Leviathan: Rise of the Abyss

"The weight of secrets is not in their telling but in their keeping. For shadows grow longer where the light dares not reach."

By the Divine

The air grew heavier with every passing second, thick with an ominous energy that seemed to press down on their lungs. Sophia clutched the pendant Leviathan had just given her, her knuckles white.

"What's happening?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the distant crackle of energy in the sky.

Leviathan's gaze was locked on the horizon, his glowing eyes narrowing as the streaks of crimson tore through the clouds like bleeding wounds. His wings unfurled slightly, catching the faint breeze that carried the scent of sulfur.

"It's a portal," he said, his voice grim. "To hell."

Sophia felt her stomach drop. "Hell?"

Lotan stepped forward, his usual casual demeanor replaced with a rare seriousness. "This isn't just any portal. It's a beacon," he said. "Every demon within its reach will be drawn to it—and to us."

Sophia's grip tightened on the pendant. "But why? Why now?"

"They're testing me," Leviathan growled, his fangs bared slightly. "Clarisse and her husband are playing their game. They want to gauge my strength"

Lotan's lips pressed into a thin line. "You're strong enough, Levi. But this isn't a fight you can handle alone."

"I don't need help," Leviathan snapped frustrated, his wings flaring wider. **Why does everyone keep thinking that I can't handle anything in my own, firat the creator now this** Leviathan thought to himself

Lotan didn't flinch at his brother's outburst. Instead, he pulled out his phone and began scrolling through his contacts. "Whether you like it or not, I'm calling in the witches. The city doesn't need to remember demons raining down on it tonight."

Sophia glanced between the two of them, her heart pounding. The tension in the air was suffocating, and Leviathan's aura was growing darker and more intense by the second.

"What should I do?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely steady.

Leviathan's eyes softened for a brief moment as he looked at her. "Stay close to Lotan. The witches' spell will keep you safe."

"And you?"

Leviathan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned back to the sky. The crimson streaks were growing brighter, pulsing like a heartbeat. Then, with a deafening crack, the first tear split the sky wide open, revealing a swirling vortex of fire and darkness.

Sophia gasped as shapes began to emerge from the portal—hulking figures with glowing red eyes, their forms twisted and grotesque.

"Demons," Lotan muttered, his tone grim.

Leviathan stepped forward, his wings casting a shadow over the rooftop. He didn't look back as he spoke. "Stay here. I'll handle this."

And with that, he flapped his wings and instantly shot into the sky, he turned into a streak of red light and started killing the demons at a terrifying speed.

The first demon barely had time to register Leviathan's approach before it was torn apart. With a single swipe of his claws, its grotesque form disintegrated into ash, the embers carried off by the swirling winds. Leviathan moved with a precision that terrified all creatures, his figure was a blur as he carved through the horde of demons.

From the rooftop, Sophia could only watch in stunned silence. Leviathan was unstoppable, his movements more beast than man, each attack of his had the characteristics of a beast attack. Yet, despite his overwhelming power, the demons kept pouring through the portal, their numbers seemingly endless.

"They're not stopping," Sophia whispered, her voice trembling. "How many are there?"

Lotan, who had been muttering under his breath while texting furiously, looked up. "Too many," he admitted. "The witches need time to cast their spell, but we don't have much of it. The longer that portal stays open, the worse this is going to get."

Sophia glanced at him, her fear momentarily replaced by confusion. "What spell? How does it work?"

Lotan's eyes didn't leave the chaos unfolding above them. "They're going to alter the memories of everyone in the city. Make them think this was nothing more than a freak meteor shower or some other harmless phenomenon. It'll stop people from panicking—and stop them from knowing about the supernatural world"

"But can they close the portal?"

Lotan hesitated. "That's not their job. That's Levi's."

Sophia felt her chest tighten. She turned her gaze back to the sky, where Leviathan was now locked in combat with a particularly massive demon, its grotesque form resembling a hybrid of a bull and a serpent. The beast roared, swinging a clawed hand the size of a car, but Leviathan evaded it effortlessly, countering with a burst of flame that engulfed the creature's head.

