The chamber erupted into chaos as the Warden surged forward, his shadow-forged weapons slicing through the air with deadly precision. The oppressive aura of the room weighed heavily on Kazuya and Lyriana, but neither faltered.
Kazuya dashed to the side, narrowly avoiding a spear of darkness that embedded itself into the stone floor, splintering the ground with unnatural force. He countered with a swift slash of his sword, sending a burst of energy hurtling toward the Warden.
The attack struck the Warden squarely in the chest, but his shadowy form merely rippled like water. He reformed in an instant, his burning eyes narrowing in disdain.
"Your mortal strength is meaningless here," the Warden growled, his voice reverberating through the chamber.
Kazuya gritted his teeth. "We'll see about that."
Lyriana loosed a barrage of arrows infused with light magic, each one streaking through the air like a comet. The Warden raised an arm, conjuring a swirling barrier of shadows that absorbed the projectiles with ease.
"Typical," Lyriana muttered. "Shadows counter light. We need to break through that defense."
Kazuya activated Analyze, focusing on the Warden.
Name: Shadow Warden
Level: 60
Abilities: Shadow Manipulation, Dark Barrier, Void Spear, Spectral Division, Regeneration
Weakness: Intense Light Magic
Kazuya's eyes flicked to Lyriana. "Your light magic is our best bet. I'll keep him busy while you charge up a stronger attack."
She nodded. "Just don't get yourself killed."
Kazuya dashed forward, his speed leaving afterimages as he closed the distance between himself and the Warden. The Warden retaliated with a flurry of shadow spears, but Kazuya weaved between them with practiced precision. He closed the gap and delivered a powerful strike infused with energy, forcing the Warden back.
The Warden retaliated by summoning tendrils of darkness that lashed out like whips, each one cracking the air with devastating force. Kazuya parried and dodged, his movements growing sharper with every exchange.
"You're persistent," the Warden sneered. "But persistence means nothing in the face of eternity."
The Warden's form began to shift and multiply, creating three spectral copies of himself. Each copy was identical, their glowing eyes and malevolent auras indistinguishable from the original.
Kazuya's brow furrowed. "Great. Now there are four of him."
The spectral Wardens surrounded him, their voices overlapping in a chilling chorus. "Let's see how well you fare against the shadows."
The copies attacked in unison, their spears stabbing and slicing in a relentless assault. Kazuya activated Dash, evading their strikes with blinding speed, but the sheer number of attacks left him little room to counter.
"Kazuya!" Lyriana's voice cut through the chaos.
He glanced back to see her standing at the edge of the chamber, her bow glowing with an intense golden light. She was channeling her most powerful attack, the magic swirling around her like a miniature sun.
"Keep them in one place!" she called out.
Kazuya nodded, understanding her plan. He activated Shockwave Slash, slamming his sword into the ground and sending a ripple of energy outward. The spectral Wardens stumbled, momentarily thrown off balance.
"Now, Lyriana!"
Lyriana released the arrow, and the chamber was flooded with radiant light. The golden projectile streaked toward the Warden and his copies, exploding in a blinding burst that illuminated every corner of the room.
The spectral copies dissolved instantly, their forms unable to withstand the intense light. The original Warden staggered, his shadowy body flickering and unstable.
"You insolent fools!" the Warden roared, his voice cracking with fury. "You dare challenge my dominion?"
Kazuya didn't waste the opportunity. He surged forward, his sword glowing with energy as he struck the Warden with everything he had. The blade pierced the Warden's chest, and Kazuya activated Burst Strike, releasing a shockwave that tore through the Warden's body.
The Warden let out a final, ear-piercing shriek before his form disintegrated into a cloud of black mist. The oppressive aura in the chamber lifted, and the room fell silent.
Kazuya collapsed to one knee, catching his breath. Lyriana approached him, her bow still glowing faintly.
"Is it over?" she asked cautiously.
Kazuya glanced at the pedestal, where the glowing crystal still pulsed faintly. "Not yet. That's the source of the corruption."
As they approached the pedestal, the air around the crystal began to shimmer. A faint voice echoed in the chamber, soft and sorrowful.
"Please… help me…"
Lyriana froze. "Did you hear that?"
Kazuya nodded. "Someone's trapped in there."
He reached out cautiously, his hand hovering over the crystal. The moment his fingers brushed the surface, a surge of energy coursed through him, and a vision flashed before his eyes.
He saw a figure cloaked in light, their features obscured but their presence overwhelming. They were bound in chains of shadow, their voice pleading.
"Free me… and I will grant you the power to cleanse this world of its darkness."
Kazuya pulled his hand back, his mind racing.
"What did you see?" Lyriana asked.
"There's someone inside," he said. "Someone powerful. But I don't know if we can trust them."
Lyriana frowned. "If they're offering to help cleanse the corruption, it might be worth the risk. But we need to be sure."
Kazuya stared at the crystal, weighing his options. The vision had felt real, and the figure's plea had been genuine. But he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than they understood.
"We'll free them," he said finally. "But we'll be ready for anything."
As he prepared to release the figure trapped within the crystal, Kazuya couldn't help but feel that this decision would change everything.