Chapter 83: The Unleashed Menace

As the intense battle between William and Jack raged on, the destructive force of their clash echoed throughout the once-serene flower field. The stakes were higher than ever, as not only their lives hung in the balance, but the fate of the others also.

William, fueled by his warrior's resolve, refused to back down despite the growing gap in power between him and Jack. He knew that he had to find a way to overcome the overwhelming strength of the mage before him. With Darkmoon in his hand, pulsating with dark energy, he focused on his next move.

Sensing an opportunity, William swiftly disengaged from Jack's range, creating some distance between them. He needed a moment to gather his thoughts and come up with a strategy to turn the tide of the battle. His mind raced as he analyzed Jack's abilities and observed his patterns of attack.

Meanwhile, Jack stood confidently, his eyes gleaming with a mix of arrogance and amusement. He relished in the display of power, reveling in the fact that he had surpassed William. To him, this battle was merely a formality, an opportunity to showcase his superiority.

"You fight with valor, I'll give you that," Jack taunted, his voice dripping with condescension. "But it's futile. No matter how skilled you are with that sword, you cannot match the might of my magic."

As the battle raged on, William could feel the strain on his body growing. The power gap between him and Jack was becoming increasingly apparent, and he knew he couldn't keep up for much longer. Desperation gnawed at his heart as he realized the impending doom that awaited him.

In his heart, William was hoping that the realm spirit could hurry up and assist him. Fortunately, his luck seemed to be on his side. Suddenly, he noticed a change in Jack's demeanor and felt a shift in his overwhelming power. The mage's strength had plateaued, and the menace that had surrounded him started to diminish.

"Heh! It seems like your time is up. Just wait. When the spell is finished, so will be your fate," William gloated, his hope rekindled by Jack's apparent loss of power.

However, Jack's response shattered William's optimism. "Hmm, they were faster than I thought. Never mind. The plan already succeeded anyway," Jack nonchalantly brushed off William's words, his calm demeanor unsettling.

A sense of dread washed over William as he realized his grave mistake. He had become so fixated on relying on Emperor Alexander's spell to defeat Jack that he failed to consider the cunning and contingency plans of his opponent. Jack had anticipated this situation and had a countermeasure in place all along.

"Don't look at me like that. Even if you realize it now, it's already too late. Indeed, an idiot will always be an idiot," Jack sneered, relishing in William's realization.

To make matters worse, Jack performed an audacious and dangerous act. He opened a massive space crack directly above Alcatraz Tower, creating a suction force that began pulling all dark energy towards it. This gravitational pull threatened to release hordes of undead into the world, causing a stampede of unimaginable proportions.

Witnessing this horrific scene, William's first instinct was to rush towards the tower to aid Sarah and the others. However, he soon discovered that Jack had no intention of engaging him any further. Ignoring William entirely, Jack began floating away, his figure diminishing in the distance.

Frustration and helplessness engulfed William as he realized he couldn't do much against Jack's scheme. But he knew he couldn't lose hope. Calming himself, he refocused his attention on the critical task at hand—the space crack itself. He had to do something to prevent the undead from escaping and to protect his companions.

Just as William prepared to make his way towards the tower, Sarah's voice resounded in his mind, interrupting his movements. "William, can you hear me?!"

"I can hear you," William responded, momentarily pausing his advance.

Sarah conveyed the gravity of the situation. "The realm spirit and I are barely holding on here. We'll try to contain the space crack as much as we can. Anna has gone to fetch Thomas and Uncle Garz. Right now, we need to prevent the undead from escaping. Our best course of action is for us to escape and immediately close the space crack. Once we're out, the crack can never be closed again."

Understanding the urgency, William grasped the weight of the decision before him. It was a choice between allowing the undead to flood into the world while escaping to safety or remaining trapped within Emperor Garden to prevent their release. Each option carried significant risks and sacrifices.

Taking a deep breath, William made his decision. "Understood, Sarah. I'll do whatever it takes to protect all of you. Hold on, help is on the way."

With unwavering determination, William diverted from his original path. The battle had taken an unexpected turn, and William must do what he need to do.