NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Shadowy Alliances
The red moon hung low in the sky, its creepy light casting long shadows over the forest as Zhen Yang walked out of the clearing. His body throbbed with pain, and the new power rushing through him felt unstable, like a wild animal waiting to break free. But he couldn't rest yet. The whispers in his head had quieted, but now they carried one clear message
"Find the abyssal pact".
The thick trees gave way to a narrow path, and Zhen Yang moved forward with determination. His red eyes glowed faintly as he thought back to the altar—the strange symbols, the overwhelming energy, and the wolves. It all seemed like the beginning of something bigger. But one question still lingered: Who or what had set this in motion?
Far away, at the grand Zhen family estate, Elder Zhen Xuan's worry grew. Standing on the balcony of his room, he looked out at the huge estate below, his mind full of doubts.
"A shift in the balance…" he muttered. His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of his trusted informant, a sharp-featured man who bowed respectfully.
"Elder, we've found Zhen Yang," the man said. "He's in the northern forest, near the forbidden grounds."
"The forbidden grounds?" Zhen Xuan's voice turned cold. "That foolish boy doesn't understand what he's dealing with. Send a team to bring him back. Do it quietly. If he has… changed, make sure he doesn't return."
The informant hesitated. "Elder, if I may… this change might be an opportunity. If the boy has truly awakened something—"
"Enough," Zhen Xuan snapped. "I won't risk the family's future on a child's recklessness. Go."
Zhen Yang's journey through the forest led him to the base of a jagged mountain. A narrow cave entrance loomed before him, radiating an eerie coldness. Without hesitation, he stepped inside. The whispers had brought him here, and his gut told him this was where his next trial lay.The air grew colder as he went deeper, the faint glow of the cave walls lighting his way. Symbols like those at the altar appeared on the walls, glowing dimly in red, pulsing like a heartbeat.
"So, you've arrived," a deep voice echoed. It wasn't the whispers this time—it was something real.Zhen Yang stopped, his eyes narrowing as a figure emerged from the shadows. The man was dressed in ragged robes, his face hidden by a hood, but his presence was intimidating.
"Who are you?" Zhen Yang asked, his voice steady but cautious.
The man chuckled. "A guide, perhaps. Or an enemy. That depends on you." He moved closer, and Zhen Yang noticed a glowing red mark on the man's forehead.
"You bear the mark of the abyss," the man said, his tone serious. "But power without purpose brings destruction. Tell me, boy, what do you want?"
Zhen Yang hesitated. The question caught him off guard. What did he want? Revenge? Strength? Freedom? He wasn't sure yet, his thoughts tangled in the fragments of his past and the chaos of his present.
"I want to rise," he finally said. "To claim what's mine."
The man nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "A vague answer, but it will do for now. If you want to control the power inside you, you must make a pact—a bond with the abyss itself. Do you have the resolve?"
"I do." Zhen Yang's voice was firm, his red eyes burning with determination.
The man raised his hand, and the cave around them dissolved into darkness. Zhen Yang found himself in a vast void, dotted with red stars. Their light was cold and unfeeling.
"This is the abyssal realm," the man's voice echoed. "A place of endless power and endless danger. Here, you will face your own shadow. Defeat it, and the pact is yours. Fail, and you will be destroyed."
Before Zhen Yang could respond, the man vanished. The stars began to move, forming a massive figure. It was him—but a twisted, monstrous version. Its eyes burned with hate, and its body radiated malice.
"So, this is my shadow," Zhen Yang muttered, a smirk appearing on his face. "Let's see who's stronger."
The shadow attacked, its claws slicing through the void. Zhen Yang dodged, striking back with a burst of red flame. The battle was fierce, each blow shaking the abyssal realm. But as the fight dragged on, Zhen Yang realized something. The shadow wasn't just an enemy—it was a part of him, a mirror of his fears, doubts, and desires.
"You are me," he said, his voice calm despite the chaos. "But I am stronger."
With a final surge of power, he absorbed the shadow, its essence merging with his own. The abyssal realm shook, and Zhen Yang felt a deep change within. The whispers were gone, replaced by a steady, confident voice—his own.
The void disappeared, and Zhen Yang was back in the cave. The man in ragged robes stood before him, nodding with approval.
"You've done well," the man said. "The pact is complete. But remember, the abyss takes nothing lightly. You've claimed its power, but you will pay its price."
Zhen Yang didn't respond. He didn't need to. Whatever the cost, he would pay it. Because now, he was no longer just a boy or a pawn in the Zhen family's schemes. He was something far greater—something unstoppable.
And the world would soon learn what it meant to challenge the Abyssal Sovereign.