Chapter 67: The Fallen King’s Lament

The chamber continued to pulse with a dark, oppressive energy. The air was thick with echoes of the past—cries of warriors, shouts of commands, and the haunting wails of those who had perished with their regrets unresolved.

Jin Long and Yue Lan pressed forward, their weapons aglow with celestial energy as they cut through the spectral warriors. Each phantom they faced bore the face of someone from Jin Long's past—a fellow disciple, a fallen mentor, a comrade lost in battle.

The statue remained unmoving at the center of the chamber, its eyes still glowing with that eerie blue light.

"How many more?" Yue Lan asked, her breathing heavy, her forehead glistening with sweat.

Jin Long clenched his jaw, slicing through another phantom. "As long as there are regrets, they will keep coming."

A deafening roar echoed through the chamber, shaking the very ground beneath them. The spectral warriors suddenly froze, their eyes turning toward the center of the room.

The statue began to tremble, cracks spreading across its stone surface. With a deafening crash, the stone shell shattered, revealing a massive, armored figure within. The figure stepped forward, his armor adorned with celestial sigils and a crown resting upon his brow. His eyes glowed with a deep, sorrowful blue.

"Who dares disturb the rest of the Fallen King?" the figure bellowed, his voice echoing through the chamber like a thunderclap.

Jin Long's eyes widened. "The Fallen King... he was a Celestial Emperor who ruled over the Starbound Realm centuries ago. It was said that he vanished after a great betrayal."

The Fallen King's gaze fixed upon Jin Long, his expression a mix of anger and grief. "I was betrayed by those I trusted, my throne stolen, my kingdom lost. My only wish was to protect my people... and I failed."

Yue Lan stepped forward, her whip raised defensively. "Your soul is trapped here because of your regrets. Let us help you move on."

The Fallen King laughed bitterly, his eyes blazing. "Move on? You speak of things you do not understand! My kingdom was destroyed, my people slaughtered. I will not rest until I have avenged them!"

With a wave of his hand, dark energy surged through the chamber. The spectral warriors reformed, their eyes now burning with a darker, more menacing light.

"Prove your worth!" the Fallen King roared. "Defeat my fallen warriors and face me, or be consumed by their rage!"

Jin Long and Yue Lan exchanged a glance.

"This is it," Jin Long said, gripping his sword tightly. "The true trial of the Labyrinth of Echoes."

Yue Lan nodded, her eyes fierce. "Let's end this."

The spectral warriors surged forward, their weapons gleaming with dark energy. Jin Long charged, his sword slicing through the air, each strike releasing a wave of celestial power that dispersed the phantoms. Yue Lan darted through the battlefield, her whip dancing like a serpent, striking down enemy after enemy.

But the Fallen King remained unmoving, his gaze fixed upon Jin Long.

"Do you think your power is enough to save anyone?" the Fallen King taunted. "You couldn't even save those closest to you!"

A spectral image of Zhan Wuhen appeared behind the Fallen King, his cold, cruel smile mocking Jin Long.

"Jin Long," Zhan Wuhen sneered. "You're just a child pretending to be a hero."

Jin Long's heart clenched, but he forced himself to stay focused. "You're not real," he muttered, slashing through another phantom. "You're just an echo."

The Fallen King raised his hand, and dark energy coalesced into a massive sword that shimmered with a haunting, ghostly light. "Come, Jin Long! Show me your resolve!"

Jin Long took a deep breath, centering himself. The Genesis Core within him pulsed, and his sword flared with celestial light.

"Yue Lan!" he shouted. "Hold off the phantoms! I'll take on the Fallen King!"

Yue Lan nodded, her whip striking with renewed vigor as she created a barrier of lightning to keep the spectral warriors at bay.

Jin Long rushed forward, his sword clashing against the Fallen King's spectral blade. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the chamber, cracks spreading along the floor.

"You think you can defeat me, boy?" the Fallen King roared, swinging his sword in a wide arc.

Jin Long barely dodged, the blade grazing his shoulder and sending a jolt of dark energy through his body. Pain seared through him, but he gritted his teeth, pushing through it.

"You're not the only one who's suffered loss," Jin Long shouted, countering with a powerful strike that sent sparks flying. "But revenge won't bring them back!"

The Fallen King's eyes blazed with fury. "What do you know of loss? You still have those you love! You still have hope!"

Jin Long's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening. "And that's why I won't give in to despair!"

He raised his sword, the Genesis Core surging with power. The blade flared with a blinding light, and Jin Long channeled all his strength into a single, decisive strike.

The Fallen King swung his spectral sword to block, but Jin Long's blade cleaved through it, shattering the weapon into shards of light.

The Fallen King staggered backward, his form flickering. "Impossible... how...?"

Jin Long stepped forward, his sword pointed at the Fallen King's chest. "Your people are gone. Your kingdom has fallen. But you can still find peace."

The Fallen King's eyes softened, the rage in them dissipating. "Peace..."

His form began to dissolve, the dark energy fading away. "Thank you..."

As the last of the Fallen King's form vanished, the chamber fell silent. The spectral warriors, too, dissolved into motes of light, their souls finally at rest.

Yue Lan approached Jin Long, her face etched with concern. "Are you okay?"

Jin Long nodded, his body sagging with exhaustion. "Yeah... but the Labyrinth of Echoes isn't over yet. We still have to reach the Heart."

The chamber trembled, and a hidden door slid open, revealing a long, dark corridor. From deep within, a haunting, melodic voice echoed—a voice that sent chills down their spines.

"Welcome, Jin Long," the voice said, its tone dripping with malice. "You've only just begun."

Jin Long exchanged a grim look with Yue Lan. The true master of the labyrinth awaited.