A new Abyssal Springhead bloomed into existence, its reverse rotation creating a powerful repulsive force against the original. As the new Springhead sank, the old one was violently pushed away, slowly beginning to break free from its descent into oblivion.
A sickly, rasping laugh scraped through the void. "Gahahaha… I knew it. I knew if the Springhead didn't show, you'd come sniffing around the core."
"Alveron. You walked right into it. Now you're not leaving."
"Come sink with me…"
"Hahahahaha…!"
The insane, weakened voice of Zareth echoed from the nascent Abyssal Springhead. That final, wretched cackle seemed to have burned away the last remnants of his sanity and will. In truth, Zareth was already gone. This was merely a sliver of his consciousness, a lingering echo desperate to witness the final act.
He'd gambled his life on Alveron's paranoia, and it had paid off. In his final moments, he had won the chance to drag the virtue knight into the grave with him.
