Episode 68: The Cradle of Origin

They fell. Again.

The bone ground of the upper Abyss cracked open like glass, swallowing them whole. Shadows rushed by, faces dissolving into streaks of ash. It felt endless, as if gravity had no destination.

Then, THUUMMMM!

They hit a surface that wasn't stone or bone but something alive. It pulsed. The ground rippled under their feet like stretched flesh, veins glowing crimson through its translucent skin. The air here was denser, vibrating with a low hum, like a heartbeat echoing from the core of existence.

Elira gagged, clutching her stomach. Reina cursed under her breath, holding her blades steady, but her face was pale. Akira pressed a hand to his temple, sweat dripping down his jaw.

Kuro forced himself to stand. His emberlight crown flickered, stabilizing just enough to keep him upright. His greatsword burned faintly, every flame crackling in the heavy atmosphere.

This place was different. It wasn't just darkness. It was the origin.

Whispers rose again, louder now, no longer faceless. They spoke with clarity, cutting deep.

"Why hold on to them, Kuro? You don't need Elira. You don't need anyone."

"Akira, Reina will betray you. It's what her blood commands."

"Elira, Kuro will fall. You cannot save him. He will abandon you."

"Reina, Akira never trusted you. You were always expendable."

The words slithered into their ears, planting doubt and twisting memories.

Reina's grip trembled on her daggers. Akira's breathing became sharp and uneven. Elira's violet glow flickered in her eyes, seeming to fade. Kuro felt something tug inside him, pulling at names and faces. Elira's hand in his—was it real? Had it ever been real?

The system's cold text flooded his mind:

[Warning: Memory Integrity Collapse Imminent]

[Target: Bonds – Akira ↔ Reina / Kuro ↔ Elira]

[Stability: 31%]

"Damn it," Kuro hissed, clutching his head. "It's trying to erase us from each other."

---

The hum of the Cradle grew louder. THUUM-THUUM-THUUM!

Then the surface split. KRRRSHHHH!

From the cracks emerged figures unlike the previous shadows. These weren't faces on empty shells. They were built. Engineered. Beasts made of bone and metal, ribs fused with steel, skulls bound with gears, spines twisting with crimson veins pulsing like molten wires. Their eyes glowed with Abyss light, their jaws clanked as if grinding iron.

Abyss Guardians.

The first one lunged, its claws like scythes. SLAAAASH! The ground exploded under its swipe.

Akira rolled aside, katana flashing. SHIIING! CLAAAANG! Sparks flew as his blade hit steel bone. But the beast barely flinched, swinging back. THUUD! He was thrown across the fleshy ground.

Another guardian charged Reina, mouth unhinging with a mechanical shriek. SKRRRREEEEE! She darted forward, daggers slicing. SL-SL-SHKKK! Veins burst, spilling black ichor, but the creature's gears spun faster, regenerating as she attacked.

Elira unleashed a blast of frostfire. KAAAASHHH-BOOOOM! The wave froze the beast solid, shards flying in every direction. But cracks appeared across the ice, crimson veins reigniting. It roared, breaking free.

Kuro roared back, igniting his greatsword. FWOOSH! Flames surged down its length as he swung. THUND! SHRRRACK! The blade split one guardian in two, molten ichor splattering like lava. But even as it fell, its two halves twitched, crawling to reform.

---

The voices returned, cutting sharper.

"Kuro, you don't even know her name. Did you ever? What if Elira was never real?"

"Elira, look at him. He doesn't remember you."

"Akira, Reina's smile? Fake. A phantom. She was never beside you."

"Reina, Akira's loyalty? A lie."

And the worst part—shadows began peeling away from the Guardians, forming silhouettes.

Elira gasped as Kuro's double stepped forward, sharper and clearer, identical. His crown burned brighter, his sword heavier, his eyes colder.

Reina froze as Akira's double appeared, blade poised, eyes empty.

Akira faltered as Reina's false form stepped out, smirking cruelly.

And Kuro—the air left his chest when Elira's mirror emerged, her smile soft, warm, and wrong.

---

The battle descended into chaos.

SLAAAASH-CLAAAANG-KAAAABOOOM!

Kuro's sword clashed with his double's. Sparks erupted, fire colliding with fire. The crown of the false Monarch burned with darker light, shadows writhing like serpents. Each clash echoed. THUUUUND! THUUUUND! The ground shook, crimson veins bursting.

Elira screamed, frostfire slamming into her doppelgänger. KAAAASHHH! But her double mirrored every move, every spell, casting the exact same frostfire back. KRRRSHHH-BOOOOM! Ice shattered against ice, flames consumed flames.

Akira fought his mirror in a deadly dance. SHIIING-SHAAASH-CLAAAANG! Katana against katana, every strike identical, every stance perfect. Sweat poured down his face—how do you defeat yourself?

Reina's daggers sparked against her false self's blades. SL-SHK-SHKKK! Every dodge was matched, every feint mirrored. She snarled in frustration, emerald eyes burning.

The Guardians joined the fray, lunging at random, steel-bone claws crashing down. DOOOOM! THUND! The Cradle shook under the weight of battle.

---

Kuro faltered. His double's blade carved across his chest. SLLLLAAAASH! Blood sprayed. He dropped to one knee, gasping.

The false Elira appeared beside him, kneeling, whispering. "…Kuro, I'm the real one. You've been holding onto a shadow. She's already gone."

His vision blurred. Was it true? His emberlight crown flickered, faltering. Names slipped away.

Elira. Elira. Who was Elira?

A violet glow cut through the fog. The real Elira's hand grabbed his face, forcing him to meet her gaze. Her voice broke with fury and love.

"I'm here, Kuro! Look at me! I'm Elira Valenhart! And you are mine—my choice, my King, my anchor! Don't you dare forget me!"

BOOOOOOOM!

Her frostfire wings unfurled fully, violet flames wrapping around him. Kuro's crown steadied. His sword erupted brighter than ever.

He roared, shoving his double back. THUUUUND! SLAAAASH! The false Monarch shattered into black ash, its scream echoing.

Elira collapsed into his arms, trembling. He held her, forehead pressed to hers, whispering hoarsely. "…I'll never let them erase you. Not now. Not ever."

---

Akira howled, forcing strength into his strike. "I'm Akira Daisuke! And I decide who I fight beside!"

SHRRRRAAACK! His katana split his mirror, ash bursting outward.

Reina screamed, crossing her daggers in a deadly X. "I'm Reina Ashthorne! My path is mine!"

SLAAAASH-KAAAABOOOM! Her double burst apart.

The Guardians roared in fury. But the group no longer faltered. Their bonds anchored them, stronger than the Abyss's lies.

Together, they struck.

THUUMMMM-BOOOOOOM-SLAAAASH!

The Guardians fell, gears snapping, ichor splattering. This time, they did not rise.

---

Silence returned, heavy and trembling.

Then the voice came again, deeper and clearer.

"…You resist erasure. You resist truth. Then hear my name, for you have reached my cradle. I am Nihil—the Eternal Sovereign."

The Cradle pulsed, veins glowing brighter. The hum became a roar.

"…Kuro Jin. Become my heir. Cast off these chains of flesh, these bonds, these lies. Take the Throne of Nothingness. Rule as what you were always meant to be."

Kuro stood there, sword in hand, Elira clinging to his arm, Akira and Reina bloodied but unbroken. His crown flickered with violent emberlight, reacting to the call.

The choice loomed.

And the Abyss awaited his answer.

---

[ To Be Continued...]

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