Chapter 36: The Shard of Ascension
The ethereal chamber pulsed with an oppressive energy as the massive shadow loomed over the group. Its form was ever-shifting, eyes and mouths appearing and disappearing across its surface like ripples in a dark pool. The Shard of Ascension floated at its heart, radiating a light so pure it seemed to repel the creature's darkness.
"Do you feel it?" the shadow's voice echoed, a chorus of whispers. "The weight of your failures? The futility of your quest? Even now, the Blight spreads, unstoppable and eternal. And here you stand, clinging to a hope that will shatter like glass."
Emryn stepped forward, holding the Shard of Remembrance aloft. Its light flared in response to the oppressive darkness, pushing it back ever so slightly. "We're not here to listen to your lies. If you think you can stop us, you're welcome to try."
The shadow laughed, a sound that resonated through their very bones. "Bold words from a child haunted by her own guilt. Very well. Show me your resolve, and I will show you the truth of your insignificance."
The chamber erupted into chaos as the shadow surged forward, a tidal wave of darkness and malice.
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The Battle Begins
Kael was the first to react, raising the Chalice of Lumina. A dome of golden light spread outward, protecting the group as the shadow slammed into it. The impact sent cracks rippling across the barrier, but it held firm.
"Keep it together!" Kael shouted, sweat beading on his forehead as he struggled to maintain the barrier.
Garrick charged forward, his axe glowing faintly with the enchantments Kael had imbued earlier. With a mighty swing, he cleaved through a tendril of shadow, the impact scattering fragments of darkness that quickly reformed.
"These things just keep coming back!" Garrick growled.
"They're not real," Eryndra called out, loosing an arrow that struck another tendril. The arrow's glow pulsed, and the tendril disintegrated. "They're manifestations of the Blight's power. Focus on the core!"
Emryn nodded, gripping the Shard of Remembrance tightly. Its light intensified as she poured her will into it, aiming at the core of the shadowy figure. A beam of light shot forth, striking the creature's center. The shadow recoiled, screeching in pain.
"Nice shot!" Alden shouted, his sword ablaze with holy fire as he slashed through another tendril.
Piper darted between the writhing shadows, her daggers flashing as she severed their connections to the core. "Don't let up! We've got it on the ropes!"
But the shadow wasn't finished. With a deafening roar, it expanded outward, forcing the group to scatter. The chamber seemed to warp and twist around them, the walls closing in as the creature grew larger.
"You cannot defeat what you do not understand," the shadow hissed. "You fight blindly, clinging to light in a world that thrives on darkness."
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The Fragmented Visions
As the shadow spread, the chamber was filled with visions—fractured images from each of their pasts.
Emryn saw her fallen comrades, their faces twisted in agony as they blamed her for their deaths. The weight of their loss pressed down on her, threatening to drown her in despair.
Kael saw the ruins of Caldris again, the cries of the dying echoing in his ears. He fell to his knees, clutching the chalice as tears streamed down his face.
Piper saw herself standing alone in a world devoid of light, her daggers slipping from her hands as she faced the emptiness within her heart.
Garrick was back in the arena where he had been betrayed by his closest ally, the jeers of the crowd mingling with the pain of betrayal.
Eryndra faced the forest she had once called home, now burned to ash. The faces of her kin turned to her, accusing her of abandoning them.
Alden stood before his family's graves, their voices whispering that his quest for redemption was futile.
The shadow's laughter filled the chamber. "Do you see now? You are weak, broken. You cannot win."
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Emryn's Stand
Emryn clenched her fists, her heart pounding as the weight of her failures threatened to crush her. But as she looked at the shard in her hand, its light steady despite the darkness, she remembered Eryndra's words: "Doubt is normal. But it's what you do despite that doubt that defines you."
Taking a deep breath, she focused on the shard, letting its light fill her. The visions began to fade, the shadows retreating as her resolve solidified.
"You're wrong," she said, her voice steady. "We may be broken, but that doesn't make us weak. It makes us human. And it's because of those scars that we fight."
The shard flared brighter, and the others began to snap out of their trances.
"Everyone, focus!" Emryn shouted. "Don't let the shadows control you. Remember why we're here!"
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The Turning Point
Kael rose to his feet, the chalice blazing with golden light. "She's right. We're not defined by our pasts. We're defined by what we do now!"
He poured his energy into the chalice, sending waves of light through the chamber. The visions shattered, and the group rallied.
Piper grinned, her daggers igniting with fire as she lunged at the tendrils. "Let's finish this thing!"
Garrick roared, his axe crackling with energy as he charged the core. Eryndra's arrows flew with precision, each one striking true. Alden chanted a prayer, his blade glowing with holy light as he joined the assault.
Emryn focused on the shard, channeling its power into a concentrated beam. The light pierced the core of the shadow, causing it to writhe and scream.
"This is for everyone you've hurt," Emryn said through gritted teeth. "For everyone you've taken from us!"
---
The Shard of Ascension
With a final, deafening roar, the shadow collapsed in on itself, the darkness imploding into a singular point before vanishing entirely.
The chamber was silent, the oppressive energy gone. At the center of the room, the Shard of Ascension floated serenely, its light pure and unwavering.
Emryn approached it cautiously, her hand trembling as she reached out. When her fingers closed around the shard, a surge of warmth and clarity filled her. Visions of the past and glimpses of the future flashed through her mind.
She saw the world before the Blight, vibrant and alive. She saw the First Ascended forging the shards, their faces determined and full of hope. And she saw the Blight's origin—a fractured soul consumed by despair and hatred.
The visions ended, and Emryn gasped, her knees nearly buckling.
"Are you okay?" Kael asked, rushing to her side.
Emryn nodded, her grip on the shard firm. "I saw... everything. The Blight's origins. The truth behind the shards. We're closer than ever, but the final battle will be harder than anything we've faced."
The others exchanged determined glances.
"Then we'll face it together," Alden said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Emryn smiled, the Shard of Ascension glowing brightly in her hand. "Together."
As the group prepared to leave the chamber, the shard's light guiding their path, they knew they were one step closer to their ultimate goal. But the road ahead would demand everything they had—and more.