Chapter 53: Into the Rift's Abyss
The air shimmered with raw energy as Arlen and his team pressed forward, the pulsing light growing stronger with every step. The terrain shifted unpredictably beneath their feet, jagged platforms crumbling into the void as the rift twisted reality around them.
"Stay close!" Arlen commanded, his voice cutting through the ominous hum of the rift.
Kaelis tightened his grip on his axe, his gaze scanning the erratic surroundings. "This place feels like a trap waiting to spring."
"It is," Caden replied, his voice calm despite the chaos. "Kaorath's influence is everywhere. He's not just watching us—he's guiding us where he wants."
Liora cast a wary glance at Arlen. "And we're walking right into it?"
"We don't have a choice," Arlen said, his tone resolute. "If we retreat, Kaorath will recover and strike again. We end this now."
The group moved in silence, the oppressive atmosphere making each breath feel heavier. Arlen's mind churned with thoughts of the fight ahead. Kaorath had been injured but far from defeated. The entity's power was unlike anything he had faced before, and he knew the next encounter would test the limits of his strength.
"Something's wrong," Liora murmured, breaking the quiet.
Arlen halted, his senses flaring. The light ahead suddenly dimmed, and the air grew colder. A chilling wind swept through the rift, carrying with it faint whispers that seemed to burrow into their minds.
"Arlen…" Kaelis growled, his voice low. "We're not alone."
From the shadows, twisted figures began to emerge—spectral forms, their bodies wreathed in dark energy. Their hollow eyes glowed with malice as they encircled the group.
"Kaorath's minions," Caden muttered, drawing his weapon. "He's stalling us."
Arlen stepped forward, his blade gleaming with a radiant light. "Then we cut through them."
The creatures lunged, their movements unnaturally fast. Arlen met the first wave head-on, his blade slicing through their forms with precision. Each strike sent ripples of energy through the air, but the minions seemed endless, their numbers replenished as quickly as they fell.
Liora unleashed a burst of magic, a wave of fiery light that scattered several of the specters. "We can't hold them off forever!"
"Then don't," Arlen said, his voice sharp. "Focus on breaking through. Kaorath is the real fight."
The group fought with relentless determination, carving a path through the swarm. Arlen's power burned brightly, each swing of his blade pushing back the tide of darkness.
As they reached the edge of the battlefield, a deafening roar echoed through the rift. The light ahead flared violently, and Kaorath's form began to materialize once more.
"You persist, mortals," the entity growled, its voice filled with fury. "But your defiance ends here."
Arlen raised his blade, his eyes locked on the towering figure. "Not today."
The battle was about to resume, and this time, there would be no escape.