Gacha Summoner: Pulled into Another World

Chapter 11: Echoes of the Abyss

**Chapter 11: Echoes of the Abyss**

The silence that followed the destruction of the Abyss Core was heavy, almost oppressive. Though the statues had stilled, and the core had collapsed into itself, the dungeon didn’t feel any less dangerous. If anything, the air seemed even thicker with anticipation, as if the heart of the dungeon was preparing its next move.

Yuuji wiped the sweat from his brow, the Blade of Eterna still humming faintly at his side. He glanced around at his companions. The knight was already scanning the room for threats, his sword still drawn. The archer, normally composed, was fidgeting with her bow, clearly unsettled by the unnatural quiet. The mage’s expression was unreadable, but her staff glowed softly, indicating she was ready for whatever might come.

“Are we safe?” the archer asked, her voice hushed.

“No,” the mage replied, her eyes fixed on the remains of the Abyss Core. “Not yet. We may have disrupted its power, but the dungeon isn’t fully undone. There’s still something deeper—something we haven’t seen yet.”

Yuuji knew she was right. Even though the core was gone, the Blade of Eterna still thrummed with an unspoken warning. There was more to this place—something older, something darker, lurking just beyond their understanding. And whatever it was, it was still watching them.

“We need to keep moving,” Yuuji said, his voice firm despite the unease gnawing at him. “The longer we stay here, the more likely something else will come after us.”

The knight nodded, taking his usual position at the front. “Stay close and stay alert. We don’t know what’s waiting for us.”

As they pressed forward, the chamber slowly gave way to another corridor, its walls lined with more of the strange symbols they had seen earlier. This time, however, the symbols weren’t faint—they glowed with a sickly green light, pulsing in time with the rhythm of their footsteps. It was as if the dungeon itself was alive, breathing, its very walls filled with dark intent.

Yuuji felt the Blade of Eterna pulse with each step, the sword growing heavier in his grip. He could sense something ahead—something powerful, something ancient. The whispers at the edge of his mind grew louder, the voices of past wielders urging him onward, warning him of the danger that awaited.

“Do you hear that?” the archer asked, her voice barely audible. “It’s like… a heartbeat.”

Yuuji strained his ears and realized she was right. There was a faint, rhythmic sound echoing through the corridor, like the slow, deliberate beating of a heart. It was distant, but unmistakable, growing louder with each step they took.

“We’re getting closer,” the mage whispered. “This is it—the true source of the dungeon’s power.”

The corridor twisted and turned, eventually opening into another massive chamber. This one, however, was different from the others they had seen. The walls were lined with intricate carvings, depicting scenes of ancient battles, monstrous creatures, and powerful beings locked in eternal conflict. At the center of the room stood a massive stone altar, and upon it rested a large, dark crystal, pulsating with the same sickly green light as the symbols on the walls.

The heart of the Abyss.

Yuuji’s breath caught in his throat. The crystal was enormous, easily twice the size of a person, and it radiated a power unlike anything he had ever felt before. It was raw, untamed, and ancient—older than the dungeon itself, older than the world he had been transported to.

The knight took a step forward, his eyes narrowing. “That’s it. That’s what’s been fueling this place.”

The mage’s face paled. “It’s not just the source of the dungeon’s power. It’s… it’s alive. I can feel its presence. This crystal isn’t just an object—it’s a living entity.”