After moving through the darkness for what felt like an eternity, Jeremy suddenly noticed a faint glimmer of light ahead.
The instant he saw the light, Jeremy summoned a Portal, stepping through it and emerging directly at the source of the glow.
What lay before him was an enormous gate. The light streamed through a narrow crack at the top of the door, casting faint illumination over the surrounding space.
Jeremy didn't immediately step through the gate.
His instincts told him that whatever lay beyond was bound to be even more dangerous.
Jeremy reasoned that he hadn't fully entered the Abyss instance yet.
The area he had just traversed was merely an expanded zone behind the entrance, not the true heart of the instance.
Only by pushing through this massive gate could he officially step into the depths of the Abyss instance.
Taking a few deep breaths to steady his nerves, Jeremy finally made up his mind.
With a determined shove, he pushed the heavy gate open.
As the doors swung wide, an overwhelming flood of sunlight poured over Jeremy, momentarily blinding him.
When his eyes adjusted, Jeremy found himself staring at an idyllic landscape—a sunlit field stretching out before him.
In the distance, he could make out a quaint, fairytale-like village.
For a moment, Jeremy froze in astonishment, his face betraying his disbelief.
"Is this supposed to be the Abyss instance? Why does it feel more like a Fairytale instance? How could such a sunny, peaceful, and picturesque place possibly be called 'The Abyss'?"
His initial shock quickly gave way to speculation.
Jeremy surmised that neither the military headquarters nor the more powerful Apocalypse Game players had managed to delve into the true depths of the Abyss instance.
As a result, their understanding of the instance's interior was based purely on the ominous, abyss-like appearance of its surroundings.
In fairness, the external area of the Abyss instance did bear a striking resemblance to a literal abyss.
"It seems this instance may have little to do with The Hanged Man after all. There's a good chance this entire setup is a trap created by The Person in the Mirror just for me."
Resolving to move forward, Jeremy headed toward the distant village.
The sunlit field was vast and empty, with no signs of activity except for the small settlement ahead.
If Jeremy wanted to uncover clues to clearing the instance, visiting the village was inevitable.
As he approached the village, he noticed the temperature around him was steadily rising.
The power of the sun within the instance was overwhelming, far beyond what he had anticipated.
Despite the serene and picturesque landscape, Jeremy couldn't shake the feeling that a deeper danger lurked just out of sight.
Jeremy could almost feel the Sun itself glaring at him from a short distance away, its oppressive presence an inescapable weight.
"This feeling is unbearable! I'm exposed in plain sight, while the enemy hides in the shadows. They could strike at any moment, and I can't even detect their presence right now."
He surveyed his surroundings cautiously, his eyes scanning for anything unusual.
There was no way Jeremy believed he could clear such a high-level instance—rated at a daunting level 70—without facing significant danger.
As he walked along the narrow dirt path through the field, it wasn't long before he encountered a farmer carrying tools.
Through the open doors emerged a massive carriage drawn by six imposing horses.
The carriage moved slowly but steadily, its presence commanding the attention of everyone present. The townspeople's eyes followed its every movement as it made its way to Jeremy.
Jeremy stood frozen, his senses heightened, carefully observing the carriage as it approached.
Without warning, one of the carriage's windows creaked open. From within, a single scarlet eye locked onto Jeremy, staring with an intensity that seemed to pierce through his very soul.
"So, you are the esteemed guest, are you?" A voice, twisted and grotesque, rang out from within the carriage. It was a sound that could unravel even the strongest of minds—warped, maddening, and otherworldly.
Jeremy did not reply. He merely maintained his polite smile, choosing silence as his shield.
He had learned his lesson earlier. Since anything he said could be twisted or turned against him, it was safer not to speak at all.
Unfortunately, his silence did little to protect him.
The farmer beside him was quick to interject, answering on his behalf.
"Mayor, you're absolutely right! He is indeed the honored guest I brought here."
The scarlet eye remained fixed on Jeremy, ignoring the farmer entirely despite his response.
"In that case, let the celebration begin immediately! Every esteemed guest deserves a grand celebration!"
That grotesque, repulsive voice echoed once more from inside the carriage.
As the words sank in, Jeremy felt his stomach churn violently, as if he were on the verge of vomiting. At the same time, he noticed a strange sensation in his mind—a subtle shift that made him feel as though something had changed within him.
The Mayor's declaration seemed to excite the townsfolk immensely.
All of them, including the farmer, eagerly began preparing for the upcoming celebration.
Jeremy, however, had no intention of simply standing around and waiting for the event to unfold. He knew deep in his gut that this so-called celebration could very well end in his death within the instance.
"What exactly is this celebration? Why are all the townsfolk so enthusiastic about it?"
Jeremy pondered his question for a long while before carefully speaking it aloud. He was acutely aware of the risk that his words could once again be twisted into something entirely different.
Thankfully, this time, the instance didn't distort his question.
The farmer, upon hearing Jeremy's inquiry, smiled warmly and responded, "The celebration is, of course, something that every villager holds close to their heart! It fills each of us with pure joy, a happiness that radiates from deep within. Surely you're looking forward to it as well, aren't you?"
The farmer's answer was immediately followed by a question directed back at Jeremy.
Jeremy didn't reply right away. Instead, he deliberated over what response would be safest and most advantageous to him.
After a long pause, Jeremy finally said, cautiously, "Perhaps."
He kept his response deliberately brief, offering only the bare minimum of information. Jeremy knew that the more details he provided, the greater the risk of the instance twisting his words.
The farmer, however, didn't seem to mind Jeremy's vague reply.
With an expression of uncontainable excitement, he joined the other townsfolk in their frenzied revelry.
Despite the supposed preparations for the celebration, the villagers weren't doing anything practical. Instead, they simply leapt and danced wildly through the streets of the town.
The atmosphere was undeniably lively, yet there was an underlying strangeness that made the scene deeply unsettling.
Jeremy watched the chaotic scene unfold, his expression growing darker and more serious with each passing moment.
The cheerful chaos, combined with the eerie undertone of the situation, heightened the sense of danger looming over him.