A cold silence hung in the air. The Forsaken stood motionless, their hollow eyes fixed on the intruders. Their twisted forms flickered like shadows, an unnatural existence bound by the will of something far greater.
Mary tightened her grip on her saber. She could feel the sheer weight of magic pulsing through the Underlayer, thick as mist and suffocating as the deepest ocean. This place wasn't meant for the living—and yet, here they stood.
Lela took a cautious step forward, her spear Gáe Bolg humming with latent energy. "They aren't attacking."
Kael's gaze remained fixed on the colossal crystal spire in the distance—the Heart of the World. His expression was unreadable. "They're waiting."
Loosie shuddered. "Waiting for what?"
Before Kael could answer, the silence shattered.
A deep, resonating howl echoed through the cavern, shaking the very foundation of the Underlayer. The blue flames flickered violently, and in that instant—
The Forsaken moved.
They came like a tide, shifting through the darkness with unnatural speed. Limbs twisted and elongated, claws gleaming as they lunged forward. Their hollow mouths stretched open, but no sound came—only the shrill whisper of voided souls.
Mary reacted first.
She sidestepped the first attack, her saber Mist Blade flashing in an arc of silver light. Her blade met the Forsaken's shadowy form, and for a moment, she feared her weapon would pass through it. But then—resistance.
The creature shrieked, staggering back as the mist-infused blade tore through its essence.
They could be hurt.
They could be killed.
That was all she needed to know.
"Focus on cutting them down!" Mary shouted, leaping back as another Forsaken lunged.
Lela twisted her spear, the runes along its surface glowing. Gáe Bolg pulsed with energy as she drove it forward, impaling a Forsaken clean through. The creature spasmed, its form unraveling into wisps of black mist before vanishing completely.
Loosie danced between the shadows, his sword flashing like a streak of fire. His agility allowed him to dodge effortlessly, weaving through the chaos and striking where the Forsaken were most vulnerable.
Kael, however, remained still.
His golden eyes flickered as he watched the battle unfold, his hand hovering over the obsidian pendant around his neck. Something wasn't right.
These Forsaken were strong, but they weren't attacking with full force. They were stalling.
Then, he saw it.
Beyond the battlefield, past the writhing mass of Forsaken, a presence stirred within the Heart of the World.
A shadow far darker than the rest.
His eyes widened. "No—"
But it was too late.
The Abyss Stirs
The ground beneath them ruptured, cracks forming along the obsidian floor. A deep rumble shook the Underlayer as the very air grew heavy with power.
A presence descended upon them.
Not just an enemy.
A force.
From within the Heart of the World, something emerged—something ancient, malevolent, and bound to the abyss itself.
A figure stepped forward from the crystal spire.
It was humanoid, but only in the vaguest sense. Its form was shrouded in an ever-shifting cloak of darkness, its face obscured save for two piercing violet eyes that burned like dying stars. Around it, the Forsaken bowed in reverence, their twisted forms trembling.
A voice, deep and resonant, filled the cavern. It did not speak in words.
It spoke in command.
"The cycle shall not be broken."
Kael's blood ran cold.
Lela took a step back, her grip on her spear tightening. "What… what is that?"
Mary exhaled sharply. She had no answer—but she knew one thing.
This was their true enemy.
The Forsaken King.
And he had been waiting for them.
The King's Power
The Forsaken King raised a single hand.
Immediately, the Underlayer responded.
The ground split apart, great pillars of jagged obsidian erupting from the depths. The blue flames dimmed, consumed by swirling shadows that stretched toward the ceiling. The Forsaken let out a collective, unearthly wail, their forms twisting even further.
Their bodies expanded, limbs stretching into grotesque shapes. Their hollow eyes burned brighter. They were changing.
Becoming stronger.
Loosie cursed under his breath. "We have to move—now!"
But before they could react, the Forsaken King vanished.
No. Not vanished—he moved.
One moment, he was at the Heart of the World. The next, he was before them.
A mere flicker of motion—and he was upon Mary.
Her instincts screamed.
She barely had time to raise her saber before a clawed hand struck out.
A blast of pure force erupted from the impact, sending her flying across the battlefield. She crashed against a pillar, the stone shattering upon impact. Pain exploded through her ribs, and she gasped for breath.
Lela lunged forward, spear aimed for the King's heart. Gáe Bolg flashed.
The King tilted his head.
With inhuman ease, he caught the spear mid-air.
The moment his fingers closed around the weapon, the energy within it flickered—then died.
Lela's eyes widened. "No—"
A pulse of black energy surged from the King's grasp.
Lela was thrown backward, skidding across the ground. Her spear fell lifeless, its glow extinguished.
The Forsaken King stood unmoved.
His violet eyes turned toward them once more.
"You are too late."
The darkness rose.
The Last Stand
Kael moved.
The obsidian pendant around his neck shattered, unleashing a burst of golden light. His sword ignited, burning with raw celestial power.
He rushed the King.
The two clashed—light against shadow. Their blades met in a violent collision of forces, sending shockwaves through the cavern. The Forsaken reeled, their forms flickering as the sheer power of the duel threatened to unravel them.
Mary forced herself to stand, ignoring the pain in her ribs. She couldn't just watch.
With a defiant cry, she surged forward.
Lela followed suit, her grip on Gáe Bolg tightening.
Loosie exhaled, his gaze steady. "Guess we're doing this."
Together, they charged.
This was it.
The final battle had begun.