Chapter 24

Chapter 24

The tunnel widened as Elion and his group progressed, unveiling a huge vaulted room cut from the rock. The walls were covered with ancient inscriptions, twisted symbols that glowed faintly with purple light. The floor was paved with black, smooth, cold slabs that echoed beneath their steps.

Elion stopped, his dark gaze peering into the symbols along the walls.

"This architecture..." he whispered. "It's not the work of humans."

Eridan knelt down, passing a gloved hand over a broken slab.

"It's not just old... it's cursed."

Veyla moved cautiously, her dagger in hand.

"Look over there."

She pointed to the other end of the room, where a huge black metal door stood, adorned with intricate engravings and enchanted runes. A massive chain, covered with spikes, sealed the door.

"A barrier magically sealed," commented Eridan.

"And a mighty magic," added Elion.

He walked up to the door, reaching out to the chains. A icy energy discharge passed through his palm, forcing him to retreat.

" Demonic Magic..."

Veyla knelt down, putting two fingers on a rune engraved at the foot of the door.

"It's an upper-class barrier. It can't be broken by brute force."

Eridan approached, his dark gaze fixed on the engravings.

"So what do we do?"

Elion closed his eyes, concentrating his Ki. The silvery aura around his body pulsated faintly.

"There is always a weakness in a barrier. Just find it."

Suddenly, a dull rumble echoed across the room. The engravings along the walls suddenly lit up with a purple light, and an intense vibration passed through the ground.

"Something is waking up," whispered Veyla, jumping up.

A metallic noise rang as the chain around the door began to vibrate. Then, slowly, the walls themselves began to move. The black slabs slipped, revealing gaping openings from which emanated a black mist.

"Get ready!" ordered Elion.

Slowly emerged from the mist: tall, thin humanoid creatures, their bodies wrapped in black rags. Their red eyes shone in the shadows, and black claws shone under the glow of the runes.

"Spectral shadows," grumbled Eridan.

Elion immediately activated his Ki. His sword lit up with a silvery glow, pulsating to the rhythm of his breath.

The shadows rushed forward.

Eridan struck first, his shield shining with a golden light. He blocked the first claw before counterattacking, his sword cutting the shadow in half in a strident cry.

Veyla rushed to the side, her dagger crackling with lightning. She threw a burst of lightning, piercing several creatures at once. The shadows screamed as they disintegrated.

Elion, meanwhile, confronted the greatest of creatures. He leaped forward, his blade falling into a perfect bow. The creature raised a claw to block, but Elion's sword passed through the defense, sharpening the shadow arm.

The creature howled, retreating several steps. Elion left him no respite: he hurled a wave of Ki through his blade, the silvery light pouring into the room like a wave.

The shadows were swept away, their cries dying into nothingness.

"Impressive," commented Veyla, short of breath.

Eridan lowered his shield, his gaze fixed on the door still vibrating.

"This barrier... it's getting weaker."

Elion headed back towards the door, placing a hand on the metal surface. This time, he felt a weak pulse through the metal - a vibration of energy that slowly dissipated.

"The barrier was fed by these creatures," he whispered.

He took a step back, concentrating his Ki in his palm. A sphere of silvery light appeared, vibrating gently.

"If I channel a direct impulse through weakness..."

He placed his hand against the door, letting his Ki flow slowly through the metal. The silvery light pulsed, penetrating the structure of the barrier.

A shock wave passed through the room. The chains vibrated, then exploded in a burst of black light.

The door opened slowly, revealing a stone staircase plunging into darkness.

An icy draught of air blew through the open passage. A metallic and corrupted smell floated in the air.

"Forward," Elion ordered.

They slowly went down the stairs, the torches magically lighting up as they passed. The steps were old, worn out by time.

At the end of the staircase, a circular room opened up in front of them. In the center, a black altar stood, surrounded by stone pillars engraved with dark runes. A red light pulsed faintly at the top of the altar.

"It's no ordinary altar," whispered Veyla.

Elion approached, feeling the pressure of the demonic energy intensify.

"This energy... it's similar to that of the dark knight."

Eridan also approached, his look suspicious.

"Then it's possible that..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the red light at the top of the altar suddenly intensified.

A thud echoed, followed by a crack in the walls. A massive shape slowly emerged from the shadows - a humanoid creature more than four meters tall, its body covered with black armor engraved with red runes.

His blood-red eyes opened, emitting an unhealthy glow.

"Class... 5," whispered Veyla, her face pale.

The creature raised a massive axe, engraved with demonic symbols.

"Get ready!" cried Elion.

The creature charged, sweeping his weapon towards them. Elion narrowly dodged, the impact smashing the ground into a stone explosion.

Eridan rushed first, his shield shining with a golden light. He blocked the next shot, but was pushed back by the colossal force.

Veyla threw a lightning-soaked dagger, targeting the creature's joints. The dagger hit its target, but the impact only sparkled against the black armor.

Elion activated his Ki, channeling a wave of silver light into his sword.

"Let's focus on his weaknesses!"

He leapt, aiming for a flaw in the creature's armor.

The confrontation had just begun - and Elion knew that this battle was going to require everything he had.