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Chapter 53: The Whispering Shadows
The world outside the Abyssal Dungeon felt different.
The sky had darkened slightly, as if reacting to the dungeon's seal being broken. Clouds moved unnaturally fast, and the air was thick with mana. Rio stood silently, staring at the swirling remnants of the vortex that had vanished right before their eyes.
"I… I felt it," Iris whispered, clenching her chest. "Whatever we released… it's alive."
Retina frowned. "And worse—it's watching."
Suddenly, Rio's system window flickered.
> New Quest Unlocked: "Track the Echo of the Abyss." The creature born from the seal has vanished into the world. Locate its presence. Learn its identity. Prepare for the final descent.
"What kind of quest is this?" Rio muttered.
Before they could react, a soft, haunting voice echoed behind them—yet no one was there.
"Shadowbearers… You are the ones who opened the door. You shall witness the fall of light."
All three drew their weapons instinctively.
"It's taunting us," Rio said, narrowing his eyes. "It knows who we are."
They knew they couldn't go back to the capital yet. They needed more information. So, the trio set off toward the nearest magic research town—Eldoria, known for its ancient archives and sealed knowledge.
Hours of walking later, they arrived at the glowing city. Magic lights floated through the air, and scholars in long robes roamed the streets. But something was off—there was tension in the air. Everyone whispered. Shadows seemed longer. The town's protective barriers flickered like broken lights.
They approached the town gate, where an old gatekeeper glanced at them with worried eyes.
"You three… you just came from the Abyssal Dungeon, didn't you?" he asked.
Rio nodded. "How do you know?"
The man pointed at the sky. "Because it changed the moment you stepped out."
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Inside Eldoria, they visited the Archives of Sealed Truths. There, a blind librarian named Master Yurei greeted them. He seemed to recognize their presence without seeing them.
"You seek the origin of the seal," Yurei said, placing his hand on an ancient stone tablet. "The creature that escaped… it is older than the demons. Older than the gods. It is called the Nihilborn."
He handed them a torn parchment with a symbol—an eye wrapped in chains.
"It cannot be killed by normal means. If you wish to stop it, you'll need three legendary artifacts lost across the continents. The first… lies in the Cursed Vale of Stormrend."
Rio looked at his party. "Looks like our next destination is clear."
As they left the library, Iris glanced up at the moon—it was glowing red.
"We started something, didn't we?" she asked.
Rio smirked slightly. "Yeah. But we're going to end it too."
The shadows watched from afar. The game had changed.
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