Inside the city, they were led to a massive crystal cavern, its walls lined with stones that pulsed with energy. In the center of the cavern stood a pedestal, and on it lay the infinity stone, glowing with an otherworldly light.
"This is where it all began," Sia said, her voice trembling. "The stone was created to control the balance between life and death. It was meant to be a tool of power, but it became something much darker."
Anthony stepped forward, his hand outstretched. "It's time to destroy it."
But as his fingers brushed against the stone, a powerful force shot through him, sending him crashing to the ground. The stone pulsed with energy, its power surging through the cavern.
"Sia!" Anthony gasped, his body wracked with pain. "It's too strong. We can't just destroy it like this."
Sia knelt beside him, her heart racing. "Then what do we do? How do we stop it?"
The answer came to her in a flash of realization. "We don't destroy it. We have to purify it. The stone feeds off of death, of pain. We have to break its cycle by giving it life, by giving it love."