Chapter 16: The Final Stand

The clearing was bathed in an eerie glow as Daisuke squared off against the massive wolf pack. The largest of the wolves, its fur blacker than the night, stood near the altar, its eyes glowing with an unnatural green light. It growled low, its hackles raised as it sensed Daisuke's power.

"We'll need to act quickly," Daisuke muttered under his breath. His sword crackled with energy, and the air around him began to swirl with wind and fire. "I'll hold them off. You two focus on the crystal."

Liora and Eren nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. They dashed toward the altar, dodging the smaller wolves that charged at them. The giant wolves lunged at Daisuke with terrifying speed, but he was faster.

With a fluid motion, Daisuke slashed at the first wolf, sending a wave of fire across its path. The beast yelped and recoiled, but it quickly regained its composure, baring its fangs and charging again.

"Stay down!" Daisuke roared, unleashing a blast of wind that sent the beast tumbling backward. He didn't give it a chance to recover, following up with a flurry of strikes that sent sparks flying as his blade met the wolf's enchanted fur.

Behind him, Eren and Liora were making their way toward the altar. The dark crystal pulsed with energy, casting shadows that seemed to writhe on the ground.

"This is it," Liora said, her voice strained. She could feel the dark energy radiating from the crystal, its power weighing heavily in the air.

Eren stood at the base of the altar, gripping his spear tightly. "We need to destroy it before it's too late."

Daisuke's heart raced as he continued to fend off the wolves, each one more vicious than the last. The largest wolf, the leader, growled at him, its eyes locked on his every move. It was clear that the wolf was more than just a beast—it was a force of nature, controlled by the malevolent magic of the crystal.

"We don't have much time!" Daisuke shouted, his voice strained as he blocked a powerful swipe from the leader. He gritted his teeth, pushing forward with a surge of energy that sent the wolf skidding back. He was starting to feel the weight of the battle, but he knew he couldn't stop now.

Liora reached the crystal first. Her hands crackled with electricity as she summoned all her power, aiming it directly at the dark stone. The crystal shuddered in response, but it wasn't enough.

"It's resistant!" Liora shouted. "We need something stronger!"

Eren didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, his spear glowing with energy. He struck the crystal with all his might, the tip of his weapon sinking into the stone. The crystal cracked, a deep, resonating sound echoing through the clearing.

For a moment, everything went still. Then, a wave of dark energy burst from the crystal, sending a shockwave through the entire area. The wolves howled in unison, their eyes flashing as they turned on Daisuke with renewed fury.

"Finish it!" Daisuke screamed to his friends.

Eren and Liora's combined efforts caused the crystal to crack open, shattering into a thousand pieces. The dark energy that had been fueling the wolves faded, and the creatures immediately collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

The leader of the wolves gave one final howl, but it too fell silent, its body disintegrating into dust.

Daisuke dropped to one knee, breathing heavily. His sword was still crackling with residual energy, and his body ached from the battle. But the immediate danger had passed. He glanced at Eren and Liora, who stood beside the shattered altar.

"It's over," Daisuke said, his voice filled with relief.

Liora wiped sweat from her brow, her face flushed with exertion. "For now, at least. But that crystal... It was more powerful than anything we've faced before."

Eren nodded grimly. "That was no ordinary magic. Whoever was behind this has a far-reaching influence."

Daisuke's thoughts were already turning to the future. They had destroyed the crystal, but there was still much more to uncover. The world was filled with hidden dangers, and he had only scratched the surface.

"We need to keep moving," Daisuke said, standing up. "This isn't over. Not by a long shot."