Hunter of the Lost Gates-Chapter 28 - : Secrets of the Abyssal Key

The ancient key pulsed in Sai's grip, radiating an unsettling energy. It wasn't like any artifact he had encountered before—it felt alive. The moment he touched it, his system bombarded him with notifications, but he barely had time to process them before the ruins began to tremble again.

Lena tensed, gripping her chakrams. "Uh... Sai? Tell me you didn't trigger another death trap."

Sai exhaled. "Honestly? I have no idea."

Before either of them could move, the stone pedestal split open, revealing a massive staircase spiraling downward. A chilling breeze carried whispers from below, distant but urgent, like echoes of a forgotten past.

Lena gave him a wary glance. "You're going down there, aren't you?"

Sai nodded. "This key... it's part of something bigger. I need to know what."

Lena sighed, flipping one of her chakrams in her hand. "You better not get us killed."

With that, they descended into the abyss.

The Abyssal Archive

The deeper they went, the colder it became. The air itself felt dense, charged with a presence that made their skin prickle. Faint blue lights flickered along the walls, illuminating intricate murals—scenes of battle, destruction, and something far worse.

Sai stopped, his eyes narrowing at a particular engraving. A lone figure stood before a massive gate, an army of shadowy beings bowing before him.

Lena frowned. "That looks a lot like..."

Sai's system flashed.

[Abyssal King Detected.]

[Lost Gate Historical Records Updating – 5% Completion.]

Sai's blood ran cold. "The Abyssal King..."

Before Lena could respond, the ground shook violently. A sudden force pulled them forward, and the walls of the corridor twisted, shifting around them.

Lena barely had time to yelp before they were no longer in the staircase.

Instead, they stood in a grand chamber, surrounded by towering pillars. At its center was a throne—massive, ancient, and empty.

And before them stood a figure wrapped in shadows.

The Keeper of the Abyss

Sai's grip on his daggers tightened. The figure slowly turned, revealing a face hidden beneath a dark hood, glowing blue eyes peering from beneath.

Then, it spoke.

"You have come far, Keybearer."

Sai stiffened. "You know me?"

The figure chuckled. "I know what you are. And what you will become."

Lena stepped closer, her chakrams glowing. "You're not making any sense."

The figure ignored her, focusing on Sai. "The Lost Gate was never meant to be found. And yet, fate has brought you here."

Sai's system flashed warnings, but he ignored them. He took a step forward. "Then tell me—what is this key?"

The figure raised its hand. The key in Sai's grip reacted instantly, floating upward as if drawn by an unseen force.

Then—a flood of memories crashed into Sai's mind.

A Glimpse Into the Past

Sai wasn't in the chamber anymore.

He was somewhere else—somewhen else.

He stood on a battlefield, watching as two massive armies clashed beneath a darkened sky. The ground shook with every explosion, and the air was thick with the scent of blood and ash.

At the center of it all stood a lone warrior, cloaked in abyssal energy.

Sai's heart pounded.

He recognized the warrior.

The same figure from the murals.

The Abyssal King.

And then—the King turned, meeting Sai's eyes.

"You are not ready."

With those words, the vision shattered.

The Trial of the Abyss

Sai gasped, stumbling backward as the vision faded. His system exploded with new messages.

[Abyssal Record Unlocked – 10% Completion.]

[Warning: System Synchronization Delayed.]

The hooded figure watched him carefully. "Now you understand."

Sai steadied himself. "No. I don't."

The figure sighed. "Then allow me to show you."

Without warning, the chamber shifted again, and the floor beneath them collapsed.

Sai and Lena plummeted into darkness.

The Abyssal Arena

They landed in a massive underground coliseum, its walls stretching beyond sight. Blue flames lit the arena, casting an eerie glow over the battlefield.

Lena groaned. "I swear, if this is another fight—"

Her words were cut off as the ground trembled.

Across from them, a monstrous entity emerged.

Towering at least twenty feet tall, it was a grotesque fusion of armor, shadow, and abyssal fire. Its four glowing eyes locked onto them as it let out a deafening roar.

Sai's system blared warnings.

[Abyssal Guardian Detected – Class: Overlord.]

[Threat Level: LETHAL.]

Lena swore. "Sai. Tell me we have a plan."

Sai smirked, flipping his daggers. "Yeah. Don't die."

The creature charged, shaking the entire arena.

The Battle for Survival

Sai activated Phantom Step, vanishing as the monster's clawed hand smashed into the ground, missing him by inches.

Lena leapt back, her chakrams slicing through the air, aiming for the beast's joints. But the attacks barely left a scratch.

Sai's mind raced. This thing was too powerful for normal attacks.

His system pinged with new data.

[Weakness Detected: Abyssal Core – Located in the Chest.]

Sai locked onto it. That was their only shot.

He turned to Lena. "Aim for the core!"

Lena nodded, already moving.

Sai activated Shadow Dash, phasing through the beast's attacks as he closed the distance.

He lunged, his dagger aiming for the glowing weak spot—

The beast reacted faster than expected.

A massive tail whipped around, striking Sai mid-air and sending him crashing into the arena wall.

Pain exploded through his ribs.

Lena called out, "Sai!"

Sai gritted his teeth, pushing himself up. No time for pain.

Lena unleashed a powerful energy-infused strike, her chakrams glowing blue as they pierced into the beast's core.

The creature let out an unearthly shriek, staggering as its energy fluctuated.

Sai saw his opening.

He vanished, reappearing directly above the beast.

With all his strength, he plunged both daggers into the core.

The moment his blades connected—a shockwave of abyssal energy erupted.

The beast let out one final roar before its massive form crumbled into dust.

The Keeper's Warning

The arena fell silent.

Sai exhaled, exhausted but victorious. Lena collapsed beside him. "Next time, I pick the adventure."

Before Sai could respond, the hooded figure appeared once more.

"The first trial is complete."

Sai frowned. "First?"

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The figure nodded. "The Lost Gate is not just a passage—it is a prison. And you, Sai, have taken the first step toward unlocking it."

Sai felt a chill. "Who locked it?"

The figure's glowing eyes pierced through him.

"The one you saw in your vision. The Abyssal King."

Sai's fists clenched.

If that was true, then the real question was...

Why?

And more importantly—

What happens when the gate opens?

To Be Continued...