bookpub Chapter 98: Traces
Chapter 98: Traces
Arriving at the edge of the cliff where Lassim was last known to be, Hallen and his team were met with a scene of eerie destruction.
The earth itself told the tale of the struggle that had taken place: the ground was etched with scorch marks, the blackened earth weaving a pattern of tendrils etched across the ground—a clear signature of Lassim’s desperate unleashing of his lightning abilities in what must have been a ferocious defense.
Just a few steps away, the cliffside itself bore witness to the immense forces that had been at play. A massive section of the rock face was violently carved out, leaving a jagged void where stone once solidly existed.
The edges of this newly formed crater were not merely broken; they seeped with a dark, viscous substance that ebbed slowly. This sinister residue pulsated with a dark energy, emitting faint remnants of the signature abyssal energies.
This was the leftover essence from Mercy’s void orb—a residue that not only Hallen, but every spirit warrior that had encountered the legion of the Abyss recognized all too well.
Hallen’s heart plummeted as he took in the extent of the devastation.
His vast experience as a cultivator gave him an intimate understanding of the situation and the presence of abyssal energy was a grim marker he had almost spoken into existence with his previous warning of caution to Lassim.
Overwhelmed by a mixture of fear and fury, he collapsed to his knees, his hands instinctively clutching the electricity scorched earth as a heart-wrenching cry escaped his lips. "No, not this... not the cult."
Gathering himself amidst the shock, Hallen’s mind raced with grim possibilities. "He must have been taken... or worse, he’s down there," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper as he stared towards the depths of the ominous crevice.
The thought that Lassim might have been captured into an abyssal prison by the cult was a terrifying prospect. Such situations were not only perilous but most captives by the cults come back with their mind’s broken and return as clinically insane. Their minds fully devoted and preaching the death of others and worship for the horrid Dragal.
The crew, sensing the severity of the situation, rallied around Hallen, their faces etched with apprehension and uncertainty. They understood all too well the dire implications of the cult capturing the Young Master; delving into such a situation was impossible for a mere 8 year old to return from safely, let alone anyone else where even the strongest could fall victim to their influence.
Hallen rose, wiping the tears from his eyes with a mixture of anger and resolution hardening his features.
"We must find him," he declared, his voice resolute, cutting through the heavy air. "Prepare for descent. We need to explore this crevice and trace any possible chance that he’s just fallen into some elemental plane down below. If Lassim is there, we will bring him back, no matter what it takes. I also want a team to scour the surroundings.