Sophia clenched her fists. "He can't do this alone," she muttered, her voice barely audible over the cacophony of the battle.

"He can and he will do it alone" Lotan said confidently, though there was an worry in his voice.

The ground shook violently as another demon landed, this one closer to the rooftop. It snarled, its eyes glowing with malevolent glee as it set its sights on Sophia and Lotan.

Sophia stumbled backward, her heart pounding. "Lotan…"

"I see it," Lotan said, his tone sharp. He raised his hand, and a bright circle of symbols flared to life in the air before him. "Stay behind me."

The demon charged, its massive claws came downwards trying to tear through the rooftop. The circle Lotan created pulsed with energy, and a shield of light erupted in front of them, stopping the creature in its tracks.

"Not today," Lotan muttered, his other hand weaving intricate patterns in the air. A second later, a burst of energy shot from the circle, striking the demon square in the chest. It howled in pain, its form shuddering before collapsing into ash.

Sophia stared at Lotan, wide-eyed. "You can fight?"

"I'm not just Levi's brother and guard" he said with a smirk, though his expression quickly sobered. "But I'm no Leviathan. If more of them get through…"

Another deafening roar cut him off as the massive bull-serpent demon Leviathan had been fighting crashed into the street below. It lay still for a moment, then began to rise, its body smoldering but far from defeated.

"Damn it," Lotan muttered. "He needs to end this now."

Sophia felt a surge of panic. "What happens if he doesn't?"

Lotan hesitated before answering. "If the portal stabilizes, it won't just be demons coming through. Something worse could follow."

"What's worse than this?" Sophia demanded, her voice rising.

Lotan's jaw tightened. "Oh no , you don't want to know what that is"

Above them, Leviathan let out a roar that shook the air. His wings spread wide, crackling with energy as he countless circles formed in the air around him. He performed various hand symbols at a terrifying speed he then let out an earth shaking roar and the circles disappeared.

The effect was immediate. The swirling vortex shuddered violently, its edges beginning to collapse inward. The demons still emerging from it screamed as they were pulled back into the void, their forms twisting and disintegrating as the portal devoured them.

Leviathan didn't stop. He dove into the thick of the remaining demons, his claws and flames cutting through them like the scythe of the grim reaper.

Finally, with a deafening crack, the portal imploded, leaving only the faint scent of sulfur and ash in the air. The sky returned to its usual dark hue, the crimson streaks fading into nothingness.

Leviathan landed on the rooftop moments later, his body untainted from the battle and his expression victorious. He looked at Lotan and Sophia, his glowing eyes softening.

"It already closed the portal so let them do it now" he said simply.

Sophia let out a shaky breath, relief washing over her. But Lotan's expression remained grim.

"For now," he said quietly. "But I'm sure Clarisse has more plans in store for us" Leviathan said and the noticed that Alice wasn't with them and he then looked at the ground and found out that Alice already fainted the instant the crimson rifts appeared.

Got it! Let me completely revise the continuation starting from the "One Month Later" part and focus on creating a more grounded, non-battle-related cliffhanger that aligns with character development, intrigue, and tension. Here's the revised version:

***** One Month Later ******

The Greystone Building had become quieter in the aftermath of the portal event. Repairs had restored all the damages done to the building and to the city to top condition, and for the city, life returned to normal all thanks to the witches' memory spell. For everyone else, it was as if nothing extraordinary had happened.

But within the walls of Greystone, change had occurred.

Sophia wiped sweat from her brow as she lowered her training staff. Lotan stood opposite her, arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning her stance.

"Better," he said, though his tone betrayed no satisfaction. "But better isn't good enough. Again."

Sophia groaned but obeyed, raising the staff and falling back into the defensive stance Lotan had drilled into her over the past month.

