Draven's presence froze the atmosphere in the room. Ricky felt his heartbeat quicken, while Sophie stood alert by his side. Kieran gripped his weapon tightly, his eyes never leaving the figure of their enigmatic enemy.
Keeper stepped forward, his face calm despite the increasingly dangerous situation. "Draven… You've gone too far. What is your true purpose?"
Draven chuckled softly, his voice echoing throughout the room. "My purpose? I just want to ensure that this cycle of destruction continues. This world has been dead for a long time, and resurrecting it is foolishness."
"So you're working with the Remnants?" Ricky interrupted sharply.
"They're more than just creatures," Draven answered, stepping closer to the crystal pillar. "They are remnants of the old world's energy that want to survive. But they cannot coexist with humans. Only destruction will remain."
Keeper clenched his fist, his breath growing heavy. "You're wrong. There is still hope. The Heart of the World can restore balance."
Draven slowly shook his head. "Hope is an illusion. I will destroy the Heart of the World before you ever touch it."
In a swift motion, Draven raised his hand, unleashing a wave of dark energy that slammed into the floor, causing a violent tremor. The crystal pillar in the center of the room began to crack, its blue light dimming.
"We must stop him now!" Kieran shouted, charging forward with his weapon.
Draven easily parried Kieran's attack, deflecting every strike with a shadow sword formed from dark energy. A fierce battle erupted, the sound of clashing weapons and explosions of energy filling the room.
"Sophie, help Keeper! I'll find a way to stop Draven!" Ricky sprinted to the side of the room, trying to find a weak point in the pillar, now on the verge of destruction.
"Ricky, be careful!" Sophie yelled as she ran toward Keeper, who was struggling to stabilize the pillar's energy with trembling hands.
Kieran continued to fight bravely, but Draven was too powerful. Every blow he struck was futile, while Draven seemed to relish the battle.
"Enough playing around." Draven swung his sword with full force, sending Kieran flying into the wall. "You will not win."
But before Draven could approach the pillar again, Ricky shouted, "Not if I stop you now!"
With all his courage, Ricky threw a small glowing object toward the pillar. It was the energy crystal they had found earlier in the cave, an item Keeper believed could strengthen the Heart of the World.
The object shone brightly upon touching the pillar, triggering a massive burst of light that forced Draven to retreat in haste. Blue light filled the room, banishing the darkness Draven had created.
"No… This is impossible!" Draven screamed in rage, shielding his eyes from the blinding light.
Meanwhile, Keeper seized the moment to fully activate the Heart of the World. The crystal pillar began to glow steadily, and the vibrations in the room slowly subsided.
Draven glared at them with pure hatred. "This isn't over. I will return."
With that, he vanished into the dark mist, leaving them in silence. Ricky, Sophie, Kieran, and Keeper stood, breathless, realizing that their battle had only just begun.