In that moment, Guynell realized how fleeting life could be.
*SYSTEM NOTICE: THE CATALYST HP HAS HIT 0%. CONDITIONS MET. CATALYST TRAIT ACTIVATED (IMMORTAL). THE CATALYST WILL BE RESURRECTED IN A SAFE AREA.*Awakening in the Abyss
Guynell stirred back to life, gasping for breath as if he had just resurfaced from the depths of the ocean. His heart raced, echoing in his chest like an impatient drum. The environment around him had shifted; he was no longer lying in sand but instead on a cold, obsidian floor that shimmered strangely beneath him, reflecting an eerie light. A heavy fog hung in the air, swirling with hues of purple and blue, creating a sense of disorientation.
"Where the hell am I?" he muttered, still trying to shake off the remnants of panic from his last encounter. He scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding with an urgency he couldn't shake. The last thing he remembered was being… devoured? Flashes of his demise flickered in his mind, playing like a chaotic video loop.
"System, where am I?" he called out, feeling a burst of bravado and an overwhelming desire for answers.
SYSTEM PROMPT: LOCATION: HELL'S BASTION
WARNING: THIS IS A HIGHLY HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT
RECOMMENDED ACTION: LOCATE SHELTER AND ASSESS CONDITION.
"Hell's Bastion? Great. Just what I needed," Guynell scoffed, rubbing his temples. He knew this place was not merely a figurative hell; he could feel the oppressive weight of despair in the air around him.
Reluctantly, he took a few tentative steps forward, his senses heightened. Every shadow seemed to twitch, breathing with malevolence. As he walked deeper into the abyss, the environment shifted again—flickering lights hovered in the air like lost souls, illuminating grotesque statues and structures that twisted in bizarre angles.
SYSTEM NOTICE: NEW OBJECTIVE ADDED - "SEARCH FOR A SAFE ZONE."
Feeling the pressure of time bearing down on him, Guynell compelled himself to move quicker. The scent of burnt earth and ash filled the air, pushing him onward. He caught fleeting glimpses of phantom-like figures lurking in the dark corners of the cavernous space, each one echoing whispers tainted with madness.
Suddenly, a sharp noise broke through his thoughts—scuttling sounds, like many feet rushing towards him. Panic surged. "Not again!" Guynell exclaimed as he turned to look behind him. He was greeted with the sight of shadowy creatures, their eyes glowing ferociously as they rushed toward him with menacing speed.
SYSTEM NOTICE: HOSTILE ENCOUNTERS DETECTED!
RECOMMENDED ACTION: INITIATE COMBAT OR ESCAPE.
His instincts kicked in; armed with Jay's karambit, he prepared himself. "If I'm going down again, I'll take a few of you with me," he growled, clenching the blade tightly. But instead of charging forward recklessly, he took a moment to breathe.
Summoning courage, Guynell hacked at the nearest shadowy figure as they lunged. The blade sunk into its form, slicing through like smoke. To his surprise, it evaporated upon contact, leaving behind a small orb of swirling darkness. "What the hell?"
SYSTEM PROMPT: ENSORCELLED SHADOWS HAVE BEEN DEFEATED!
REWARD: SHADOW ORB ACQUIRED (UNIDENTIFIED)!
WARNING: FURTHER ENCOUNTER PROBABILITY INCREASES.
With no time to spare, Guynell snatched the orb from the ground, pockets heavy with the weight of his newfound knowledge. The thrill of survival drove him, and he pressed on, the urgency transforming into a focus he didn't know he possessed.