paused to examine a cluster of strange markings etched into the ground. "These weren't made by nature," he said, his tone heavy. "And they're not recent."
Zereth crouched beside him, his sharp gaze scanning the markings. "They're tied to the Abyss. But not like the sigil—it's older. Much older."
Kael glanced at the markings, his grip tightening on the Abyssal Fang. "Then we're on the right path."
A Growing Unease
As the Dominion pressed on, the air grew colder, the oppressive energy of the Wastes pressing more heavily on them. The disciples moved with purpose, but their unease was palpable. Whispers began to creep through the ranks—faint, fragmented words that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once.
"They're hearing it too," Sylas said, falling into step beside Kael. Their usual smirk was absent, replaced by a rare seriousness. "The Abyss is getting louder."
Kael nodded, his expression unreadable. "It wants us to hear."
Sylas tilted their head, their tone light but pointed. "And what's it saying?"
Kael didn't answer. The shard and ring pulsed sharply in his hands, their whispers blending with the Abyss's growing presence.
The Enemy's Footsteps
Scouts returned as the sun dipped below the horizon, their expressions grim. Vaelon intercepted them, his tone sharp. "What did you find?"
"They're ahead of us," the lead scout said, their voice tight. "A small group, but they're moving fast. And they're not alone."
Kael joined them, his gaze hard. "What else?"
The scout hesitated before answering. "They're using the Abyss. But it's… different. Twisted."
Zereth frowned. "Twisted how?"
The scout glanced at him, their expression strained. "It's not just power—it's something alive."
Kael's grip tightened on the Abyssal Fang. "Then we catch them. Before they reach the Wastes."
A Clash in the Shadows
The Dominion moved quickly, closing the distance between themselves and the enemy. The air grew heavier as they approached, the shadows thickening like a living fog. When the enemy finally came into view, it was clear they were not ordinary Abyss cultivators.
Their forms were distorted, their bodies shrouded in dark energy that seemed to writhe and pulse like a living thing. Their movements were unnaturally fluid, their strikes sharp and deliberate.
Kael led the charge, his blade cutting through the fog like a beacon. Ryn's team flanked the enemy, their movements precise as they dismantled the distorted figures. Zereth and the engineers established wards to contain the battle, while Sylas and the scouts disrupted the enemy's coordination.
The clash was brutal, the distorted figures striking with a ferocity that defied reason. But the Dominion held their ground, their unity unbroken even as the shadows pressed against them.
A Fragment of Truth
As the last of the enemy fell, a strange silence settled over the battlefield. The shadows receded slightly, their movements slowing as if waiting. Kael stood at the center of it all, the shard and ring glowing faintly in his hands.
Near the edge of the battlefield, Ryn crouched beside one of the fallen figures. Her expression was tense as she examined its distorted features. "This isn't just Abyss energy," she said, her voice sharp. "It's something else."
Kael approached, his gaze narrowing. "What do you mean?"
Ryn pointed to the faint markings on the figure's skin—symbols that seemed to pulse faintly with dark light. "This is ancient. Older than anything we've seen before."
Zereth joined them, his expression grim. "If this is what's waiting for us in the Wastes…"
Kael's grip tightened on the Fang. "Then we'll face it. Whatever it takes."
The Path Forward
As the Dominion regrouped, the tension among the disciples was palpable. The battle had been won, but the cost was growing clearer with each step closer to the Wastes.
Kael stood near the edge of the battlefield, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The shard and ring pulsed steadily in his hands, their whispers sharper than ever.
"You walk the edge," the voices said. "But the Abyss is infinite."
Ryn approached, her presence grounding. "What now?"
Kael glanced at her, his expression steady. "We keep moving. The Wastes are waiting."
End of Chapter 80