The air around the altar crackled with unstable energy, remnants of the dark force that had protected it now fading into the cold stone walls. The chamber had grown eerily quiet after the destruction of the guardian, but there was no sense of victory yet. Ethan and his team stood before the altar, the source of corruption pulsating with a faint, sickly light. Despite their efforts, the dark energy remained, and the core at the heart of this place still fed on the power of the World-Core.
"This is it," Sylas said softly, her voice filled with a mix of awe and dread. "The corrupted core. It's the nexus of all the corruption in this region."
Lila stepped forward, her staff glowing faintly as she studied the core. "It's weakened, but it's still dangerous. We need to destroy it before it regains power."
Ethan could feel the system humming in the back of his mind, urging him forward. The core pulsed in time with the energy that resonated within him, as if it recognized the same source of power—the World-Core. The connection was undeniable, and with it came a deep sense of unease.
"How do we destroy it?" Gavin asked, his sword at the ready. "Do we just smash it?"
"No," Sylas said quickly, shaking her head. "The core is tied to the World-Core itself. If we attack it recklessly, the corruption could spread or even become stronger. We need to sever the connection carefully."
Ethan looked at the core, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on him. The system had guided him this far, and he knew that it held the key to destroying the core. But with every use of the system's abilities, he felt the pull of the World-Core growing stronger, the connection between him and the corrupted energy deepening.
"There's a way," Ethan said finally, his voice steady. "The system can disrupt the energy flow. It can break the core's link to the World-Core, but it's going to take everything I've got."
Lila's expression shifted to one of concern. "Ethan, are you sure? The more you use the system, the more you're tied to the World-Core. We don't know what that means yet."
Ethan met her gaze, his resolve unwavering. "We don't have a choice. If we don't destroy this core, the corruption will keep spreading."
Sylas nodded, her eyes locked on the core. "Do it. We'll protect you while you focus on breaking the connection."
Ethan stepped forward, his heart pounding as he focused on the core. The energy around it pulsed in rhythmic waves, each beat resonating with the World-Core's power. He could feel the system responding, the familiar surge of energy building within him as it prepared to unlock a new ability.
"New Ability Unlocked: Core Disruption."
"Effect: Disrupts the flow of corrupted World-Core energy, severing the link between the core and the corruption source. Temporary depletion of system power expected."
Ethan's breath caught in his throat as the words flashed before his eyes. This was it—the ability he needed to destroy the core. But the cost was high. The system warned that using Core Disruption would temporarily deplete his power, leaving him vulnerable.
"We're with you," Lila said, stepping beside him. "We'll protect you while you do this."
Gavin and Darin moved to the front, their weapons raised, ready to face whatever might come once Ethan made his move. Mira darted around the edges of the chamber, keeping watch for any potential threats.
Ethan nodded, his grip tightening on his sword. "Here we go."
The moment Ethan activated Core Disruption, the air in the chamber shifted. The sickly green light around the core flared brightly, and the ground beneath their feet trembled. Ethan felt the surge of energy flowing through him, his connection to the system and the World-Core growing more intense as he focused on the core. He raised his sword, which now glowed with the same shimmering energy as the core itself, and struck.
A shockwave of energy rippled through the chamber, and the core let out a high-pitched, unnatural scream as the corrupted energy that fed it began to unravel. Tendrils of dark energy lashed out, striking the walls and ceiling as the core fought to maintain its connection to the World-Core.
"Stay sharp!" Gavin shouted as the chamber began to shake violently. "This thing's not going down without a fight!"
The tendrils of energy whipped through the air, each strike more desperate and chaotic than the last. Ethan could feel the resistance in the core, its dark energy clinging to the connection with the World-Core, but the system pushed back, tearing at the corrupted bonds with every pulse.
"Almost there!" Sylas called out, her hands glowing as she and Lila worked to contain the wild energy spilling from the core. "Keep going, Ethan!"
Ethan's body trembled with the strain of maintaining the Core Disruption ability, the power draining him with every second. His vision blurred, and the sound of the system's hum filled his ears, growing louder and louder as the energy built to a climax.
Finally, with a deafening crack, the core shattered. The dark energy that had once filled the chamber exploded outward, dissipating into the air like smoke. The sickly green light faded, and the oppressive weight of the corruption lifted. The core was gone, its link to the World-Core severed.
The room fell silent.
Ethan collapsed to one knee, his body trembling from exhaustion. The system's power had been depleted, just as it had warned, leaving him feeling drained and vulnerable. But the core was destroyed, and the corruption that had once filled the cavern was no more.
Lila rushed to his side, her hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
Ethan nodded weakly. "I'm fine. Just… exhausted."
Sylas stepped forward, her expression both relieved and thoughtful. "We've done it. The corruption here has been severed, but this is only one of many cores connected to the World-Core. We need to be ready for the others."
Gavin sheathed his sword, his breath still coming in heavy gasps. "That was… intense. But we got it done."
Mira leaned against one of the walls, wiping the sweat from her brow. "We stopped the corruption here, but I have a feeling this isn't the last time we'll be facing something like this."
Ethan slowly got to his feet, his strength returning bit by bit. "We'll be ready. We have to be."
Lila helped him stand, her expression filled with both concern and determination. "The system helped us here, but the deeper we go, the more we're going to have to rely on ourselves."
Sylas nodded, her gaze distant as she considered the implications of what they had done. "The World-Core's corruption is vast, and we've only just begun to uncover its reach. But for now, we've weakened it. This is a victory."
Ethan looked at the shattered remains of the core, his mind still racing with thoughts of the system, the World-Core, and the corruption that bound them all together. The fight was far from over, but for the first time, he felt a glimmer of hope.
They could win this.