The remnants of the Abyssal Surge faded, leaving Kael standing at the threshold of something far greater than himself. The air hummed with energy, whispering unseen truths through the shifting currents. The Sanctuary of Echoes was real—and for the first time, Kael felt as though the Flow wasn't just pushing him toward it but watching him.
Alyss stepped ahead, her presence barely disturbing the air as she moved. The way she carried herself—fluid, unhurried, utterly in tune with the Flow—reminded Kael just how much he had yet to learn.
"You did well surviving the Surge," she said without turning. "But surviving isn't enough. If the Abyss Hunters find us before we reach the Sanctuary, they won't wait for you to adjust."
Kael tensed. He knew Jorin Malvek was close. The Abyss Hunters had always kept their distance, waiting for the perfect moment. But now? Now he was a confirmed anomaly—someone who didn't just wield the Abyssal Flow but might be evolving with it. They wouldn't let him live long enough to understand what that meant.
"How much further?" he asked.
Alyss didn't answer immediately. The currents shifted around her fingers as though responding to her thoughts.
"The pathway won't reveal itself until the Abyss recognizes you," she finally said. "Until then, we keep moving."
Kael frowned. What did that mean? He had spent years adapting to the Abyssal Flow, learning to listen to its shifts and currents. What more did it want?
They pressed forward, deeper into the ruins. The terrain became unstable, fragmented pieces of reality twisting under their feet. Every step was unpredictable—one moment solid ground, the next a thin veil separating them from the abyss below.
Then Kael felt it.
A sudden ripple—small, deliberate, unnatural.
Not the Abyss.
Something else.
Before he could react, the attack came. A spear of condensed Flow shot toward him, fast and precise. Kael barely twisted out of its path before another tore through the air, aimed at Alyss.
Alyss didn't move.
Instead, she raised a single hand, and the Abyss around her bent in response. The incoming strike vanished, absorbed into the currents as though it had never existed.
Kael turned sharply, scanning the darkness beyond the ruins.
Abyss Hunters.
Jorin Malvek stepped forward, his figure barely disturbing the Flow around him. He was calm, controlled—the perfect manifestation of an elite wielder. His deep-blue cloak shimmered with Abyssal resonance, proof of his mastery.
"I thought we'd find you here," Jorin said, voice steady. "The Abyss doesn't hide anomalies forever."
Kael steadied his breathing. Jorin wasn't here to negotiate.
"We don't have time for this," Alyss murmured, eyes sharp.
Jorin raised his hand, the Abyss responding instantly. Kael barely had time to react before the next attack came.
This wasn't survival anymore.
This was war.