With the trials behind them and tensions still lingering from Kael's betrayal, Aria and Kael ventured to the Temple of Light, where the Crown of Light awaited. The temple lay hidden within the Veil Mountains, shrouded in mist and guarded by ancient spells. As they entered, a faint glow pulsed in the heart of the temple, where the crown rested upon a pedestal, radiating power.
But just as Aria reached for it, the air crackled with dark magic. Malvaris appeared in a swirl of shadows, his eyes fixed hungrily on the crown. "Did you really think you could outsmart me?" he sneered, raising a hand to summon a force that pinned Aria and Kael in place.
With a triumphant smile, Malvaris placed the Crown of Shadows on his own head. His power surged, filling the temple with a suffocating darkness. Aria struggled against his spell, feeling her strength fade. But as she reached within, the energy of the trials resonated, igniting her inner magic.
"Eldoria's light will never belong to you!" she cried, breaking free from his hold. A fierce battle erupted as light clashed with shadow, magic echoing through the temple's stone walls.
In the end, Aria managed to weaken Malvaris, but the final confrontation was only beginning. She knew their hardest battle was still ahead.