Shadows of Ascension

The air in the Abyssal Maw grew colder, denser, as Kael descended further into its depths. Each step felt heavier, each breath more labored, as if the weight of the dungeon itself was pressing down on him, seeking to test his resolve. His encounter with the Abyssal Core had left him shaken, his Shadow Corruption creeping higher, the Dreitailen's influence more palpable with every moment. The new trait, Abyssal Grasp, pulsed within him, a dark power coiled and waiting to be unleashed. But even as the shadows whispered of power, Kael couldn’t ignore the growing exhaustion creeping into his limbs.

The further he ventured, the more the Abyssal Maw seemed to change. The once narrow, twisting passages opened into broader, more structured chambers, and the oppressive darkness gave way to a faint, eerie glow that emanated from runes etched into the walls. It was as if the Maw was shifting, evolving, preparing him for something new.

Kael’s eyes scanned the chamber ahead as he entered, his steps careful and deliberate. The space was vast, with towering pillars rising from the ground like twisted, blackened spires. The air was thick with a strange, metallic scent, and the walls were adorned with intricate carvings—symbols and patterns that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy.

But it wasn’t the eerie beauty of the chamber that made Kael pause—it was the sudden, unsettling silence. No skittering of creatures, no echoing footsteps, no distant roars. Just an overwhelming quiet that set his nerves on edge.

His instincts flared. This was a trap. He could feel it in the air, in the subtle shift of the dungeon’s energy. The Abyssal Maw was testing him again, but this time, it wasn’t a creature he had to face. It was something else entirely.

“Warning: Complex trap detected. Puzzle-based challenge initiated. Analysis commencing…”

The System’s voice cut through the silence, cold and analytical. Kael’s heart quickened as he glanced around, searching for any clue as to what kind of challenge the Maw had set before him. His eyes fell on the center of the chamber, where a massive, stone pedestal stood. Atop it was a large, crystal orb, similar in appearance to the Abyssal Core he had encountered before, but its glow was softer, almost inviting.

Surrounding the pedestal were a series of stone tiles set into the floor, each one etched with runes. The runes were unfamiliar, but Kael could feel their power humming beneath the surface, a dangerous energy waiting to be unleashed.

“This is it,” he muttered to himself, stepping cautiously toward the pedestal. He had seen puzzles like this before—ancient mechanisms designed to test not just strength, but wit and perception. One wrong move, and the entire room could become a deathtrap.

“Puzzle initialized. Objective: Activate the correct sequence of tiles to disable the trap. Failure will result in defensive measures.”

Kael clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing as he studied the layout of the chamber. There were five sets of runic tiles arranged in a circular pattern around the pedestal, each with a different symbol glowing faintly. He approached the first tile, crouching down to inspect it more closely.

The rune was complex—interlocking lines and curves that seemed to twist in on themselves. He reached out to touch it but hesitated, feeling a strange warmth emanating from the stone. Something about it felt… off.

“No room for mistakes,” he muttered, pulling his hand back. If this trap was anything like the ones he had encountered in his past dungeon delves, activating the wrong tile could trigger an explosion, release toxic gas, or summon creatures far deadlier than the Abyssal Skitterers.

Kael circled the room, inspecting each of the five tiles in turn. Each one was different, its rune unique, but there was a subtle pattern in the way they were arranged—an almost mathematical symmetry that hinted at the solution.

“The symbols,” he whispered, his mind racing. “They’re not random.”

He studied the first rune again, its twisting lines pulling at the edges of his memory. He had seen symbols like this before in old, forgotten texts. They represented elements—earth, fire, water, air, and shadow. But in the Abyssal Maw, everything was steeped in shadow, and that had to be the key.

The tile with the shadow rune—that’s the starting point.

Kael took a deep breath and stepped toward the tile with the shadow rune. The moment his foot touched the stone, the rune flared to life, casting a dark, shimmering light across the chamber.

“Correct tile activated. Proceed with the sequence.”

Kael exhaled, relieved that his guess had been correct. But there was no time to rest. The remaining tiles still needed to be activated in the right order, and he could feel the weight of the trap pressing down on him, ready to spring at the first sign of failure.

He moved to the next tile, the one etched with the rune of air. In most elemental puzzles, air followed shadow—a progression from the unseen to the intangible.

“Here goes nothing.”

Kael stepped onto the tile, and for a moment, nothing happened. Then, the rune glowed with a soft, pale light, and the faint sound of wind filled the chamber.

“Correct tile activated. Proceed with the sequence.”

Two down, three to go. Kael wiped the sweat from his brow, his heart pounding in his chest. The next tile had to be water—it was the only element that flowed with air. He moved cautiously, his eyes fixed on the blue-hued rune.

His foot hovered over the tile for a split second, doubt gnawing at him. But he couldn’t afford hesitation now. He pressed down, feeling the cool surface beneath his boot.

The rune glowed, water swirling through the lines etched into the stone.

