Chapter 87: The Final Blow

The tendrils of darkness tightened around the group, squeezing the air from their lungs. Su Nian's chains creaked under the pressure as she fought to keep them from crushing her. Her face turned red, veins bulging on her forehead as she struggled against the vice - like grip. "Don't... give up," she managed to choke out between gasps.​Zhang Chengying, his broken peachwood sword pinned against his chest by the tendrils, felt the electricity within it sputtering. With a final burst of strength, he channeled all his remaining energy into the blade. The sword crackled to life, sending a shockwave through the tendril wrapped around him. The dark appendage recoiled with a hiss, and Zhang took the opportunity to slash at the others, freeing himself.​"Everyone, now!" he shouted, his voice hoarse from the effort.​Shen Qingluan, her barrier around the collapsing walls on the verge of breaking, redirected her focus. She raised the fragment of the Imperial Jade Seal high, and a stream of golden light shot towards the tendrils. The light burned through the darkness, weakening the hold on her companions. But the strain was too much, and she fell to her knees, blood trickling from her nose.​Wu Laogou, his hands still trembling from creating the seal, summoned the last of his strength. He threw a series of talismans at the core, each one exploding on impact. The blasts sent tremors through the abomination's body, but it was far from enough to finish it off.​Luna, her starlight dimming, closed her eyes and began to sing a lullaby from her homeland. The soft, melodious notes filled the air, and for a moment, the tendrils seemed to hesitate. The stars above, though faint, responded to her song, showering down a gentle glow that soothed the group's injuries and gave them a small boost of energy.​Chen Jiuzhang, still holding the crystal - key, felt the power within it ebb and flow. The voice from before echoed in his mind once again. "Balance... unity..." He looked at his friends, each one fighting with everything they had, and an idea sparked.​"Link hands!" he shouted. "We need to channel our energy together, as one!"​Despite their exhaustion, the group did as he said. Su Nian grabbed Zhang Chengying's hand, who in turn reached for Shen Qingluan. Luna held Wu Laogou's hand, and the old man took Lyra's. Finally, Lyra clasped Chen Jiuzhang's free hand.​A current of energy surged through the chain of warriors. The crystal - key glowed brighter than ever, absorbing the combined power of the group. Chen Jiuzhang focused all his will, envisioning a pure, harmonious force that could shatter the core's darkness.​With a final, earth - shattering scream, the group unleashed the energy towards the core. The blast collided with the crimson orb, and a deafening explosion ripped through the passageway. The abomination let out a wail of despair as its body began to disintegrate. The tendrils vanished, and the core cracked, sending shards of dark energy flying in all directions.​As the dust settled, the group lay battered and bruised on the ground. The passageway, though still damaged, seemed to have stabilized. But their victory came at a cost. Wu Laogou lay motionless, his face pale and his eyes closed. Luna was unconscious, her starlight - woven gown now completely tattered. And the crystal - key in Chen Jiuzhang's hand flickered weakly, as if it too was on the verge of exhaustion.​What new mysteries awaited them in the aftermath of this battle? And would the group be able to recover and continue their journey through the Gui Xu Secret Realm?