Chapter 103: Desperate Salvation

The platform shook violently beneath their feet, pieces crumbling away into the endless abyss. Chen Jiuzhang's knees buckled, but he forced himself to remain upright, the crystal - key now searing hot in his grasp. The dark tendrils tightened around the beam of energy, and a sickening, cracking sound filled the air as if the very sky was about to split in two.​Su Nian scrambled to her feet, her chains in tatters. Blood dripped from a gash on her forehead, but she charged at the entity again. "You won't win!" she screamed, using her chains to climb up its massive form. She reached its shoulder and dug her heels in, pounding her fists against its glowing surface, trying to draw its attention away from Chen Jiuzhang.​Zhang Chengying coughed up blood as he pushed himself out from under a pile of rubble. His earth magic was spent, but he spotted a jagged shard of crystal - like material nearby. Grasping it tightly, he ran towards the entity, aiming for a joint in its leg. With a mighty heave, he stabbed the shard into the joint, causing the creature to stagger.​Lyra's face had gone deathly pale. The silver energy around her hands sputtered, and she could feel her life force draining rapidly. But she gritted her teeth and pressed her palms against the crystal - key. "I'm with you, Jiuzhang," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.​As Chen Jiuzhang's vision faded to black, a faint, golden light began to shine from the crystal - key. Memories of his journey flashed before his eyes - the first time he'd held the key, the battles he'd fought, the friends he'd made. A voice echoed in his mind, a voice he'd heard once before in the depths of the key. "True power lies not in strength alone, but in the bonds you forge."​Suddenly, a blinding white light erupted from the key. The dark tendrils let out a high - pitched screech as they were incinerated by the light. The entity let out a roar of pain and rage as the cracks in the sky began to close. But it wasn't over yet. With a final, desperate act, the entity launched itself at Chen Jiuzhang, its massive claws outstretched.​Su Nian, seeing the danger, leaped from the entity's shoulder, using her chains to wrap around its claws. She pulled with all her remaining strength, but it was like trying to hold back a mountain. Zhang Chengying rushed to her aid, grabbing onto her waist and adding his weight. Lyra, too weak to stand, sent a final burst of magic towards the entity, slowing it down ever so slightly.​Just as the claws were about to reach Chen Jiuzhang, a figure appeared out of nowhere. A figure cloaked in a soft, starry glow. Luna, her starlight - woven gown repaired and glowing brightly, raised her hands. A wave of pure, celestial energy washed over the battlefield, pushing the entity back and sealing the last of the cracks in the sky.​The entity let out one final, ear - piercing scream before disintegrating into a million pieces of light. The platform stopped shaking, and the air was filled with a peaceful silence. But as the group collapsed to the ground, exhausted but alive, they knew that their journey through the Gui Xu Secret Realm was far from over. And who knew what other dangers and mysteries awaited them in the depths of this ancient and enigmatic place?