Chapter 20: "The Dragon Slayer"

As Iris faced the massive beast, suddenly, Selena's weak voice echoed through the chains that bound her:

"Iris... the sword... the Dragon Slayer... it's beneath you!"

Iris's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected that an ancient weapon capable of aiding him in this battle could be hidden in this dark place. A fleeting moment of doubt passed through his mind, but he quickly regained his composure, his eyes now shining with greater determination.

"If there's even a sliver of hope, I won't waste it!" he whispered to himself, knowing that this was the opportunity he had been waiting for.

Without hesitation, Iris dashed toward the massive throne, dodging the brutal strikes of the beast that fell upon him like lightning. His heart raced, and his mind focused solely on one goal: reaching the sword.

As the beast's blows rained down around him, Iris felt something strange beneath his feet. Looking down, he discovered a small opening between the stones, emitting a faint beam of light. The energies surrounding the place seemed to shift, as if the earth itself was giving him a clue.

"Is this it?" Iris muttered, kneeling to open the small gap. In that moment, the shadow beast was closing in fast, but Iris paid it no mind. His hand stretched down into the darkness, feeling for the weapon that could change the tide of the battle.

As soon as his hand gripped the sword, an unnatural coldness filled his palm, as if the blade itself was charged with a dark, mysterious energy. It was enormous, yet Iris pulled it out with sheer force. The sword pulsed with power, its aura wild and untamed, almost alive.

He raised the sword high, its blue glow radiating from every corner of the room. The energy surging through him was overwhelming, and everything in that moment seemed possible.

With a fierce shout, Iris cried out: "I'm coming, Selena!"

Spinning the sword in his hands with practiced precision, the dark beast charged toward him. But before the beast could strike, Iris stood firm and unleashed a devastating blow.

The strike shook the entire chamber as the shadows around the beast scattered. The sword cut through the beast's heart as if it were nothing, and with each swing, the darkness surrounding it was torn apart.

In the end, the beast fell to the ground, dead, its form crumbling like ash. The dark energies that had once enveloped it vanished into nothingness.

As Iris caught his breath, he turned to Selena, still bound by the black chains. He rushed to her side, gently helping her to her feet.

"Iris... I knew I could rely on you..." Selena whispered, her face weary, but she managed a faint smile.

"I won't let you go again, Selena. I'll protect you, no matter the cost." Iris said, his gaze never leaving the sword in his hand, which still pulsed with strange energy.

But before they could leave, they heard a strange sound coming from deep within the ruins. The voice was deep, hiding behind the shadows.

"This is not the end..." the voice echoed, as if something else was lurking in the dark, waiting.

Iris froze, his eyes scanning for the source of the sound. The battle had ended, but he knew the darkness had not yet lifted.

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