The darkness gradually receded, and the Gate of the Fissure closed amidst the rumbling sound. Kale stood beside the fallen Shadow Messenger. The long knife dripped with the still-unextinguished black mist. Each drop of the black liquid that fell to the ground let out a harsh hissing sound, as if cursing the power that had destroyed them.
Cangzhao led the wolf pack to stand solemnly behind Kale, their gazes cold. The surroundings were covered with the charred marks left by the burning tentacles, and the air still carried the stench of the darkness that had scorched everything.
"Is it over?" Cangzhao asked in a low voice, panting. His claws were stained with the residue of the black mist, and those things seeped into his fur like poison, causing a dull pain.
Kale remained silent, staring at the broken body of the Shadow Messenger. Although the darkness had retreated, he still felt a trace of unease deep in his heart. That feeling was like a sleeping beast whispering in his ear, ready to break free from its cage at any moment.
The Shadow Messenger lay on the stone platform, his breath faint, and there was still a strange smile on the corner of his mouth. He half-opened his eyes and looked at Kale faintly. "Do you think the darkness is just like this?"
"I don't need to know any more." Kale pointed the tip of the knife at the Shadow Messenger's heart, his gaze cold.
However, the Shadow Messenger suddenly coughed up a mouthful of black blood and let out a low laugh from his throat. "The fire of the Wolf Soul can destroy me, but it can't extinguish the will of the Abyss. The fissure has already awakened, and you've just delayed the time of its true arrival."
Yize, wearing a cloak, walked over from the other side of the fissure. He stared at the Shadow Messenger with a calm gaze and said slowly, "He's right. The power of the Abyss is far more unfathomable than you and I can imagine. The real threat is still lurking outside the fissure."
"What do you mean?" Kale frowned, and his hand holding the knife involuntarily tightened.
Yize stopped beside the Shadow Messenger, squatted down, and carefully examined the edge of the Gate of the Fissure. "Under the Wolf Soul Mountains, there is more than one Gate of the Abyss. This is just one of them."
Kale's heart sank suddenly, and he looked at Yize sharply. "You knew about this?"
Yize lowered his gaze and let out a sigh. "Before the Wolf Soul King fell into a deep sleep, he left not only the protecting fire but also the forbidden memories. The Gate of the Fissure is a part of the royal bloodline. Only the true heir of the Wolf Soul can sense their existence."
"Forbidden memories..." Kale murmured to himself, his fingertips trembling slightly, as if that memory had quietly awakened within him.
The laughter of the Shadow Messenger became even more ear-piercing. "Hahaha... That's right, you're the key, Kale. If you don't destroy the Abyss, you're destined to become its vessel. Look at your hand, look at the fire of the Wolf Soul flowing in your body. That power will eventually backfire on you one day."
Kale lowered his head and looked at his palm. The flames were dancing between his fingers, and a trace of faint black aura was mixed in the blazing fire. He suddenly closed his eyes and suppressed the flames, but the shadow in his heart lingered.
"Don't listen to him." Cangzhao took a step forward and said in a low voice, "The words of the Shadow Messenger can't be trusted."
Kale nodded, but his gaze was still heavy. He raised his knife and pushed the body of the Shadow Messenger towards the edge of the fissure. "No matter how many more schemes you have, it all ends here."
The Shadow Messenger spread his arms as if embracing the darkness. "I'll be waiting for you in the Abyss, Kale."
Kale suddenly stabbed down with his knife. The body of the Shadow Messenger dissipated in the black mist and turned into nothingness, leaving only the blood-stained dagger rolling on the stone platform, making a harsh echoing sound.
The fissure returned to calm, but everyone present knew that this was not the real end.
Yize picked up the dagger, examined it for a moment, and then put it into his arms. "This dagger still retains the aura of the Abyss. It might come in handy in the future."
"Aren't you afraid of being eroded if you carry it?" Cangzhao glanced at him and showed a wary look.
Yize chuckled. "Coexisting with the Abyss is the destiny of a wanderer."
Kale looked beyond the fissure. The distant Wolf Soul Mountains were shrouded in a faint blood moonlight. The mountains were silent, as if waiting for a moment that was about to arrive.
A sense of foreboding filled the air, like an invisible layer of fog, quietly invading everyone's heart.
"What do we do next?" Cangzhao asked.
Kale thought for a moment, his gaze firm. "Keep moving forward."
Yize raised his eyebrows. "Where are you going?"
"The Tomb of the Wolf Soul." Kale looked up at the deeper part of the mountains. That forbidden land was hidden among layers of mist, and few people had ever set foot there.
"Are you crazy?" Yize's tone carried a hint of disbelief. "The Shadow Messenger is dead, and the fissure is sealed. Why are you still taking risks?"
Kale turned around and stared at Yize. "Because of the words the Shadow Messenger said before he died."
Yize's expression froze slightly, and then he showed a complicated smile. "… I understand."
"The Tomb of the Wolf Soul might hold all the answers." Kale gripped his long knife tightly and took a firm step towards the depths of the mountains. The wolf pack silently followed behind him, and Cangzhao walked closely beside him.
Yize stood on the edge of the fissure, staring at the back of Kale as he walked away. After a while, he let out a sigh and murmured, "The whispers of the dead might guide you towards the true darkness."
The blood moon hung high. Deep in the mountains, an ancient wolf howl faintly came. The sound was distant and low, as if it came from another world, quietly summoning the heir of the Wolf Soul.