“Correct tile activated. Proceed with the sequence.”

Kael let out a slow breath, his muscles relaxing slightly. He was more than halfway through. Only two tiles remained: earth and fire. His mind raced, trying to piece together the correct order. Fire and earth were often intertwined in dungeon puzzles, representing creation and destruction, but the wrong order could be catastrophic.

He stared at the two runes, his mind torn. Fire was dangerous—it could consume everything if triggered too soon. Earth was stable, grounding, but if it came after fire, the destruction would already be set in motion.

“Earth first,” Kael muttered, stepping toward the rune. “Earth stabilizes fire.”

He pressed his foot down on the tile, and the rune glowed with a warm, golden light.

“Correct tile activated. Proceed with the sequence.”

Kael felt a surge of relief, but it was quickly replaced by the cold realization that one final step remained. The fire rune was all that stood between him and the completion of the puzzle—but it was also the most dangerous tile.

If he was wrong…

Kael shook his head, steeling his resolve. He had come this far. There was no turning back.

With a deep breath, he stepped onto the final tile.

For a moment, nothing happened. The silence stretched, oppressive and thick, as if the entire dungeon was holding its breath.

Then, with a soft whoosh, the fire rune ignited, casting a warm glow throughout the chamber.

“Puzzle completed. Trap deactivated. Safe zone unlocked.”

The System’s voice was like music to Kael’s ears. He exhaled, his entire body sagging with relief as the runes around the pedestal dimmed and the oppressive energy in the air dissipated. The challenge was over. He had solved the puzzle.

As the trap deactivated, a section of the wall slid open with a low, grinding sound, revealing a small alcove beyond. Inside the alcove, the air was noticeably warmer, and the faint scent of fresh water and food reached Kael’s nose. A glowing barrier shimmered at the entrance, casting a soft, inviting light over the space.

Kael approached the alcove cautiously, his eyes scanning for any signs of danger. But the System’s words echoed in his mind—safe zone unlocked. He had found a sanctuary, a place where the Maw’s dangers couldn’t reach him.

He stepped through the barrier, and the moment he crossed the threshold, he felt an overwhelming sense of calm wash over him. The tension in his muscles eased, and the constant pressure of the Dreitailen’s influence faded into the background, no longer an oppressive weight on his mind.

The alcove was small but cozy, with a bed made of soft, woven fabric in one corner, a basin of clear water set into the floor, and a tray of simple food—bread, dried meat, and fruit—waiting for him on a stone table. The barrier at the entrance shimmered faintly, a visible reminder that no creatures could enter this space.

Kael sat down on the bed, his exhaustion catching up with him all at once. His body ached, his mind was heavy, and the wounds from his previous battles throbbed with a dull, persistent pain.

But for the first time in what felt like days, Kael allowed himself to relax. He was safe, if only for a short while.

“Safe zone activated. Duration: 12 hours. Resting will restore HP, MP, and stamina.”

Kael let out a long, slow breath, leaning back against the wall. The safe zone was a blessing—an oasis in the heart of the Abyssal Maw, where he could recover and prepare for whatever lay ahead. Safe zones like this were rare in dungeons, but he had heard stories of adventurers finding them after particularly hard challenges. It seemed the Maw had decided to give him a brief reprieve.

He reached for the tray of food, his stomach growling in protest. The bread was dry, and the meat was tough, but Kael didn’t care. He ate in silence, his mind replaying the events of the last few hours—the Harpy, the Skitterers, the Abyssal Core, the puzzle. Every encounter had pushed him closer to the edge, but he had survived. He was still standing.

Kael glanced down at his status screen, watching as his HP, MP, and stamina slowly began to tick upward, the benefits of the safe zone taking effect.

Status Screen

Attribute Value

Name Kael

Soulbound Creature Dreitailen

Rarity Tier Unique Rarity

Level 6

Evolution Stage 1

Health Points (HP) 120/140

Mana Points (MP) 90/120

Stamina 90/120

Strength 16

Agility 18

Intelligence 10 (-1 Corruption)

Endurance 16

Perception 14

Luck 9

Shadow Corruption (SC) 15%

Synergy Bonus Veil of Shadows

Kael stared at the numbers, feeling a mixture of relief and unease. His Shadow Corruption was still creeping higher, and though the Abyssal Grasp granted him new abilities, it was clear that each step deeper into the Maw was costing him more of himself. The Dreitailen’s influence was growing, and with every fight, every challenge, he felt that line between them blur just a little more.

But for now, Kael pushed those thoughts aside. He had twelve hours in this safe zone—twelve hours to rest, recover, and prepare for the next stage of the Maw.

He stretched out on the bed, closing his eyes as the tension in his body slowly melted away. The soft glow of the safe zone’s barrier cast a comforting light over the alcove, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Kael allowed himself to sleep.

The darkness of the Abyssal Maw waited outside, but for now, Kael was safe.

For now, he could rest.

And when he awoke, he would be ready.