Hunter of the Lost Gates-Chapter 26 - : Echoes of the Abyss

Sai's boots scraped against the rocky canyon floor as he and Lena pressed forward. The air remained thick with the scent of damp earth and something else—something ancient. The battle against the Abyssal Predator had been a warning.

This place wasn't just a rift. It was a tomb.

The system had identified it as uncharted territory, which meant no one else had recorded its existence. But Sai had learned long ago that just because something was hidden didn't mean it was safe.

Lena, walking beside him, let out a tired sigh. "You ever get the feeling we're walking straight into another disaster?"

Sai smirked. "Always."

Lena rolled her eyes. "Remind me why I follow you again?"

"Because I keep saving your life?"

She huffed but didn't deny it.

Their path narrowed, forcing them to walk single file. The canyon walls loomed over them, their surfaces etched with strange symbols that pulsed faintly.

Sai slowed his pace, brushing his fingers over one of the markings. His system immediately reacted.

[Unknown Abyssal Script Detected.]

[Deciphering...]

Lines of text flashed in his vision.

"The Forsaken Throne shall rise again. The Lost Gate remains sealed, but its key walks among us."

Sai's heart pounded.

"The Lost Gate?"

His system was named after it. Every piece of power he had gained so far had revolved around the concept of a forgotten power hidden within dungeons and rifts.

And now, there was proof that others knew of it.

"Lena," Sai said slowly. "This place... it's not just some random rift."

She turned to him, eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"

He pointed at the text. "This writing—it's talking about the Lost Gate."

Lena frowned, stepping closer to examine the symbols. "And that's important because...?"

Sai hesitated before answering. He had never told anyone about the true nature of his system. It wasn't just another hunter's gift. It was something more.

Something ancient.

Before he could respond, a deep rumble echoed through the canyon. The ground beneath them trembled.

Lena cursed. "What now?"

Then—the world shifted.

The Abyss Awakens

A wave of darkness burst from the canyon walls, swallowing everything in its path.

Sai barely had time to react before he felt himself being pulled into the abyss. His vision blurred, his body weightless as the air around him vanished.

Then—impact.

He hit solid ground, hard. A sharp pain shot through his ribs as he rolled, struggling to regain his bearings.

The moment he pushed himself up, he froze.

They were no longer in the canyon.

Instead, they stood in a colossal underground chamber, the ceiling stretching so high it vanished into darkness. Massive pillars of obsidian stone surrounded them, each carved with more of the abyssal script.

In the center of the chamber stood a monolithic gate, its surface glowing with faint blue runes.

Sai's breath caught in his throat.

He had seen this before.

In his visions. In the fragmented memories his system sometimes showed him.

This was one of the Lost Gates.

Lena groaned beside him, rubbing her head. "What the hell just happened?"

Sai didn't answer immediately. He took a step forward, his system humming with raw energy as it reacted to the gate's presence.

Then—the shadows moved.

Sai's daggers were in his hands instantly.

From the edges of the chamber, figures emerged. Cloaked in abyssal energy, their glowing red eyes pierced the darkness.

Lena stiffened. "Please tell me those are friendly."

Sai didn't need his system to tell him the answer.

They weren't.

The Keepers of the Gate

The figures rushed forward, their movements unnervingly smooth. Sai ducked beneath the first strike, countering with a precise slash across his attacker's torso.

The blade met resistance—as if cutting through something more than just flesh.

The creature didn't scream. It simply continued moving.

Sai cursed. They're tougher than they look.

Lena flung her chakrams, the spinning weapons cleaving through the air, but the enemies dodged effortlessly, their forms flickering like shadows.

"We need a new plan!" Lena shouted.

Sai's mind raced. His system was analyzing their movements, feeding him patterns and weaknesses.

Then—a notification appeared.

[Gatekeeper Entities Detected.]

[Combat Strategy Formulated.]

Sai smirked. "I've got one."

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He activated Phantom Step, his body flickering as he moved at impossible speed. He reappeared above one of the enemies, slamming his dagger into its skull.

This time—the creature shuddered, its form unraveling as abyssal energy dispersed into the air.

Lena's eyes widened. "How did you—?"

"Hit them with enough force and they break apart," Sai explained, already moving to his next target.

Lena grinned. "Now that's something I can work with."

She twisted mid-air, channeling energy into her chakrams before launching them with full force. The weapons struck true, shattering another enemy into nothingness.

One by one, they eliminated the Gatekeepers.

Until only one remained.

It was taller than the others. Stronger.

And unlike the rest, it spoke.

The Guardian's Warning

"You should not be here," the figure said, its voice a blend of countless whispers.

Sai tightened his grip on his weapon. "Yeah, well, we didn't exactly get an invitation."

The entity tilted its head. "You bear the mark of the Abyss. Yet you know nothing."

Sai stiffened.

The mark of the Abyss?

"What are you talking about?"

The entity raised a skeletal hand, pointing at Sai's chest. "You carry the key. The gate responds to you."

Sai's heart pounded.

Lena glanced between them. "Sai... what is he saying?"

Sai wasn't sure. But one thing was clear—this wasn't a coincidence.

The Lost Gate. The system. The abyssal power that had been growing within him.

It was all connected.

The entity lowered its hand. "If you wish to survive what is to come, find the First Seal."

Then—it vanished.

Sai and Lena stood in silence.

Lena was the first to speak. "Okay. That was creepy."

Sai exhaled, his mind racing. The First Seal.

His system had never mentioned it before. But if it was connected to the Lost Gate...

He had to find it.

Lena crossed her arms. "So. What now?"

Sai glanced at the massive gate looming behind them.

"We find out what's behind that."

Lena sighed. "Of course you'd say that."

Sai smirked. "You said you wanted adventure."

Lena shook her head, but a small smile played at her lips. "Fine. Let's see where this road takes us."

And with that, they stepped forward—toward the unknown.

To Be Continued...