Chapter 92: After the Blast

The blinding slowly began to fade, replaced by a thick, choking cloud of dust. Coughing and spluttering, Su Nian forced her eyes open, squinting through the haze. Her ears were ringing from the deafening explosion, and her body ached as if she'd been hit by a charging rhino. "Is... is everyone okay?" she managed to croak, her voice hoarse.​Through the swirling dust, she could make out the silhouette of Zhang Chengying. He was on his knees, his head bowed, but he slowly raised his hand in a weak signal that he was alive. Shen Qingluan lay a few feet away, the fragment of the Imperial Jade Seal still clutched tightly in her hand, its golden glow now a faint flicker.​Chen Jiuzhang struggled to his feet, the crystal - key still in his grasp. The key was pulsating rapidly, its light a wild, unsteady blue. His vision swam, and he had to lean against the nearest wall to keep from falling. But his eyes were fixed on the center of the room, where the shadowwraith had been.​As the dust cleared, a gasp escaped the group's lips. The shadowwraith was still there, though its form was severely damaged. Its once - massive body was now hunched and misshapen, and chunks of its obsidian - like scales were scattered across the floor. But its red eyes still glowed with a malevolent light, and it let out a pain - filled roar that sent shivers down their spines.​"It's not over," Lyra hissed, her silver staff at the ready. Despite the cracks running through it, the staff still crackled with energy.​Luna, who had been knocked unconscious by the blast, groaned and slowly sat up. Her starlight - woven gown was in even worse condition, and her face was smeared with dirt and blood. But she summoned what little strength she had left and raised her hands, a few weak stars twinkling above her head.​Wu Laogou, his ancient amulet now cracked in two, staggered to his feet. "We can't give up," he said, his voice trembling. "Not when we're this close."​The shadowwraith, as if sensing their resolve, let out another roar and lunged forward. But this time, its movements were slower, more unsteady. Chen Jiuzhang noticed something strange - a faint, glowing core at the creature's chest, similar to the one they'd faced in the fleshy abomination.​"Look!" he shouted, pointing. "That's its weak point! If we can destroy that core, we might be able to finish it off once and for all!"​Without hesitation, Su Nian swung her chains, aiming for the shadowwraith's legs to trip it up. Zhang Chengying picked up a sharp shard of stone and charged, trying to distract the creature. Meanwhile, Shen Qingluan, Luna, and Lyra began to channel their remaining energy, creating a barrier of light to protect the group.​Wu Laogou, his mind racing, remembered an old incantation from his family's teachings. He began to chant, his voice growing stronger with each word. A circle of glowing runes formed at his feet, and a beam of blue light shot towards the shadowwraith's core.​The creature let out a howl of pain as the light made contact. But it wasn't going down without a fight. It thrashed wildly, sending debris flying in all directions. As the group prepared for one final, desperate attack, they could only hope that this time, they'd be able to defeat the shadowwraith and survive.