69 Chapter 68; The Abyss

Looking around I made sure the passage would not be a dead end. Like the intersections here the branches and roots which covered the area glowed a distinct different color. Instead of the bright yellow now it had grown to a more preserved orange.

Why had the color changed? Was there any indication to it whatsoever? Hoping to find something useful I continued my journey into the unknown. At least this way there was a passage to take instead of a dead end.

The passage way felt like it could go on forever, never changing its course. Which what felt like hours. I had been walking into the same direction aimlessly without any distinction of getting anywhere.

Almost feeling like the passageway may have been leading to nowhere I began losing hope. That was when the slightest changes which to be were still unnoticed began to happen.

The glowing lights which had taken on a distinct orange color slowly began turning red, pulsating like before. I noticed the change in movement of the light which made me think it could actually be signaling something important. Something which I would come to regret not finding out sooner.

Crawling deeper into the unknown, soon nothing makes sense anymore.

By now I had fully noticed that the lights had been behaving more different than usual.

What once was Orange now had become red, making it difficult to see depth within this long passageway. The pulses had growing more rapidly as I went on to the seemingly never ending journey when the light stopped. It just stopped out of nowhere… But why?

What did it symbolize? For a moment I found myself in complete darkness, feeling almost like an eternity. I decided it was best to register my surroundings using my dark vision skill. But nothing…

Nothing besides a huge wall of darkness… Something my sight couldn't even get clear vision in…

"Weird… Wouldn't <Dark Vision> usually be able to see through the darkness?

I wonder…"

I walked closer towards the confusing and odd occurrence in front of me.

I didn't know what to think… I just couldn't see through this endless void of darkness.

Closing my eyes, I collected my thoughts, because this wasn't like the experiences I had before.

"Normally… I would say that with my skill everything should be clear as day to me, but now…

I don't know what to do… Outside it seemed like there really was no other way than turning back to the volcanic floor… But now, since this passageway seemed to be hidden, could it be that this wasn't meant for me?"

I thought hard about it without moving forward trying to make sense of the situation, all while the lights stopped right at this endless void.

I heard my brain twitching as I continued to stay confused. When something unnoticed by me began to move in this darkness.

"What if this area is like the shire I had been to with Blacky… What if instead of a safe place this actually might be another creature's home? Could it be?"

The unnoticed presence not yet aware of my presence either Did notice a light within the darkness.

The light which supposedly had been leading me to this void. Now the pulsing of the light had stopped, keeping a steady bright red which filled the passageway.

I just couldn't make sense of this situation. Deciding to accept it and hoping that this darkness wouldn't affect me I peered into it once more.

"What did Nietzsche say again; If you peer into the abyss, the abyss peers back into you?

Haha… Wouldn't that be something? Having someone stare straight back at me as I stared into the darkness?"

Hoping my sarcastic statement was false I walked closer towards what I now had decided to call "The Abyss". Trying to move my claw towards the seemingly impossible darkness. For a slight moment I came into contact with it, when for a moment I thought I could see two dim lights show up inside there. Gone as quickly as they appeared this made it almost seem like they had never been there. But I knew that what I saw was real. I… Wasn't… Alone…

Touching this confusing matter, this darkness… I came to find why I might not have been able to see through it initially. Upon touching the darkness felt musky… Almost like an invisible layer or blanket had wrapped itself around the fingers which had now passed though this wall?

"Is this actually a wall? What it is more similar to a portal? Then… At least now I know that it is not damaging my body. The mental strain on the other hand… Man… I can feel my heart pounding in my throat haha… Slowly I began to move through this dark gateway. Pushing my head through I found that the darkness wasn't as distinct on the other side. As a flame lit up in the middle of the room filling the area with warm orange and red accents.

Feeling that it was safe to enter I pushed my entire body to go through the gateway not knowing what I could expect and allowing my eyes to adjust to the now cozy, yet dimly lit room.

I couldn't register or find anything which would be remotely alive in here. At least, nothing which was "still" alive.

Looking around I found that there were three passages which I could be taking. The one on the left leading to a similar feeling corridor. As I closed in on it, it too lighted up like the one did before I had entered the area. Only this time flames alongside the path had lighted up the area.

I walked back to the center of the room, warming up with the flame, getting a cozy and fuzzy feeling almost. As I had gotten comfortable I decided to check out the other paths or at least I would try to find if danger was up ahead when a window opened.

[The secret Abyss of Darkness; Choose the correct path and come out victorious.

Danger: What lies ahead could proof to be the biggest challenge yet, but as the player chooses the right path to take it could allow them to find locked hidden potential within.

Mission; What path should you take?]

[Left], [Middle] or [Right]

I looked at the path to the right, feeling there could be lots of enemies waiting for me.

Then again, something didn't feel right about the middle one… Something which I couldn't place…

As if someone or some "thing" was staring right through me...