Into The Abyss.

The underground network beneath Neo-Seoul was a maze of forgotten tunnels, dimly lit by flickering neon tubes that barely clung to life. Ha-joon stepped carefully, his fire wings extinguished to avoid giving away his position. His breath fogged in the cold, stale air, and the relic in his satchel pulsed faintly, as if sensing the tension in his body.

He wasn't alone.

Ji-yeon walked beside him, her sharp eyes scanning the shadows. She clutched her plasma dagger, its faint hum providing a comforting presence in the eerie silence.

"You sure about this lead?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ha-joon nodded. "The masked woman didn't lie. If there's a chance this network is tied to the kidnappers, we have to check it out."

Ji-yeon frowned. "And if it's a trap?"

"Then we fight our way out," Ha-joon replied, his tone colder than he intended.

As they pressed deeper, the walls around them grew damp, lined with vines glowing faintly with bioluminescent energy. Strange symbols were carved into the stone—ancient runes that pulsed faintly, as if alive.

Ji-yeon paused, running her fingers over one of the symbols. "These… aren't just decoration. They're wards."

"Protective or destructive?" Ha-joon asked, stepping closer.

"Depends on who set them up," Ji-yeon muttered. "But if these wards are still active, someone's been maintaining them."

"Good. That means we're close."

---

As they rounded a corner, the faint sound of chanting reached their ears. It was rhythmic, otherworldly, and sent a chill down Ha-joon's spine. He motioned for Ji-yeon to stay quiet as they crept closer.

The tunnel opened into a vast chamber illuminated by a glowing, circular platform in its center. Around it stood robed figures, their hands raised as they chanted in unison. At the platform's core was a shimmering portal, its surface rippling like liquid light.

"That's definitely not legal magic," Ji-yeon whispered, her grip tightening on her dagger.

Ha-joon's eyes narrowed. "No sign of captives, but that portal… it's big enough to transport people. They're sending them somewhere."

Before Ji-yeon could respond, a deep, resonant voice echoed through the chamber.

"Intruders."

The chanting stopped abruptly, and the robed figures turned toward the shadows where Ha-joon and Ji-yeon were hiding. From the far side of the room, a figure emerged—a tall man clad in obsidian armor, his face obscured by a spiked helmet. The air around him seemed to shimmer with dark energy.

"Well, so much for sneaking in," Ji-yeon muttered, stepping into the light with Ha-joon beside her.

"You're the Null," the armored figure said, his voice filled with disdain. "We've been expecting you."

"Good," Ha-joon said, summoning his fire wings. "Saves me the trouble of introductions."

---

The room erupted into chaos. The robed figures scattered, casting defensive spells as Ji-yeon lunged at them with her plasma dagger, slicing through their wards with precision.

Ha-joon launched himself into the air, fire bullets raining down on the armored figure. The man raised his hand, and a wall of shadow materialized, absorbing the flames.

"You think your stolen magic can match true power?" the figure taunted, his voice dripping with contempt.

Ha-joon didn't respond. Instead, he switched to ice, creating a jagged spear and hurling it with all his might. The spear shattered against the shadow barrier, but the force pushed the figure back slightly.

Ji-yeon darted between the robed figures, her movements fluid and precise. "Ha-joon! That portal's destabilizing!" she shouted, pointing to the glowing platform.

Ha-joon glanced at it—she was right. The portal's surface flickered, sending out shockwaves of unstable energy.

"If it collapses, we're all toast," she added.

"Then we take it out now," Ha-joon said, his wings flaring brighter.

The armored figure laughed. "Fools. Do you have any idea what you're meddling with? This portal connects to a place beyond your comprehension—a realm where even your borrowed powers are insignificant."

"Sounds like a great vacation spot," Ha-joon retorted, charging forward.

The clash between them was deafening. Fire and shadow collided in a brilliant display of light and dark, shaking the chamber with every strike. Ha-joon pushed harder, drawing on the relic's energy despite the whispers warning him of its cost.

---

Ji-yeon, meanwhile, fought her way to the portal's base. She examined the runes etched into the platform, her mind racing. "Ha-joon! This thing's powered by a core—it's embedded beneath the platform!"

"Then get to it!" Ha-joon shouted, dodging a tendril of shadow that nearly impaled him.

Easier said than done. Ji-yeon slashed at the robed figures guarding the platform, their spells bouncing off her dagger's enchanted edge. She reached the platform and began prying open a hidden panel, revealing a pulsating crystal at its center.

"This is it," she muttered, gripping the crystal.

As she pulled it free, the portal wavered violently, emitting a deafening roar. The armored figure froze, his gaze snapping to Ji-yeon.

"No!" he bellowed, abandoning his fight with Ha-joon to rush toward her.

Ha-joon saw his opening. With a surge of energy, he summoned both fire and ice, forming a massive spear of molten frost. He hurled it with all his might, striking the armored figure in the back.

The man staggered, his shadow armor cracking as he fell to his knees.

Ji-yeon didn't hesitate. She crushed the crystal beneath her boot, and the portal collapsed in on itself with a blinding flash of light.

---

When the dust settled, the chamber was eerily quiet. The robed figures had either fled or lay unconscious. The armored man was gone, leaving only a pile of shattered armor in his place.

Ji-yeon turned to Ha-joon, her expression a mix of relief and exhaustion. "Well, that was fun."

"Fun isn't the word I'd use," Ha-joon said, his wings fading as he stumbled to the ground.

She helped him up, glancing around the ruined chamber. "We stopped whatever they were doing, but this isn't over. If they were transporting people, we need to figure out where—and why."

Ha-joon nodded, his gaze lingering on the relic in his satchel. The whispers had grown louder, more insistent.

"We'll find out," he said, determination hardening his voice. "But first, we need answers."

As they left the chamber, the echoes of their battle faded into silence, leaving behind only the faint hum of unstable magic in the air.