Chapter 11: The Unleashing of the Abyss
The air thickened, heavy with an otherworldly weight as Joshua's relentless assault began to corner Voth. Despite the fury of their battle, neither gave ground willingly. Joshua's soul constructs shimmered with unwavering resolve, his breath steady despite the bruises blossoming across his skin.
"You're strong," Voth admitted, voice low and edged with respect, "but you're forcing my hand."
With a slow, deliberate motion, Voth's eyes darkened into pools of shadow, the faint glow of soul energy swirling ominously around him. The temperature plummeted; the world around them dimmed as if the light itself recoiled.
A vast, suffocating darkness erupted from Voth's core, spreading outward in a wave that swallowed the broken hall. Shadows twisted and coiled, manifesting as jagged tendrils that scraped the stone floor, leapt like serpents, and roared like beasts born from the void.
Joshua's muscles tensed, his aura flaring to meet the suffocating blackness. This was no ordinary power—it was Voth's Soul Domain, an extension of his very soul, a realm of darkness that only a High Soulborne could command.
"Welcome to the Abyss," Voth whispered, his grin sharp and wild. "Let's see if your Master Soulborne strength can survive it."
Within the Domain, shadows warped reality. Every breath was heavy, every step uncertain. Tendrils lashed at Joshua, probing his defenses, seeking a weakness. The walls seemed alive, pulsating with a malevolent hunger.
Joshua met the assault head-on, weaving his soul energy into shimmering shields and blazing strikes. Yet, the pressure was immense, pushing his limits like never before.
Karen, Leslie, Marie, Jim, and Cassandra watched from a hidden vantage, breaths caught in their throats. The distance between Master and High Soulborne was a chasm filled with shadows and fire.
But Joshua's eyes burned with fierce determination.
"I will not let you break them," he vowed, drawing upon every ounce of his strength. His soul constructs surged brighter, cutting through the darkness like a blade of pure light.
The battle within the Abyss had only just begun.
....