《Blood of the abyss》


 Echoes of the past

    Chapter 1: Echoes of the Past


    Prologue: The Fall of the Magic Era


    500 years ago, the world thrived on magic. It wasn¡¯t merely a tool; it was life itself, infused into the land, the air, and the people. Cities floated above the clouds, powered by the divine elements gifted by the gods. The six deities Ignis (Fire), Aeris (Wind), Terra (Earth), Fulgar (Lightning), Aqua (Water), and Luminara (Light) watched over humanity, blessing them with magic to build a utopia.


    But peace is a fragile thing. Prosperity bred greed, and from the shadows emerged a force that would unravel it all.


    Shinra, the Dark Demon God, was born from chaos, a being neither created nor governed by the other gods. He sought nothing but destruction, thriving on the despair of those who fell to his power. His followers called him the Abyss Incarnate, and his army of shadowed monstrosities laid waste to the world.


    The six gods descended to face him. Their battle tore the skies apart, and their divine blood soaked the earth. Mountains crumbled, and oceans boiled as their powers clashed. But Shinra¡¯s darkness was endless, consuming everything it touched.


    In a final act of desperation, the gods combined their powers, forging a seal that bound Shinra in the deepest abyss of the Underworld. The strain of the ritual shattered their divine forms, and they vanished from the world, leaving behind only fragments of their essence.


    With the gods gone, magic began to fade. The once-vibrant world grew dull, and humanity was left to fend for itself. The Magic Era ended, its wonders reduced to myths and legends.


    Present Day: Tokyo, Japan


    Neon lights flickered across the bustling streets of Tokyo, painting the night in vibrant hues. Among the throng of people, Mike Ekon walked with his head down, his broad shoulders tense. At 17, he stood out not just for his dark skin but for the intensity in his eyes, a mix of frustration and longing.


    He clutched a crumpled letter in his hand. Another rejection. Another door slammed in his face.


    ¡°Mike, wait up!¡±


    The voice belonged to Rin, her auburn hair tied back as she jogged to catch up. She was small but fierce, her sharp features softened by a teasing smile.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you got rejected again,¡± she said, falling into step beside him.


    Mike didn¡¯t answer. He shoved the letter into his pocket, his jaw tightening.


    ¡°You know, not every company is going to see how amazing you are right away,¡± Rin continued, her tone light. ¡°You just have to keep trying.¡±


    Mike stopped abruptly, turning to face her. ¡°It¡¯s not just this. It¡¯s everything. No matter what I do, it¡¯s never enough. I work harder than anyone, but it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m still... invisible.¡±


    Rin¡¯s smile faltered. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, a tall figure joined them.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Kenji, with his messy black hair and laid-back grin, slung an arm around Mike¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Invisible? Bro, you¡¯re the loudest guy I know.¡±


    ¡°Kenji¡±


    ¡°Seriously,¡± Kenji interrupted, ignoring Mike¡¯s scowl. ¡°You¡¯ve got that whole ¡®strong and silent¡¯ thing going on. People notice you, even if they don¡¯t say it.¡±


    Mike shrugged off his friend¡¯s arm. ¡°Not the right people.¡±


    Kenji exchanged a glance with Rin, his smile fading slightly. ¡°Look, man, you¡¯ve got us. And that counts for something, right?¡±


    Mike didn¡¯t respond. He appreciated his friends, but their words couldn¡¯t fill the void inside him.


    A Restless Night


    Later that night, Mike lay in bed, staring at the ceiling of his small apartment. The hum of the city filtered through the walls, but his mind was elsewhere.


    He thought of his family back in Africa, of the sacrifices they made to send him to Japan. They believed he would succeed, that he would make a better life for himself. But what had he achieved? Nothing.


    His hand clenched into a fist. He wanted to be strong, not for himself, but for them. For the people he cared about. If he could protect them, if he could prove he was worthy, maybe the emptiness inside him would finally disappear.


    The Encounter


    The streets were quiet as Mike walked aimlessly, the cool night air brushing against his skin. He often went for walks when he couldn¡¯t sleep, hoping the rhythm of his steps would calm his racing thoughts.


    But tonight felt different. The air was heavy, charged with an energy he couldn¡¯t explain.


    ¡°You¡¯re different, you know.¡±


    Mike stopped, his eyes scanning the empty street. The voice was soft, almost childlike, yet it sent a chill down his spine.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± he called out, his voice steady despite the unease curling in his gut.


    A faint glow appeared in the corner of his vision. Turning, he saw a small, winged creature hovering in the air. It was no larger than his hand, its translucent wings shimmering like glass.


