(Chapter Begins with Fayra's Research)
Fayra, looking serious and slightly exhausted, spread out an old map on the ground. The edges of the paper were burned and worn out, as if centuries had passed since its creation. Everyone gathered around it, even Darky (the fake Ethan), who stood with his arms crossed and a mysterious smile, enjoying the team's efforts.
Fayra, frowning at the map, said,
"Alright, after a lot of research and analysis, I've finally found a way to trap this creature of darkness."
Alice, sitting on the ground, tilted her head in curiosity and said,
"Oh? So you actually found a solution? That's great! Tell us how we're going to fix this problem!"
Without taking her eyes off the map, Fayra replied,
"Oh, it's pretty simple… we just need to go to the deepest and darkest place in this land— a place called the 'Black Abyss'."
For a moment, everyone fell silent. Then, Luna, who was always excited about strange things, eagerly asked,
"Whoa, the 'Black Abyss'? What's that?"
Fayra continued in a mysterious tone,
"It's an ancient place that was built centuries ago to imprison creatures of darkness. Kind of like a prison for dangerous beings. But the problem is…"
She paused, holding her breath, and looked at the others.
Selena, guessing that there was a major issue, asked,
"The problem is what?"
Fayra took a deep breath and said,
"The abyss is located in an area full of bizarre monsters, deadly traps, and… a certain kind of dark mist that, if someone stays in for too long, will make them lose their mind."
Ethan, realizing that the situation was more serious than expected, half-smiled and said,
"Great! So we're heading to a dark place filled with deadly monsters and traps that could kill us. Just what we needed."
Darky, who seemed quite satisfied with the situation, smirked and said,
"So… when do we leave?"
After preparing their supplies, the group finally left their base and embarked on the path leading to the "Black Abyss."
The journey was long, dark, and full of unknown dangers, but everyone was ready to face them—at least until they encountered their first real challenge!
The Forest of Darkness – Trees That Move!
As they stepped into the forest, the air grew heavy. The trees were tall and dry, devoid of leaves, yet they seemed alive. Their twisted trunks looked like struggling bodies, and an eerie silence filled the atmosphere. There were no birds, no rustling of leaves—only the sound of the group's footsteps crunching against the dry ground.
Alice, scanning the surroundings carefully, murmured,
"Something's strange about this forest… I feel like we're being watched."
Luna, laughing nervously, added,
"Let's just hope it's only watching and not planning anything else!"
Ethan took a deep breath and shook his head.
"Let's just keep moving. Don't let this place mess with our heads."
But just as they walked a few more steps, a sudden snapping sound came from behind them.
Everyone froze. Selena quickly turned around, but saw nothing.
Narrowing her eyes, she muttered,
"I'm sure something was there…"
They cautiously continued forward, but a few minutes later—snap!—the sound echoed again.
Fayra furrowed her brows and glared at the trees.
"Something is definitely wrong with these trees…"
Alice, her voice trembling slightly, whispered,
"I swear… these trees are getting closer!"
Ethan laughed and placed his hands on his hips.
"What? Trees that move? You're joking, right?"
But just at that moment, when he turned around, his eyes widened in shock—a tree that had been meters away just moments ago was now standing directly behind them!
Alice screamed,
"I told you! The trees are moving!"
Fayra quickly raised her hand, ready to unleash a fire spell, but Selena grabbed her wrist.
"No! If we attack them, we might wake them all up!"
Ethan, trying to stay calm, asked,
"Then give us a better plan!"
Selena spoke firmly,
"We can't take our eyes off them. They only move when we're not looking. Let's move in a formation where someone is always watching them."
With this strategy, they managed to escape the forest, but one question lingered in everyone's mind: If the forest was just the beginning, what horrors awaited them next?
Hidden Creatures in the Shadows – Eyes Watching Them!
After passing through the eerie forest, their path led them toward rocky hills. The air was misty, and the sky had turned completely black, swallowing every trace of sunlight.
Luna rubbed her arms and muttered,
"This place is weird. It's not too hot, not too cold… like something unnatural is controlling the air."
Alice glanced around, her expression uneasy.
"To be honest… I feel like we're being followed."
Ethan narrowed his eyes and glanced behind them but saw nothing.
"Maybe it's just your imagination, but let's pick up the pace just in case."
Yet, the further they went, the stronger the feeling of being watched became. The sound of extra footsteps, the faint rustling of unseen entities, shadowy movements at the edge of their vision…
Suddenly, Luna stopped and raised her hand.
"Wait! What the hell is that?!"
Everyone turned. Glowing red eyes shimmered in the mist, staring at them from the distance!
Selena whispered,
"Those… are Shadow Spirits. They stalk travelers, waiting for them to grow tired before they strike."
Alice, panic rising in her voice, asked,
"Great! Now tell me how we get rid of them?!"
Fayra smirked and pulled out a small magical torch from her pocket. As soon as she lit it, a golden glow spread around them, pushing the shadows back. One by one, the red eyes vanished into the darkness.
Ethan, blinking in surprise, said,
"That's it? Just a light?"
Fayra chuckled.
"Nothing scares creatures of darkness more than a little light."
The Black Rain – A Storm That Melts the Ground!
Just as they thought they were safe, the sky darkened even further. Strange, unnatural thunder rumbled, and raindrops began to fall.
But when the first drop hit the ground—sizzle!—a thick, acrid smoke rose from the earth.
Alice yelped and jumped back.
"What is this?!"
Selena crouched, examining the ground before frowning.
"Acid rain. We need to find shelter, fast!"
They all ran desperately, searching for cover. Finally, they found a small cave within the mountains and rushed inside.
Breathing heavily, Ethan said,
"Well, that was the most exciting journey I've ever had!"
Fayra smirked.
"Don't celebrate too soon. We still have a long way to go."
Darcy, who had been sitting in the corner quietly, smirked and said,
"You all are really determined to reach your destination… But are you sure that destination is what you're actually looking for?"
Everyone turned to him. But before anyone could respond, Fayra's map suddenly changed! The paths they had planned to take were shifting!
Alice gasped.
"The map is changing?! How is that even possible?!"
Selena whispered,
"It seems… something magical is trying to mislead us…"
And this… was only the beginning of their journey.
Preparing for the Journey
After making this big decision, everyone started gathering the necessary supplies:
• Fayra was carefully placing her fiery potions into her special belt.
• Alice packed a bag full of magic papers and enchanted crystals.
• Luna grabbed a sack full of her strange weapons, including poisoned daggers and special chains.
• Selena was checking her spellbooks, deciding which ones would be the most useful.
• Ethan, still confused, just picked up a sword, hoping he wouldn't have to use it!
When everyone was finally ready, Darky smiled mysteriously and said,
"I hope this journey turns out to be an interesting one. You might have to make some difficult choices along the way…"
Alice narrowed her eyes at him.
"What are you trying to say?"
Darky replied calmly,
"Oh, nothing… Just that you can't always trust what you see."
And with that, their journey began.