Elara felt it. A huge presence that formed in the dark sky. The purple fog began to swirl, while black flashes unlooked on the horizon. Kael drew his sword, his gaze fixed on the guardian. "What is this?"
The guardian looked at the spectacle with an expressionless expression. "Something that shouldn't have woken up."
A dull rumble sounded. Then the ground began to shive. Cracks were drawn through the earth, and from a distance a gigantic figure rose. Her body was made of shadows and ancient stone, her eyes glowed blood-red.
Elara swallowed. "Such a thing again..."
The guardian shook his head. "No. This is not an ordinary opponent. This is the Nightmare King. The embodiment of all those who were forgotten in this realm."
Kael growled. "So we have no choice?"
"Right."
Without further words, Elara jumped forward. Her hands glowed, light and darkness danced around her fingertips. The Nightmare King roared and struck her with a huge claw, but she dodged at the last moment and fired a concentrated wave of shadow magic directly at his chest.
The explosion tore away a piece of his body, but instead of screaming, the mass just grew back.
Kael cursed. "That can't be true!"
The guardian watched her attentively. "You will not be able to defeat him with raw force."
Elara landed on the floor, her breathing heavy. "Then tell us how."
The guardian pointed to the book on the altar. "There lies the answer."
Kael and Elara exchanged a look. None of them had time to read a book while a monster wanted to tear them to pieces. But Elara knew there was no other way.
"Stoon him!" She called to Kael and ran to the altar.
Kael gritted his teeth. "Easier said than done!" He jumped towards the Nightmare King, dodged his attacks at lightning speed and struck with all his might to distract him.
Elara opened the book. The pages were yellowed, the characters ancient. But as soon as their fingers touched the words, they began to move on their own. Images formed before her eyes.
A heroine who united light and darkness. A weapon forged from both. And a ritual that could destroy a creature like the Nightmare King.
Elara understood.
She looked at her hands. Light and shadow. Both were in her. And that was the key.
"Kael! Back!"
Kael heard the determination in her voice and immediately jumped aside. The Nightmare King now turned to Elara. She stretched out her arms, let the energies rise in her - and with a huge cry, a wave of pure light and dark darkness was unlodged at the same time.
The energy hit the Nightmare King directly. He roared, his body starting to fall apart. The balance that had held him together was destroyed. Within a few seconds it dissolved, remaining only an empty echo.
Silence returned.
Kael was breathing heavily. "That... was close."
The guardian stepped forward, his eyes on Elara. "You have unleashed the true power of balance. But this was only the beginning."
Elara felt it. The change in her. She had released something that could no longer be contained.
"What's next?"
The guardian smiled. "The truth."