    ¡°What the...?¡±


    ¡°D-don¡¯t be scared,¡± the creature stammered, its voice nervous but oddly soothing. ¡°I¡¯m not here to hurt you. My name is Kuro, and I¡¯ve been watching you.¡±


    Mike narrowed his eyes. ¡°Watching me? Why?¡±


    Kuro tilted his head, his wide eyes gleaming. ¡°Because you¡¯re special. You have... potential.¡±


    ¡°Potential for what?¡±


    ¡°To awaken the power inside you,¡± Kuro said, his voice gaining confidence. ¡°To give you magic.¡±


    Mike stared at the creature, his mind racing. ¡°Magic doesn¡¯t exist. Not anymore.¡±


    Kuro smiled faintly. ¡°It never truly disappeared. It¡¯s just been... dormant. Waiting for someone like you. Someone with ambition. Someone who desires power.¡±


    The word struck a chord in Mike, his chest tightening. ¡°Why me?¡±


    Kuro¡¯s wings fluttered as he moved closer. ¡°Because your desire is stronger than anyone else¡¯s. I can feel it. You want to protect the people you care about, don¡¯t you? You want to be strong enough to make a difference.¡±


    Mike hesitated. The creature¡¯s words echoed the thoughts he kept buried deep inside.


    ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡± he asked finally.


    Kuro¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Nothing dangerous. Just a small favor. There¡¯s a seal in the Underworld, and I need your help to undo it. In return, I¡¯ll grant you magic¡ªenough power to achieve everything you¡¯ve ever wanted.¡±


    A Choice Made in Shadows


    Mike¡¯s instincts screamed at him to walk away, but the promise of power was too tempting. He thought of his family, his friends, the people he¡¯d failed to protect. This was his chance to change everything.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, his voice firm. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    Kuro¡¯s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. ¡°Good. Follow me. Your destiny awaits.¡±


    As Mike followed the glowing creature into the shadows, a sense of unease settled in his chest. But he pushed it aside. For the first time in his life, he felt like he was moving toward something greater.


    He didn¡¯t realize he was walking into the abyss.

 The Abyss Beckons

    Chapter 2: The Abyss Beckons


    The air was heavy, cold, and oppressive as Mike followed Kuro through the winding backstreets of Tokyo. At first, they passed familiar landmarks¡ªthe park where he and Kenji used to play soccer, the ramen shop where Rin always dragged him after school. But soon, the scenery changed.


    The city¡¯s vibrant lights faded into a dull glow, the sounds of traffic replaced by an eerie silence. The streets twisted unnaturally, narrowing until they seemed more like tunnels than alleyways.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Mike asked, his voice cutting through the stillness.


    ¡°To the place where it all began,¡± Kuro replied, his voice calm but laced with an excitement that made Mike uneasy.


    ¡°Cryptic much?¡± Mike muttered, but he kept walking.


    The ground beneath his feet grew rough, the asphalt cracking and giving way to dark stone. The air grew colder, and a faint hum vibrated through the walls around him. Mike¡¯s instincts screamed that something was wrong, but the promise of power pushed him forward.


    The Gateway to the Underworld


    They stopped in front of a massive, crumbling archway carved into the side of a cliff. The stone was ancient, covered in runes that glowed faintly in the darkness. Beyond the archway, a staircase spiraled down into a pitch-black abyss.


    ¡°What is this place?¡± Mike asked, his voice hushed.


    ¡°The entrance to the Underworld,¡± Kuro replied.


    Mike blinked. ¡°The Underworld? You mean, like, hell?¡±


    Kuro chuckled. ¡°Not quite. It¡¯s more... complicated. The Underworld is a realm beneath this one, where the boundary between life and death blurs. It¡¯s where the gods once walked, and where Shinra was sealed.¡±


    Mike felt a chill run down his spine. ¡°And we¡¯re just... walking in there?¡±


    Kuro hovered in front of him, his wings glowing faintly. ¡°If you want power, you have to prove you¡¯re willing to reach for it. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re scared.¡±


    Mike scowled. ¡°I¡¯m not scared. I just don¡¯t trust you.¡±


    Kuro¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Good. You shouldn¡¯t. But trust or not, you¡¯ve already made your choice.¡±


    With that, the fairy darted through the archway, his glow disappearing into the darkness.


    Mike hesitated for only a moment before following.


