Chapter 19: Duel Against Darkness
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The Battle in the Main Chamber
The wave of dark energy from the figure in the black cloak struck the room's pillars, causing massive stones to collapse around them. Kano and his team quickly dodged, each taking a defensive stance.
"Who are you?!" Kano shouted, gripping his sword tightly. The Rune on his body glowed brightly, ready for the next attack.
The figure did not answer, only raised its hand again. This time, dark shadows rose from the floor, forming eerie, shapeless creatures—seemingly manifestations of emptiness itself.
"You will not leave this place alive," the figure spoke coldly.
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Fighting the Darkness
Reina quickly readied her bow, shooting arrows rapidly at the shadow creatures. However, each time her arrows struck, the creatures only shattered briefly before reforming.
"They can't be destroyed with normal methods!" Reina shouted.
Dorian advanced with his sword, slashing at one of the shadow creatures. Much like Reina's arrows, his attack only caused the creature to break apart momentarily before it reformed.
"This is pointless!" Dorian said, retreating in frustration.
Lyra, standing in the middle of the magic circle she created, closed her eyes to read the flow of energy in the room. "They're connected to the source of power from that figure. We need to sever their link to the Rune!"
Kano nodded. "Then I'll stop it directly!"
With incredible speed, Kano attacked the figure. However, his opponent was not easily defeated. The figure raised its staff, creating a dark energy shield that blocked Kano's attack.
"This energy... it's thick," Kano thought, struggling to break through the shield.
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Lyra's Plan
While Kano faced the cloaked figure, Lyra discovered a pattern in the room's energy flow. "Cover me! I need time to cast a destructive spell!"
Reina and Dorian quickly formed a barrier around Lyra, fending off the shadow creatures that continued to advance. Reina adjusted her strategy, firing arrows infused with light—an enhancement from Lyra's magic—that were more effective in immobilizing the shadows.
Dorian, relying on his physical strength, fought to hold off the relentless attacks, though it was clear he was growing fatigued.
"Hurry, Lyra! I don't know how much longer I can keep this up!" Dorian shouted.
Lyra calmly chanted the incantation, her voice full of intensity. The magic circle beneath her grew brighter, emitting an energy that shook the entire room.
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Rune vs. Darkness
Meanwhile, Kano continued to press the cloaked figure. He combined the Rune's energy with his sword techniques, creating a wave of blue light that shook the dark energy shield of his opponent.
"Who are you really?" Kano asked between strikes.
The figure smiled faintly beneath its hood. "I am an envoy of Voidus, and my goal is simple—to take this Rune and destroy anyone who stands in my way."
With a single motion, the Voidus envoy unleashed an explosion of energy that sent Kano flying backward. But before it could attack again, Lyra's magic circle reached its peak.
"Now!" Lyra yelled.
Kano understood. He channeled all his Rune energy into his sword, creating a beam of blue light so bright that it filled the entire room. With one powerful slash, he shattered the dark energy shield of the figure.
At the same moment, Lyra completed her spell, creating a massive burst of energy that obliterated all the shadow creatures in the room.
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A Hard-Won Victory
The Voidus envoy fell to its knees, its body beginning to fade into shadows. "You may have won this time," it said, its voice weakening. "But this is just the beginning. Voidus will rise, and you will not be able to stop him."
With that, the cloaked figure vanished completely, leaving only silence in the room.
Reina sat down on the floor, exhausted. "That... was too close," she said, trying to catch her breath.
Dorian nodded. "If an envoy is this strong, I can't even imagine how powerful Voidus himself must be."
Kano walked over to the altar and took the second Rune fragment. As soon as he touched it, warm energy flowed through his body, giving him a sense of calm and renewed strength.
"We can't stop here," he said, looking at the others. "We need to find the next fragment before Voidus sends more envoys."
Lyra slowly rose to her feet, her eyes still glowing with golden light from the magic she had just used. "I agree. This fragment is the key to stopping Voidus. We have to keep moving."
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A New Trail
As they prepared to leave the temple, a small map appeared on the altar. The map showed the location of the next fragment—a place deep beneath the ocean to the far east.
"The ocean floor?" Reina asked, raising an eyebrow as she stared at the map. "How are we supposed to get there?"
Lyra gave a small smile. "With magic and a little bravery, we can do anything."
They looked at each other, realizing their journey was growing more dangerous. But one thing was certain—they would not give up.