Amelia's eyes slowly opened, her gaze calm and focused as she took in her surroundings.
The divine light that had been swirling around her now softened into a gentle, warm glow that outlined her form.
She glanced down at the world below, her expression calm but there was a glow burning in her eyes. She had crossed a significant threshold, one that had changed her forever, setting her apart from who she once was.
A soft, soothing energy radiated from Amelia, touching everything around her with a gentle warmth.
Slowly, she floated down from the peak of the pagoda, her form now more ethereal, almost otherworldly. She descended toward the spot where Spark and Chaos had been observing her breakthrough.
The air shimmered with a delicate light around her, and as she landed, her feet barely made a sound against the ground.
"Congratulations," Spark said in his usual casual tone. Chaos, standing beside him, also rumbled approvingly, his glowing eyes reflecting the light that surrounded Amelia.
Amelia's lips curved into a peaceful smile, her entire being filled with gratitude.
"Thank you," she replied, her voice as soft and gentle as the energy she radiated. "Without the two of you, I would not have had this opportunity."
Chaos, seemingly pleased with her words, rumbled again, his massive head bobbing slightly as if in further agreement. The display of approval was so grand that it nearly overshadowed the moment.
Spark could only laugh wryly, shaking his head at the scene.
"You..." he started, a grin tugging at his lips. "Don't you know to be humble?"
Chaos simply snorted, unbothered by Spark's playful rebuke, his enormous form radiating contentment.
Watching the exchange, Amelia couldn't help but let out a gentle laugh, the sound light and melodic. The sight of a human and a giant beast playfully bickering over something so simple was amusing.
As they were chatting, the two ethereal figures who had guided Amelia appeared beside her, their forms dimmer than before. Whether it was because of Amelia's own radiance or their own exhaustion, their presence now felt less overwhelming.
"Thank you, seniors, for your guidance," Amelia said, bowing deeply, her voice full of sincerity.
The female figure responded with a soft, proud voice, "It was your hard work that brought you here. We merely gave you a small push."
Amelia shook her head slightly, still bowing. "Even so, I'm grateful for your teachings. That small push made all the difference. Without your help, it might have taken me decades, or even longer, to reach this stage."
She straightened up, her expression earnest as she continued to show her respect.
The bottleneck she had faced had been a nearly insurmountable obstacle, and it was the insights and wisdom from these ethereal beings that had allowed her to break through the final hurdle in her path.
The male figure, who had been silent until now, seemed lost in thought, his gaze fixed on the sky.
Noticing his deep contemplation, the female figure turned to him, her voice filled with concern. "Is something wrong?"
"What... is that?" Amelia whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief as she continued to stare at the vortex.
The energy it radiated was almost overwhelming, a stark contrast to the gentle, divine light that had surrounded her just moments ago.
The two ethereal figures, lost in their thoughts, snapped back to attention.
They followed Amelia's gaze to the massive vortex in the crater. The male figure's expression hardened as he looked at it, a shadow passing over his translucent face.
"This is the heart of this abyssal place," he said, his voice now heavy with seriousness.
"The heart of this place?" Amelia echoed, her confusion deepening. The words felt heavy, carrying a meaning she couldn't yet grasp.
The figures nodded in unison, their forms flickering as they focused on the vortex. The female figure spoke next, her voice solemn. "This is the core of the abyss, the very reason this place exists."
Amelia turned her gaze back to the vortex, her bewilderment growing.
The dark, swirling mass pulsed with a life of its own, an ancient and terrifying power that had shaped the land around it.
"But why?" she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and dread.
Before answering, the female figure turned her ethereal eyes toward her, studying her closely.
"How much do you know about this place?" She asked, her tone probing.
Amelia paused, gathering her thoughts. "This place was formed during a battle between two powerful beings, and it is said to be filled with countless dangers."
The female figure's gaze softened slightly, though her voice remained serious. "The second part of what you've heard is true. This place is indeed filled with dangers so great that even powerful experts would struggle to escape unscathed. The fact that you've arrived here safely is nothing short of a miracle."
Amelia frowned, sensing there was more to the story.
The figure continued, "However, you are mistaken about its origin."
"What do you mean by that, senior?" Amelia asked, a flicker of unease settling in her chest.
The two figures exchanged a glance before revealing the truth. "The two of us once battled in this land for a powerful artifact. Our battle was fierce, and it did scar this place... but we are not the originators of this abyss."
As the female figure's words sank in, Amelia suddenly realized that the two ethereal beings standing before her were the very figures from the ancient stories she had heard.
For as long as she could remember, it had been accepted as fact that this abyssal realm was born from the clash of two immensely powerful beings—a story passed down through generations.
But now, as she stood before them, these very beings revealed they were not the originators of this place. The revelation left her in shock, contradicting everything she thought she knew.
"Our battle only made its existence known to the outside world." The female figure added, "This abyssal place was already here when we arrived. The vortex you see—the heart of this place—existed long before us, for countless ages. "