After the fierce battle against Jareth and their efforts to seal the Forbidden Gate, Van and his companions found themselves trapped in a haunting silence. Although the gate had been closed, the impression left behind was far more immense and terrifying than they had imagined. Van lay weak, his body no longer able to bear the weight of the energy he had unleashed.
Lyria knelt beside Van, checking his breathing. "Van, you have to wake up," she said anxiously, trying to encourage him despite her own uncertainty about what had happened.
Eren scanned their surroundings cautiously, his eyes sweeping over the area to ensure no further threats were lurking. "We need to get out of here before the remaining forces of darkness catch up."
Before they could move any farther, a heavy, ominous voice echoed behind them.
"Do you think you've won?" the voice boomed. They turned to see Jareth standing again, battered but alive. The dark energy coursing through his body seemed even stronger, despite his previous defeat.
Jareth gripped his sword with trembling hands, but his face showed a determination that could not be extinguished. "The gate may be closed, but that's only a small part of the larger plan. The Outsiders won't be stopped so easily. They've already begun their awakening, and all you've done is delay the inevitable."
Van struggled to his feet, his body weak but his resolve unbroken. "We won't let you awaken them. If we must, we'll stop you, Jareth!"
Jareth laughed coldly. "You don't even know what you're fighting against. The Outsiders aren't just our enemies they are part of this world's destiny. And you can't change destiny."
Lyria stood firm, summoning what little magic she had left, even as her strength waned. "We may not know everything, but we know one thing: we won't give in to the darkness."
Eren stepped closer to Van, offering moral support even though he wasn't sure how this battle would end. "Jareth, if you truly believe we can't change destiny, then you're denying reality. Destiny can be changed, and we'll prove it."
Van lifted his sword, though it felt impossibly heavy. "This time, Jareth, we'll defeat you. Nothing will stop us."
Jareth merely laughed and, with a swift motion, swung his sword toward them a strike that seemed capable of destroying the entire world. Van, barely able to move, knew this would be their final test.
---
The Final Sacrifice to Protect the World
As Jareth's attack closed in, Van felt a sudden surge of power awaken within him. The sixth fragment, still fused with his sword, revealed to Van an undeniable truth: the only way to defeat Jareth and halt the Outsiders awakening was to make a profound sacrifice.
Without words, Van felt a force larger, purer, and stronger than anything he had ever experienced. He realized that in order to destroy Jareth's dark power, he would have to give up something invaluable the strength he had relied upon until now.
In a swift movement, Van raised his sword once more, channeling the last remnants of the fragment's power into his blade. But this time, it wasn't just physical energy that flowed; it was his unyielding desire to protect the world that empowered his actions.
"There's no more time, Jareth," Van said, his voice resolute despite his exhaustion. "If it means sacrificing everything, I'll do it."
Jareth smirked, as though he anticipated this. "So, you're really choosing that path? Very well prove it to me!"
Van closed his eyes briefly, feeling the surge of energy grow stronger as his resolve deepened. With one final swing, Van's sword shattered in two, releasing a pure, blinding light from within him. The light surged toward Jareth, carrying the full force of Van's will. This was the final strike, one that would decide their fates.
---
A Victory Full of Sacrifice
The attack shot forward with incredible speed, obliterating everything in its path including Jareth, who tried to withstand the blow with all his dark power. However, the energy from the sixth fragment, fused with Van's pure determination, proved far greater than anything Jareth could muster.
A colossal explosion of light engulfed the battlefield, sending shockwaves rippling across the world and touching every corner of existence. Jareth, struck by the attack, was finally defeated, his body torn apart by the overwhelming power unleashed by Van. Moments later, the remnants of Jareth's dark energy dissolved into nothingness, leaving the world in a sudden, eerie calm.
Van collapsed to the ground, his body drained of all energy. He felt the power of the sixth fragment leaving him, dissipating into the universe. The pain, strength, and burden he had carried for so long were gone.
Lyria and Eren rushed to his side, their faces a mix of relief and concern. "Van, you did it. Jareth is gone," Lyria said, her voice filled with emotion.
Eren quickly checked on Van. "But... you've lost your strength."
Van gave a weak smile. "I may have lost my power, but the world is safe. That's what matters."
As the sudden calm settled over the battlefield, they realized that the threat of the Outsiders was not entirely gone. Though the Forbidden Gate had been sealed, the dark forces created by the Outsiders still lingered in the world. A new truth began to emerge there were more mysteries to uncover, and their journey was far from over. With renewed determination in their hearts, they knew that the world still needed them.