Chapter 100: Confronting the Colossal Entity

The massive, merged let out a roar that shook the floating platform to its core. Cracks spiderwebbed across the surface beneath the group's feet, threatening to send them plummeting into the endless abyss below. Chen Jiuzhang tightened his grip on the crystal - key, feeling its newly awakened power thrumming through his veins, but the sheer magnitude of the creature before them was enough to send a chill down his spine.​"Look at its core!" Lyra shouted, pointing at the pulsating red glow at the entity's center. "That's where all its power is concentrated. If we can reach it, we might be able to destroy it!"​Su Nian twirled her battered chains, a determined glint in her eye. "I'll create an opening. Zhang, you back me up!" Without waiting for a response, she charged forward, her chains flailing through the air. The massive entity lashed out with an arm made of pure light, but Su Nian ducked and rolled, narrowly avoiding the attack. Zhang Chengying followed close behind, using a large shard of debris as a makeshift weapon to deflect the smaller energy bolts that the entity launched at them.​Chen Jiuzhang raised the crystal - key, channeling its energy into a protective shield around himself and Lyra. "I'll keep us safe while you find a way to disrupt its defenses," he told Lyra. The woman nodded, her eyes closed as she began to chant an ancient incantation. Symbols of silver light materialized in the air around her, slowly weaving together into a complex pattern.​The colossal entity let out another deafening roar and brought both its hands crashing down on the platform. The impact sent Su Nian and Zhang Chengying flying. Su Nian managed to catch herself with her chains, swinging back towards the creature, but Zhang Chengying hit the edge of the platform hard. He hung on by his fingertips, his body swaying precariously over the void.​"Zhang!" Su Nian cried out, but her attention was quickly drawn back to the entity as it launched a barrage of energy spheres at her. She whipped her chains, intercepting as many as she could, but one slipped through and hit her shoulder. She grunted in pain but didn't slow down.​Meanwhile, Lyra's incantation reached its peak. The silver symbols shot towards the entity, wrapping around its arms and legs, attempting to bind it. For a moment, the creature struggled against the magical restraints, its form flickering. But then, with a burst of power, it broke free, sending Lyra flying backwards.​Chen Jiuzhang caught Lyra before she hit the ground, his shield barely holding against the entity's counterattack. "We need a new plan," he said, his voice strained. "This thing is too strong."​Just then, Wu Laogou's voice echoed in his mind. "The key... it has a connection to the very fabric of this realm. Use it to find the entity's weakness, not just to attack." Chen Jiuzhang realized that he'd been focusing solely on brute force. He closed his eyes and concentrated, letting the energy of the crystal - key flow through him. Images flashed in his mind - of ancient rituals, of balance and harmony, and of a single, tiny flaw in the entity's otherwise impenetrable form.​His eyes snapped open. "I know what to do! Su Nian, Zhang, draw its attention to the left side. Lyra, be ready to strike when I give the signal!" As his friends moved into position, Chen Jiuzhang prepared to unleash the key's power in a way he'd never attempted before. The battle for the floating platform and the future of the Gui Xu Secret Realm hung in the balance.