Darex raised his arms high, causing the shadows to take various forms: wolves, snakes, and horrifying, indescribable creatures. The attacks came from all directions, forcing Rio and Jin to move quickly and coordinate their efforts.
Rio struck down one of the creatures with a powerful blow, only for more to emerge in its place.
• "This never ends!" he shouted in frustration.
The system spoke again:
• "Alert: Shadow energy levels increasing by 15%. Escalating threat detected."
• "System, do you have anything useful to say?" Rio retorted sarcastically, slicing another wolf-like shadow in half.
Jin, fighting beside him, spoke in a steady voice:
• "Rio, focus. If we lose concentration, we're dead."
At that moment, Darex let out a booming laugh as he watched them.
• "You're just insects wasting your time. You'll never defeat me here. The shadows are my life… and they will be your graves!"
Despite their exhaustion and injuries, Rio and Jin remained standing. The squad that had accompanied them fought on the outskirts, trying to protect themselves from the unending waves of shadows.
Rio glanced at Jin and said:
• "If this is the end for us, I'm glad you're by my side."
Jin, with a faint smile, replied:
• "Don't talk like we've lost. This is just the beginning."
The system suddenly spoke:
• "Suggestion: Focus on the primary source of the shadows. Minimize engagement with secondary targets."
Rio absorbed the advice and pointed at Darex.
• "He's the center of all this. If we take him down, it's over."
Darex, watching them, smirked maliciously.
• "If you think you can reach me… go ahead. Try."
Darex, who seemed to command the entire world under his control, descended from his throne with confident steps, the shadows moving with him like a living shield. The room grew darker, making every step fraught with peril.
Rio and Jin exchanged a quick glance, both knowing this moment would be decisive. The system's voice echoed in Rio's mind, as if trying to warn him of something deeper:
"Shadow levels increasing. Direct attack risk at 73%. Devise an alternative strategy."
Rio signaled to Jin with his hand as he kept his eyes on Darex approaching.
• "You attack from the left, and I'll distract him from the front. The shadows are his strength, but I'm sure he has a weakness. We need to find it."
Jin nodded in agreement and darted swiftly to the left.
Gripping his sword tightly, Rio charged directly at Darex. His strike was as fast as lightning, but the shadows intercepted him, forming a living wall. The sword struck hard, but the shadows absorbed the blow like a sponge.
• "Do you think your simple weapon can pierce me?" Darex said, raising his hand to release another wave of shadows, pushing Rio back.
From the other side, Jin appeared suddenly, aiming his sword directly at Darex's back. His strike was precise, but it stopped just an inch away from Darex as a shield of shadows materialized, blocking the attack.
• "It's useless," Darex said with a voice full of mockery. "You're fighting the shadows themselves. And I am the shadows."
Rio stepped back slightly, trying to process the situation. His mind raced as he sought a solution.
• "System, can you identify any weakness in this shield?"
The system responded in its cold tone:
• "Analyzing. Energy levels indicate the shield consumes a significant amount of energy to protect the body. If the shadow energy source is disrupted, the defense will weaken."
• "Disrupt the source?" Rio muttered, then glanced at the shadows filling the room.
Jin, overhearing the conversation between Rio and the system, shouted:
• "Rio! It looks like the shadows are tied to the room itself. If we destroy the carvings on the walls, we might weaken him!"
Rio quickly scanned the surroundings, noticing the ancient carvings glowing faintly.
• "Jin, I'll cover you. Go for the walls and start destroying the carvings!" Rio shouted as he faced Darex once more.
Jin didn't hesitate. He dashed toward the walls and began striking the carvings with his sword, extinguishing some of the faint lights. With each carving destroyed, the darkness in the room weakened slightly.
Darex noticed what was happening and roared in anger:
• "No! This is my domain… You will not destroy everything I've built!"
As the shadows around him grew weaker, Rio charged at Darex one last time. Darex tried to summon more shadows, but the walls that had been feeding his strength were collapsing one by one.
Rio delivered a direct blow to Darex's chest, this time unimpeded. The sword pierced through his weakening shield, and a scream of pain and despair erupted from Darex as he fell to his knees.
• "You… don't understand… The shadows are not just a power; they're… a legacy."
Rio looked at him with cold eyes and said:
• "Your legacy dies with you."
With Darex's final breath, the room began to collapse around them. The shadows dispersed, and light slowly started seeping back into the space.
Jin ran toward Rio, glancing around cautiously.
• "We need to get out of here before we're buried alive."
Rio nodded but paused briefly to look at Darex's lifeless body, as if something inside him felt incomplete.
When the heroes emerged from the temple, dawn had begun to break on the horizon. The boy Rio had saved earlier was waiting outside, his eyes filled with fear and hope.
Rio placed his hand on the boy's head and said quietly:
• "No one will hurt you anymore."
The system spoke again:
• "Mission complete. Energy levels stabilized. Current threat: Low."
But Rio didn't feel at ease. This was just another battle in an endless series of challenges.