The celebrations in Valoria lasted well into the night, but the sense of impending danger never truly left our minds. Malakar's defeat had bought us time, but we knew he would not remain defeated for long. His dark presence lingered in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike again.
The next morning, Eldrin called another council meeting. "We have won a significant battle," he began, "but the war is far from over. We must continue to strengthen our defenses and prepare for whatever comes next."
Aria nodded in agreement. "We also need to find a way to strike at the heart of Malakar's power. Simply defending ourselves won't be enough in the long run."
I agreed. "We need to go on the offensive. Malakar's power comes from somewhere, and we need to find that source and destroy it."
The council discussed various strategies, and it was decided that we would send scouts to gather information about Malakar's lair and any possible weaknesses. Meanwhile, I would continue to train the villagers and grant abilities to those who needed them most.
Over the next few days, I granted abilities to several key villagers, each time feeling a slight decrease in my own power. Despite this, the benefits far outweighed the costs. The villagers were becoming a formidable force, and their newfound abilities would be crucial in the battles to come.
One evening, as I was training with Aria, we received a message from one of the scouts. They had discovered the location of Malakar's lair, deep within the Dark Forest. The forest was known for its dangerous creatures and treacherous terrain, but it was also said to hold powerful secrets.
"We need to move quickly," Eldrin said, after hearing the scout's report. "The longer we wait, the stronger Malakar becomes."
I volunteered to lead the expedition into the Dark Forest. "I can handle whatever dangers we might face. We need to strike before Malakar has a chance to recover."
Aria insisted on coming with me. "You won't go alone, Lukas. We face this together."
With our plan in place, we set out the next morning. A small group of elite fighters accompanied us, each one equipped with the abilities I had granted them. The journey to the Dark Forest was long and arduous, but our resolve never wavered.
As we entered the forest, the atmosphere grew darker and more oppressive. The trees seemed to close in around us, and strange sounds echoed through the underbrush. We moved cautiously, using "Unlimited Appraisal" to scout ahead and detect any hidden dangers.
After several days of navigating the treacherous terrain, we finally reached the entrance to Malakar's lair. The entrance was guarded by powerful wards and shadow creatures, but we were ready. With a wave of my hand, I dispelled the wards, and we charged in.
Inside, the lair was a labyrinth of dark corridors and hidden traps. We fought our way through, encountering fierce resistance at every turn. But with our combined strength and abilities, we pressed on, determined to reach Malakar and end his reign of terror once and for all.
Finally, we reached the central chamber. Malakar stood waiting, his eyes burning with fury. "You think you can defeat me here, in my own domain?" he snarled. "I am more powerful than you can imagine."
I stepped forward, my katana ready. "Your power ends here, Malakar."
With a roar, Malakar summoned all his dark energy, and the battle began. The chamber shook with the force of our attacks, and the air crackled with magical energy. Despite his strength, it was clear that Malakar was struggling to maintain his hold.
Drawing upon the power of the Crystal of Eldoria, I unleashed a devastating wave of energy. The blast hit Malakar squarely, and he staggered back, his form flickering with instability.
"You cannot win," he spat, but his voice lacked conviction.
With one final, decisive strike, I shattered the dark energy surrounding him. Malakar let out a scream of rage and despair as he was consumed by the light. The shadow creatures vanished, and the lair began to collapse.
We rushed out of the crumbling lair, the ground shaking beneath our feet. As we emerged into the light, I felt a sense of relief and accomplishment. Malakar was defeated, and his dark reign was over.
Returning to Valoria, we were met with cheers and celebrations. The threat of Malakar had been vanquished, and the village could finally look forward to a future of peace.
That night, as the village celebrated, I took a moment to reflect and check my status once more.
"System, show me my status."
[ Name: Lukas Gigonos
Age: --
Titles: 'Someone From Another World' 'God'
Job: 'God'
Strength: --
Endurance: --
Speed: --
Mana: ∞
Wisdom: 1,000,000,000
Skills: 'Unlimited Potential' 'Unlimited Magic' 'Can't Level Up? I Just Need To Train' 'Unlimited Appraisal' 'Hide It' 'Training Addict' 'Immortality' '1000x Training Benefits' 'Magic Creation' 'Deadly Weapon Creation' 'Absolute Defence' 'True Immortality' 'Absolute Mind Defence' 'Age Reverse' 'Skills Creation' ]