Chapter 40: Into the Chasm

The path to the Chasm was long and treacherous, with the landscape growing more rugged as Aether and Rosaria descended into the depths of Liyue. The sun had long since disappeared behind the horizon, leaving only the faint glow of their torches to light the way. The air around them was thick with the smell of earth and stone, and the atmosphere felt heavy with the weight of ancient power.

As they approached the edge of the Chasm, the ground beneath them seemed to shift, as if the very earth was alive with energy. The massive crater stretched out before them, its depths hidden by darkness. Aether could feel the pull of something powerful lurking far below—a force that called to him in the same way the crystal had at Nantianmen.

"Well, this place is certainly… ominous," Rosaria remarked, her eyes scanning the jagged cliffs surrounding the entrance. "I've seen my fair share of dark places, but this one takes the cake."

Aether nodded, gripping his sword tightly as they prepared to descend into the Chasm. "We need to be careful. The Abyss Order could be anywhere down there."

Rosaria gave him a sidelong glance. "I'm always careful, Traveler. You should be more worried about what's lurking in those shadows."

They made their way down into the Chasm, the path narrow and steep. As they descended further, the oppressive atmosphere seemed to close in around them. The faint glow of crystals embedded in the rock provided a haunting light, casting long shadows that danced on the walls.

"I wonder what kind of power lies beneath," Aether muttered, his voice barely more than a whisper. "The guardian at Nantianmen said this place was home to one of the fragments."

Rosaria's eyes remained sharp as she kept watch. "Whatever it is, it's dangerous. We need to get in and out before the Abyss Order can make their move."

After what felt like hours of navigating the treacherous terrain, the path finally leveled out, leading them into a vast cavern. The walls were lined with strange symbols, glowing faintly with an eerie light. At the center of the cavern stood a massive stone altar, and resting upon it was another crystal, glowing with the same energy as the one Aether carried.

"This must be it," Aether said, approaching the altar cautiously. "The second fragment."

But before he could reach the crystal, the ground beneath them rumbled, and a figure emerged from the shadows. It was an Abyss Herald, its dark form towering over them, its eyes glowing with malevolent intent.

"You should not have come here, Traveler," the Herald hissed, its voice echoing through the cavern. "The power you seek is beyond your reach."

Aether drew his sword, his eyes narrowing. "We're not leaving without that fragment."

The Abyss Herald let out a low growl, raising its staff as dark energy crackled around it. "You will fall before the Abyss. This power is not meant for mortals like you."

Without another word, the battle began.

Aether charged forward, his sword glowing with Anemo energy as he slashed at the Herald. Rosaria moved with lethal precision, her spear striking from the shadows as she flanked the creature. The Herald retaliated with waves of dark magic, forcing them to dodge and weave as they fought to stay on their feet.

The cavern shook with the force of the battle, the energy of the crystal pulsing with each blow. Aether could feel the power coursing through him, urging him to press on despite the overwhelming odds.

"Keep it distracted!" Rosaria shouted as she launched another attack from the side. "We can't let it get to the crystal!"

Aether nodded, summoning a gust of wind to push the Herald back, creating an opening for Rosaria to strike. But the Abyss Herald was relentless, its dark magic growing stronger with each passing moment.

Just as it seemed the battle would never end, Aether saw his opportunity. The Herald's defenses flickered for a brief moment, and he lunged forward, driving his sword into the creature's core. With a deafening roar, the Abyss Herald crumbled to the ground, its dark energy dissipating into the air.

Aether and Rosaria stood over the fallen Herald, breathing heavily from the exertion of the fight. The cavern was silent once more, save for the faint hum of the crystal on the altar.

"We did it," Aether said, his voice filled with relief.

Rosaria wiped the blood from her spear, her expression calm. "Don't celebrate just yet. There's no telling how many more of these things are out there."

Aether approached the altar and carefully retrieved the second fragment, feeling its power merge with the first. Another piece of the puzzle had fallen into place, but the road ahead was still long.

"We should head back to Liyue," Aether said, tucking the crystal away. "We need to regroup and figure out where to go next."

Rosaria nodded, her sharp eyes scanning the cavern one last time. "Agreed. Let's get out of here before something else shows up."

As they made their way back out of the Chasm, Aether couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The Abyss Order was growing more dangerous with each passing day, and he knew that the battles ahead would only grow more difficult.

But for now, they had won a small victory. And with each fragment they recovered, they moved one step closer to stopping the Abyss Order's plans.