The path to the Ashen Keep was treacherous, winding through jagged cliffs and thick mist. Each step felt heavier than the last, and the silence of the surrounding landscape pressed down on the group like a suffocating weight.

“There it is,” Eryon said, his voice tinged with both awe and dread.

The Ashen Keep loomed before them, a crumbling fortress perched on the edge of a sheer cliff. Its blackened stones bore the scars of time and fire, and the air around it crackled faintly with energy.

“This is where it all began,” Eryon continued, his hand tightening on his staff. “The Abyssal Ember was born here, forged in the heart of this very keep.”

Kaito stared at the ruins, his heart pounding. The relic at his side seemed to hum in response, its faint glow pulsing like a heartbeat.

“Do you feel it?” Eryon asked, his gaze fixed on Kaito.

Kaito nodded. “It’s... calling to me.”

Sayuri stepped forward, her blade drawn. “We should tread carefully. If the Hunters are after the Ember, they’ll be waiting for us.”

Inside the keep, the air was thick with the scent of ash and decay. The walls were etched with runes similar to those on the relic, glowing faintly as Kaito passed.

“This place remembers,” Eryon said, trailing his fingers along the runes. “The Forge and the Ember are tied to this keep. It will respond to your presence, Kaito, but be wary. The Abyss has a voice, and it whispers to those who listen.”

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Kaito felt the relic grow warmer against his side. As they descended a spiral staircase into the heart of the keep, he began to hear it—a faint, melodic hum, both beautiful and haunting.

At the base of the stairs lay a massive chamber, its floor covered in blackened, cracked stone. At the center stood an ancient forge, its surface marred by the passage of time but still exuding a faint, otherworldly glow.

Kaito stepped forward, drawn to the forge. The relic pulsed in his hand, its light intensifying.

“This is it,” Eryon said, his voice barely a whisper. “The Forge of Creation.”

Sayuri stood back, her expression wary. “And where’s the Ember?”

Eryon’s face darkened. “If the Hunters have reached it first, then we’re already too late.”

A slow clap echoed through the chamber, and the Hunters’ leader stepped out of the shadows, flanked by his soldiers.

“Well done, Flamebearer,” he said mockingly. “You’ve brought the relic right where we need it.”

Kaito raised the relic, its flames roaring to life. “If you want it, come and take it!”

The leader smirked, drawing his jagged blade. “Oh, I don’t need to. You’ve already done half the work for me.”

“What are you talking about?” Kaito demanded.

The leader gestured toward the forge. “The relic is the key to awakening the Abyssal Ember. Every time you’ve used it, you’ve fed the Ember’s flame. And now, it’s ready to awaken.”

Kaito’s blood ran cold. He glanced at the relic, its light flickering with an almost frantic energy.

“No,” he whispered. “That’s not true.”

“Oh, but it is,” the leader said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. “And once the Ember is fully awakened, your precious Forge will be nothing but ashes.”

The chamber erupted into chaos as the Hunters attacked. Sayuri moved with deadly precision, her blade cutting through the soldiers with relentless efficiency.

Eryon raised his staff, casting a shield around the forge as Kaito unleashed the relic’s flames. The leader charged at him, their blades clashing in a shower of sparks.

“You’re a fool to think you can control it!” the leader snarled, pressing Kaito back.

“I don’t need to control it,” Kaito said through gritted teeth. “I just need to stop you.”

The relic flared brightly, and a wave of fire surged through the chamber, forcing the Hunters to retreat.

When the smoke cleared, Kaito dropped to his knees, the relic dimming once more. Sayuri rushed to his side, her face pale.

“Kaito, we have to leave,” she said urgently. “The forge—it’s unstable.”

Eryon’s expression was grim as he examined the forge. “The awakening has begun. If we don’t stop it soon, the Ember will consume everything.”