Across the room, Alice sat on the floor, her arms wrapped around her knees as she watched. She had a staff of her own, but it lay discarded beside her.

"You could join us, you know," Sophia said, glancing at her.

Alice flinched at the invitation but shook her head. "I'm fine."

Lotan sighed, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "Alice, you won't get better just sitting there. What we are doing here isn't us teaching about being the strongest, it's about learning survival."

"I said I'm fine," Alice snapped, her voice higher than she intended. She stood abruptly, grabbing her staff. "But thanks for the lecture."

Without another word, she stormed out of the room, leaving an awkward silence in her wake.

Sophia looked to Lotan, concern etched on her face. "She's been like this all month."

"She feels left behind," Lotan replied, his tone calm but firm. "It's not easy for someone like Alice to adjust. Supernatural battles, spells, demons—it's a lot for anyone."

"Should we talk to her?" Sophia asked.

Lotan shook his head. "Give her time. Pushing her now will only make it worse."

Sophia nodded, though unease lingered in her chest. She could only hope Alice would come around.

******The Dining Lounge******

Later that evening, the four of them gathered in the dining hall for a rare shared meal. Leviathan, seated at the head of the table, seemed more relaxed than Sophia had seen him in weeks. His wings were not showing behind him this time and his sharp gaze had softened.

Sophia picked at her food, glancing occasionally at Alice, who sat quietly at the other end of the table. Lotan tried to lighten the mood with jokes, but they fell flat.

Leviathan finally broke the silence. "Tomorrow, we're leaving the city."

Sophia looked up, surprised. "Leaving? Why?"

"You've both been working hard," Leviathan said, his gaze shifting between her and Alice. "And it's clear you need a break. Lotan and I thought a change of scenery would do some good."

Alice's expression flickered with uncertainty. "Where are we going?"

"Sin city" Lotan answered with a grin. Sophia smiled faintly. "That actually sounds nice."

Alice didn't respond immediately. Her grip on her fork tightened, and for a moment, Sophia thought she might argue. But then she sighed. "Okay."

Leviathan nodded, satisfied. "Good. We'll leave in the morning."

*****Late Night******

The Greystone Building was silent as the night deepened. Sophia stood by the window in her room, staring out at the city lights. The pendant Leviathan had given her hung around her neck, its faint warmth a comforting presence.

Her thoughts drifted to the past month, the training, the strange connection between the four of them, and Leviathan's unexplained moods. She hadn't forgotten how his fangs had extended during the portal event or the way his aura had darkened around her.

A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts.

"Come in," she said, turning toward the sound.

Leviathan stepped inside, his presence filling the room. He closed the door behind him, his gaze unreadable.

"Can't sleep?" he asked.

Sophia shook her head. "Just thinking."

Leviathan stepped closer, his wings shifting slightly. "About what?"

She hesitated. "You. The portal. Everything."

His expression turned to a teasing one "Why would you be thinking about me?" Leviathan said as he raised his eyebrows at Sophia.

"You're hiding something," she said bluntly, surprising even herself. "Your fangs. What's happening to you?"

Leviathan was silent for a long moment. His gaze drifted to the window

"It's complicated," he said finally.

"That's not an answer," she pressed, stepping closer. "I want to understand. You keep protecting me, but I can't help you if you won't let me in."

Leviathan's jaw tightened. "You can't help me, Sophia."

"Why not?"

His gaze snapped back to hers, intense and unyielding. "Because I don't even know what's happening to me."

The confession hung in the air, heavy and raw. Sophia's breath caught as the weight of his words sank in.

Before she could respond, Leviathan turned away. "Get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day."

As the door clicked shut, Sophia sank onto the edge of her bed, her mind racing. She clutched the pendant around her neck, its warmth now feeling more like a warning than a comfort.

Unseen by her, a faint glow emanated from the pendant, its light pulsing in time with her heartbeat.

And somewhere in the shadows of the Greystone Building, unseen by all, a pair of giant glowing crimson eyes watched silently.