Chapter 91: Desperate Resurgence
The enlarged shadowwraith let out a thunderous roar that shook the very foundations of the chamber. Its body, now pulsating with an even darker and more malevolent energy, loomed over the group like a living nightmare. Cracks spread across the floor beneath its massive feet, and the air itself seemed to warp and distort around it.Su Nian, still clutching her battered chains, gritted her teeth as she struggled to stand. The shadowwraith's earlier attack had left her bruised and bleeding, but her eyes burned with determination. "We can't let this thing win," she growled, her voice barely audible over the creature's deafening howls.Zhang Chengying, who had narrowly escaped the shadowwraith's claws, picked up a jagged piece of rock. His hands trembled, not from fear but from the sheer exhaustion of the ongoing battle. "We need a new plan," he shouted, his gaze flickering between the towering beast and his equally battered companions.Chen Jiuzhang, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down on him, stared at the crystal - key in his hand. It had grown cold and dark since the shadowwraith's emergence, but he could still sense a faint pulse of energy within it. As he closed his eyes and focused, images of a forgotten prophecy flashed through his mind."The light of unity... the power of the ancients..." he muttered under his breath, his brows furrowing in concentration. He opened his eyes and turned to his friends, his expression resolute. "We need to combine our powers, not just our attacks. The crystal - key, the Imperial Jade Seal, Luna's starlight, all of it. We have to channel everything into one final strike."Luna, her starlight - woven gown now little more than rags, nodded weakly. She raised her hands, and a few scattered stars began to gather above her head. "I'll do what I can," she said, her voice strained. "But I'm not sure how much more energy I have left."Shen Qingluan, holding the fragment of the Imperial Jade Seal close to her chest, closed her eyes and began to chant. A golden glow emanated from the artifact, but it was faint and unsteady. "I'm with you, Jiuzhang," she said, her face pale with fatigue.Wu Laogou, rummaging through his pockets one last time, pulled out a small, ancient amulet. "This was my family's most precious heirloom," he said, his voice trembling. "I've been saving it for a dire situation, and I guess this is as dire as it gets." The amulet began to glow with a soft, blue light as he held it out.Lyra, her silver staff now cracked and sparking, joined the circle. "I've seen this before, in the ancient texts," she said. "A combined attack of this magnitude could either save us or destroy us all."As the group joined hands, a strange energy began to build. The crystal - key in Chen Jiuzhang's hand flared to life, its light intertwining with the starlight, golden glow, and blue radiance of the other artifacts. The shadowwraith, sensing the growing threat, let out a furious roar and lunged towards them.But the group was ready. With a final, collective shout, they unleashed the combined energy towards the shadowwraith. A massive beam of multi - colored light shot through the air, colliding with the creature. The resulting explosion filled the chamber with blinding light and deafening noise. When the dust finally settled, the fate of the group and the Gui Xu Secret Realm hung in the balance.