Chapter 27: The Circle’s Challenge
The air inside the Abyssal Hall crackled with tension as Lahsiv faced the two cloaked figures, their dark energy palpable. The shadows around them twisted and shifted, alive with the power of the Abyss, but Lahsiv didn’t flinch. He had known this moment was coming, and he had prepared for it. The Umbral Circle was making their move, and now it was time to prove once and for all who truly commanded the Abyss.
The man who had spoken earlier—the one who had first warned Lahsiv of the Abyss’s dangers—stepped back, his presence still looming but allowing the two new figures to advance. Lahsiv’s grip tightened around the hilt of the Sword of Ruin, his mind focused. The Abyss pulsed within him, a steady rhythm that matched the growing tension in the room.
The two cloaked figures moved with unnatural grace, their forms barely visible beneath the swirling shadows that cloaked them. Lahsiv could feel their power radiating, but he remained calm. His mastery of the Abyss had grown, and he wasn’t the same student they might have expected to face.
Without warning, one of the figures struck. A spear of pure shadow shot from the figure’s hand, aimed directly at Lahsiv’s chest. Lahsiv reacted instantly, his body moving with the fluidity of someone who had already anticipated the attack. He raised his sword, slashing through the shadow spear with a burst of Dark Karma. The attack shattered into mist, dissolving before it could reach him.
The second figure was already in motion, closing the distance between them in an instant. Twin blades appeared in their hands, the edges gleaming with dark energy as they struck at Lahsiv from both sides. Lahsiv countered, his movements precise and deadly, his sword meeting theirs with a sharp clang of steel. The sound echoed through the chamber as sparks flew, and for a brief moment, the two combatants were locked in a deadly dance of blades.
Lahsiv pushed back with a surge of strength, sending the second figure stumbling away. He didn’t give them a chance to recover. With a swift motion, he summoned the shadows around him, twisting them into tendrils of dark energy that shot toward both attackers. The tendrils lashed out, seeking to bind and crush, but the figures moved with unnatural speed, evading the attacks with ease.
“They’re fast,” Lahsiv thought, his eyes narrowing. ‘But speed alone won’t save them.’
The first figure darted forward again, their hand raised as a wave of shadow energy erupted from their palm. Lahsiv met it head-on, slashing through the attack with his sword, the Abyss’s power flowing through him effortlessly. He could feel the darkness bending to his will, obeying his every command.
The second figure moved to flank him, but Lahsiv was ready. He spun on his heel, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. The figure barely managed to block the strike, their twin blades crossed in front of them as they struggled to hold back the force of Lahsiv’s attack.
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For a brief moment, their eyes met, and Lahsiv saw the flicker of uncertainty in the figure’s gaze. It was clear that they hadn’t expected him to fight back so fiercely, to wield the Abyss with such mastery. But that was their mistake.
With a surge of power, Lahsiv drove his sword forward, breaking through their defenses. His blade struck true, cutting through the figure’s cloak and drawing a sharp cry of pain. The shadows around them twisted violently as the figure staggered back, their form flickering for a moment before they vanished into the darkness.
One down.
Lahsiv turned his attention to the first figure, who stood a few paces away, their hands crackling with dark energy. This one was more cautious, watching Lahsiv carefully, but Lahsiv could sense their desperation. They had thought they would overwhelm him, but now they realized how wrong they were.
“You think the Abyss will bow to you,” the figure hissed, their voice low and filled with venom. “But it’s already consuming you.”
Lahsiv smirked, his voice cold and steady. “The Abyss serves me. And you will fall just like the others.”
The figure snarled and unleashed a torrent of shadow energy, the air around them warping as the attack surged toward Lahsiv. But Lahsiv was already in motion, his body moving with lightning speed as he evaded the attack, closing the distance between them in an instant.
Before the figure could react, Lahsiv struck. His sword cut through the air with deadly precision, slicing through the figure’s defenses as if they were nothing. The figure let out a choked gasp as Lahsiv’s blade pierced through their chest, dark energy spilling from the wound like black smoke.
The shadows around the figure writhed and twisted as they collapsed, their form disintegrating into mist before vanishing completely.
Two down.
Lahsiv stood in the center of the Abyssal Hall, his breathing steady, his sword still gleaming with dark energy. The battle had been swift, decisive. The Umbral Circle had underestimated him, just like Valen had. But Lahsiv had known all along that they would. They didn’t understand the power of the Abyss, not like he did.
He turned his gaze to the man who had been watching from the edge of the chamber. The figure had remained silent throughout the battle, his face hidden beneath his hood, but now, as Lahsiv approached, he spoke again.
“You’ve proven yourself,” the man said, his voice filled with a strange mixture of respect and amusement. “But this is only the beginning.”
Lahsiv’s eyes narrowed. “You sent them to test me. And now you see what happens when you challenge me.”
The man chuckled softly, his form still shrouded in shadows. “Indeed. But the Abyss is far deeper than you realize. You’ve scratched the surface, but there are forces beyond even your understanding. If you wish to survive, you’ll need more than strength.”
Lahsiv’s grip on his sword tightened. “I don’t need your guidance. The Abyss is mine to command.”
The man tilted his head slightly, as if considering Lahsiv’s words. “Perhaps. But remember this, Lahsiv Vale—the Abyss does not care for ambition or pride. It only seeks to consume. And if you’re not careful, it will take everything from you.”
Before Lahsiv could respond, the man’s form began to fade, dissolving into the shadows as he vanished from the chamber. The Abyssal Hall grew quiet once more, the only sound the faint crackle of energy still lingering in the air.
Lahsiv stood alone, his thoughts racing. The battle had been a victory, but the man’s words lingered in his mind. The Abyss was vast, deeper and more dangerous than even he had imagined. And while he had proven his strength today, there were still greater challenges ahead.
But Lahsiv wasn’t afraid. He had faced the darkness before, and he would face it again.
The Umbral Circle had revealed themselves, and now Lahsiv knew that they were watching, waiting for him to slip. But he wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. He would continue to rise, continue to master the Abyss, no matter the cost.
As the shadows of the Abyssal Hall swirled around him, Lahsiv felt the dark energy within him surge, stronger than ever. The Abyss was his to control, and he would wield it like the weapon it was—until he reached the very top.