    The Descent


    The staircase seemed endless, spiraling deeper and deeper into the earth. The further they went, the heavier the air became, pressing against Mike¡¯s chest like a weight. Shadows danced along the walls, their movements too deliberate to be tricks of the light.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°Kuro,¡± Mike said, his voice echoing. ¡°What exactly is this seal we¡¯re breaking?¡±


    Kuro didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°It¡¯s a barrier created by the six gods to trap Shinra. Think of it as... a door with a very complicated lock.¡±


    ¡°And why do you need me to open it?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡±


    Mike clenched his fists, frustration bubbling beneath his skin. He didn¡¯t like being kept in the dark, but he knew pressing Kuro for answers would get him nowhere.


    After what felt like hours, the staircase ended, opening into a vast cavern.


    The Chamber of Seals


    The cavern was enormous, its walls stretching so far into the darkness that Mike couldn¡¯t see the edges. At the center was a massive, circular door made of black stone. Its surface was etched with runes that pulsed faintly, as though alive. Around the door stood six towering statues, each depicting one of the gods.


    Ignis, the God of Fire, stood with flames erupting from his hands.


    Aeris, the God of Wind, was cloaked in swirling gusts.


    Terra, the Goddess of Earth, held a massive stone hammer.


    Fulgar, the God of Lightning, was surrounded by crackling electricity.


    Aqua, the Goddess of Water, stood with waves crashing around her feet.


    Luminara, the Goddess of Light, glowed with a radiant brilliance.


    Even in their stone forms, the gods exuded a power that made Mike feel small.


    ¡°This is it,¡± Kuro said, his voice reverent. ¡°The seal.¡±


    Mike approached the door cautiously. The runes seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat, drawing him closer. ¡°What do I have to do?¡±


    Kuro floated beside him, a glint of excitement in his eyes. ¡°The seal is tied to the soul. To break it, you must recite the incantation and offer a piece of yourself.¡±


    Mike frowned. ¡°Offer a piece of myself? What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°Nothing dangerous,¡± Kuro said quickly. ¡°Just a... token of your will. It¡¯s symbolic.¡±


    Mike didn¡¯t trust him, but he had come too far to back out now. ¡°What¡¯s the incantation?¡±


    Kuro handed him a piece of parchment. The words written on it were in a language Mike didn¡¯t recognize, but as he read them, they seemed to resonate deep within him.


    ¡°In the name of my breath, ancient one, awaken me.


    I offer my soul; let it be the key to the abyss.


    O slumbering dark god, rise, bind our fates together.


    As I embrace the shadow, so it is spoken, so it shall be done.¡±


    As Mike read the final word, the air in the cavern changed. The runes on the door flared to life, glowing a deep crimson. A low rumble echoed through the chamber as cracks began to form on the door.


    ¡°Kuro... what¡¯s happening?¡± Mike asked, his voice trembling.


    Kuro didn¡¯t answer.


    The cracks spread, and a dark liquid began to seep from the door. Mike stumbled back as the liquid pooled at his feet, rising and taking shape.


    The Awakening


    Before Mike could react, a searing pain tore through his body. He screamed as blood poured from his nose, ears, and eyes, his knees buckling beneath him.


    ¡°Kuro... you lied...¡± Mike gasped, his vision blurring. ¡°Why...?¡±


    The fairy hovered above him, his once-innocent smile twisted into something cruel. ¡°You were just a tool, Mike. A pawn to free my master.¡±


    Mike¡¯s heart sank. He had trusted Kuro, had believed his words. Now, he realized his mistake.


    As his blood pooled on the floor, it was drawn toward the door, feeding the growing cracks. A deep, guttural laugh echoed through the cavern, sending chills down Mike¡¯s spine.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done well, Kuro,¡± a voice boomed, dark and malevolent.


    Mike¡¯s vision dimmed, but he could still see the door shatter, releasing a torrent of darkness. In the center of the chaos stood a figure cloaked in shadow Shinra, the Dark Demon God.


    Before Mike lost consciousness, he heard Kuro¡¯s final words: ¡°I left you a present back home. Open it... with care.¡±


    A New Beginning


    Mike awoke hours later, his body aching and his mind reeling. He was no longer in the cavern but back on the surface. Rin knelt beside him, her face pale with worry.


    ¡°Mike! Are you okay?¡± she asked, shaking him gently.


    Kenji stood nearby, his fists clenched. ¡°What the hell happened to you?¡±


    Mike didn¡¯t answer. His mind was consumed by Kuro¡¯s betrayal, the awakening of Shinra, and the ominous promise of the ¡°present¡± waiting for him at home.


    Whatever awaited him, he knew one thing for certain: his life would never be the same.