Kael walked deeper into the Abyssal Maw, the silence pressing against him like a living thing. The weight of the shadows felt heavier now, each step pulling him further from the world above, further from whatever remnants of humanity he might have once held onto. His recent confrontation with the survivors was still fresh in his mind, their desperate pleas echoing faintly as if trying to claw their way through the darkness of his thoughts.

“More monster than human,” they had called him. “Corrupted.”

But Kael dismissed their words, feeling only a cold satisfaction as he recalled the finality of his victory. They had been weak, clinging to amulets and charms, refusing to see the strength that true darkness could grant. And they had tried to project their fears onto him, to convince him that the corruption was destroying him. Fools. They didn’t understand. He wasn’t becoming less of himself; he was evolving.

His connection to the Dreitailen had deepened, a bond that felt as natural as his own breath. The creature was no longer just his soulbound companion; it was an extension of himself, a shadow within a shadow. Kael felt its presence at the edge of his mind, silent yet powerful, ready to surge forth whenever he called.

The dark silence of the Maw was interrupted by a faint sound—soft, nearly imperceptible, like the whisper of fabric against stone. Kael paused, his senses heightening as he scanned the shadows. There was something here. Something watching him.

His eyes narrowed, his hand tightening on the hilt of his Shadowfang Dagger as he slipped into the darkness, activating Shadow Meld. His form faded, blending seamlessly into the shadows as he moved toward the source of the sound. The Dreitailen’s instincts guided him, sharpening his focus, urging him to approach without hesitation.

A figure emerged from a nearby tunnel, its movements slow and deliberate. It was humanoid, but twisted, its limbs elongated and its body hunched, as though it had been warped by the Maw’s influence. Its skin was a mottled gray, its eyes a faint, ghostly white that glowed in the dim light.

Kael watched it, his body coiled and ready. He had encountered creatures like this before—Fallen Wanderers—those who had once been human but had succumbed to the Maw’s madness. They were hollow shells, driven only by a primal hunger for survival, devoid of any remnants of their former selves.

But this one was different.

The creature turned, its gaze locking onto Kael despite his cloaked presence. Kael felt a shiver run through him as the creature’s empty eyes fixed on him with a strange, almost sentient awareness. It was as though it could sense the Dreitailen within him, drawn to the same darkness that had transformed it.

---

“Analyzing… Hostile detected. Species: Abyssal Husk (Enhanced). Threat Level: High.”

---

The System’s prompt was clear, yet Kael felt a dark excitement at the sight of the creature. This was no ordinary Husk. It was stronger, faster—evolved beyond the mindless Wanderers that he had encountered before. It was a creature that had fully embraced the Maw’s corruption, twisted into something powerful.

Like me, Kael thought, a cold smile curling at the edge of his lips.

The creature let out a low, guttural growl as it lunged at him, its clawed hands reaching out with terrifying speed. Kael reacted instinctively, slipping to the side as he activated Cloak of Dread, an aura of oppressive fear radiating from him that caused the creature to falter, its movements slowing for a brief moment.

Kael took advantage of the opening, his dagger flashing as he struck. The blade sank into the creature’s shoulder, dark ichor spilling from the wound as it let out a furious snarl. But the creature didn’t fall. Instead, it twisted around, its claws slashing through the air as it retaliated with a fierce intensity.

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Kael dodged, his body moving with a fluid grace as he evaded the creature’s attacks. He could feel the Dreitailen’s influence surging within him, guiding his movements, sharpening his instincts. This was a true challenge, a creature that matched his own strength and speed. And he relished it.

The creature lunged at him again, its claws aimed for his throat. Kael rolled to the side, coming up behind it as he activated Shadow Strike, the shadows coiling around his blade as he drove it into the creature’s back. The impact sent a shockwave through the creature’s body, and it let out a final, agonized roar before collapsing to the ground.

---

“Enemy defeated. Awarding experience points.”

---

Kael straightened, his breath steady as he looked down at the creature’s remains. The battle had been exhilarating, a testament to the power he had gained from the Maw. But there was a nagging sensation at the back of his mind, a faint whisper that lingered even as the Dreitailen’s presence pulsed within him.

The creature had been… familiar. A twisted mirror of himself, a warning of what he could become if he continued down this path.

No, he thought, dismissing the idea. He was in control. The Dreitailen’s influence was a gift, a source of strength that he had willingly accepted. The creature had succumbed to the Maw’s madness, but Kael was different. He wasn’t just surviving the darkness—he was mastering it.

He took a deep breath, centering himself as he prepared to move deeper into the Maw. The encounter had left him energized, his body thrumming with power as he continued forward, his every step echoing through the dark corridors.

But he didn’t get far.

The passageway opened into a large chamber, and Kael stopped as he saw the figures waiting for him. A group of survivors, armed and ready, their expressions grim as they turned to face him. Unlike the previous group, they didn’t look like they were here by chance. Their stances were strong, controlled, as though they had been expecting him.

At their center stood a tall man, his gaze hard and unyielding as he studied Kael. His armor was battered but sturdy, a faint glow emanating from a series of runes etched into the metal. He held a massive sword, its blade chipped but still deadly.

Kael’s eyes narrowed, his body tensing as he assessed the group. They were stronger than the others he had encountered, their presence radiating a calm determination that suggested experience. But he wasn’t afraid. The Dreitailen’s influence thrummed within him, urging him forward, reminding him of the power he held.

“Are you here to die, too?” Kael asked, his voice cold.

The leader’s expression hardened. “We’re here because you need to stop,” he replied, his voice steady. “You’ve let the Maw twist you, corrupt you. But it’s not too late. We can help you.”

Kael felt a flicker of irritation at the man’s words, the Dreitailen’s presence surging within him as he suppressed a sneer. “Help me?” he repeated, his tone mocking. “I don’t need your help. I’ve embraced the Maw’s power. I’m stronger than any of you.”

“You’re stronger, yes,” the man admitted, his gaze unwavering. “But that strength is hollow. The Maw takes from you, piece by piece, until there’s nothing left but a monster. Look at yourself, Kael. You’re losing yourself.”

Kael’s hand tightened on the hilt of his dagger. He could feel the Dreitailen’s anger flaring, its hunger urging him to silence these fools who dared question him. “I’m not losing anything. The Maw has given me power, made me more than I ever was. And I don’t need you to tell me otherwise.”

The woman beside the leader, her eyes filled with a mix of pity and sadness, spoke up. “Can’t you feel it? The darkness within you? It’s consuming you, Kael. You’re no longer the person you once were.”

Kael felt a cold fury building in his chest. They didn’t understand. They were weak, clinging to their illusions of humanity, afraid to see the truth of the Maw’s power. “The person I was?” he spat, his voice laced with contempt. “The person I was was weak, powerless. But here, in the Maw, I’ve become something more.”

The leader took a step forward, his hand raised as if in a gesture of peace. “Kael, it’s not too late. We’ve seen others like you, people who thought they could control the Maw’s influence. They were wrong. It twisted them, turned them into monsters. We don’t want that for you.”

Kael’s vision darkened, the Dreitailen’s presence filling his mind as he felt his anger flare into a cold, unrelenting rage. These people dared to pity him, to look down on him as though he was broken. But he was stronger than them, stronger than any of them could ever be.

“You don’t understand,” Kael said, his voice low and dangerous. “I don’t need saving. I am the darkness.”

The leader’s expression hardened, his stance shifting as he prepared for battle. “Then you leave us no choice.”