The hill quaked under the violet shadow's overwhelming power, its booming voice declaring, "The Gate consumes all," the purple light flooding the valley with a suffocating darkness that crushed the golden wave's fading glow. Qian Yu stretched her bleeding hands toward a glowing shard on the shattered ground, her body trembling with exhaustion, the wave's energy sparking within her, her fierce determination burning brighter despite the shadow's triumph. Lin Hao's spirit pulsed faintly through the shard, a beacon of hope calling her to rise, igniting the sect's resolve to defy the encroaching night.
The Verdant Lotus Sect struggled against the shadow's dominance, the ravine's black waters surging with violent waves, the split ground crumbling as the chasm widened with a hungry roar. Disciples clung to their broken staffs, their chants reduced to ragged breaths, their faces pale with fear yet glowing with a flicker of defiance. Elder Lian Wei knelt nearby, their torn silver robe stained with ash, their staff emitting a dim blue light, their face etched with grim determination as they shielded the fallen.
"The Gate's shadow will not claim us—Lin Hao's shard holds our light!" Lian Wei shouted, their voice steady like a rallying cry, the golden wave's energy flaring weakly in the shard. They raised their staff with a shaky hand, a blue shield flaring with a protective hum, merging with the shard's light to push back the purple surge. "Qian Yu, seize that power—lead us to victory!" they urged, their eyes locking with hers, filled with a fierce hope that rekindled her fading strength.
Qian Yu's fingers closed around the shard, the golden wave surging as she chanted the Starfall Codex, the purple light searing her hands, her body aching with pain. "We'll fight for our dawn with his spirit," she vowed, her voice cracking but resolute, the wave pulsing through her veins with a surge of energy that battled her exhaustion. Wei Tao crawled to her side, their tattered green cloak fluttering, their staff glowing faintly as they merged their magic with the shard, their face set with courage. "His light is our weapon—rise with us!" they cried, voice steady with resolve, gripping her shoulder to lift her.
The valley trembled with a thunderous quake, the shadow's purple form stretching across the sky, its pulse hammering like a war drum that shattered the hill. The ravine's waters lashed out, dark tendrils coiling higher, the blackened mire splitting as the haze thickened, casting an oppressive gloom over the sect. Rong Shen advanced with a sinister cackle, his red cloak blazing, purple fire roaring as he led the shadow's assault, while Jiao Mei and the gaunt guy followed, their weapons glowing with dark fury.
Jiao Mei struck with a fierce slash, her sword's magic lines flaring like enraged dragons, her face twisted with relentless intent. The gaunt guy chanted with a harsh cry, a black-flamed serpent rising with a hissing screech, its coils slicing through the purple haze. Qian Yu raised the shard high, the golden wave erupting into a radiant burst, filling her with bold energy that pushed back her exhaustion, giving her strength to confront the shadow's ascent.
Lian Wei's blue shield held with a strained hum, their staff trembling as the golden wave wove into their magic, creating a barrier that resisted the shadow's surge. Wei Tao rallied the disciples with a powerful shout, their chants rising with united strength, their green light merging with the wave to fight the dark, their faces glowing with grim resolve. Qian Yu's magic clashed with the serpent, ice shards flying like a fierce storm, enhanced by the wave to strike the enemy with cold fury that glittered in the gloom.
Lin Hao's spirit flared within the shard, the sect's chant echoing like a battle hymn, the valley radiating a defiant light. A golden flower shield bloomed brightly before them, its petals shimmering like stars piercing the haze, the wave reinforcing it to cast a warm, unyielding glow. The shadow's surge slammed into it with a thunderous crash, the impact sending a shockwave through their frames, but the shield held, the wave's resilience sparking hope like warriors reborn.
Rong Shen's purple fire exploded with a ferocious blast, the hill trembling with its fury that scorched the mire and sent embers flying like angry sparks. Jiao Mei's sword clashed against the shield with a metallic roar, her moves swift and brutal like a striking tiger, her eyes burning with dark triumph as she pressed her attack. The serpent's flames surged, the ravine's waters boiling as the chasm gaped wider, its dark maw threatening to devour the hill with a voracious hunger.
The altar's remnants pulsed with a fierce light, the golden wave clashing with the shadow's pulse, its magic weaving through the air with a whisper of desperate harmony. Qian Yu pushed harder with a determined cry, the golden flower standing strong, its light slicing through the darkness like a blazing blade that rallied the sect and filled them with courage. Lian Wei's green magic boosted the wave with a warm surge that fought the cold, the light blending into a radiant wave that lit the hill like a war torch, sparking defiance in the sect's hearts and lighting their faces with a glimmer of hope.
Wei Tao's staff smashed the serpent with a loud crack, the golden wave amplifying the strike to turn it to fading smoke, leaving a shimmer of ice. The gaunt guy fell back with a scream, his face pale and broken, his hands trembling as his chant dissolved, his strength shattered. The shadow pulsed stronger, its purple glow flooding the valley, the golden wave weakening as it countered the dark, casting a defiant but dim light.
"You cannot resist the Gate's will," the shadow boomed, its pulse thundering like a victorious war cry, its energy a crushing menace that chilled their spirits. The hill split with a deep groan, the ravine's waters rising with a roar, shaking the world with violent tremors that threatened to tear it apart. Qian Yu's shield wobbled, her energy draining as the purple light pressed harder, but the golden wave flared, infusing her with a surge of resilience.
A blue wall shot up from Lian Wei with a desperate flash, joining Qian Yu's magic and the golden wave in a fierce burst that lit the ruins, their faces glowing with strain and sweat. The shadow's surge slowed, its edges fraying under their power, giving the sect a fleeting moment to strike, their chests heaving with fear and resolve. Jiao Mei slashed again, her sword piercing the shield, cutting Wei Tao's side with a burning sting, but the wave's warmth fought the pain as they clenched their jaw.
Blood dripped down Wei Tao's side, pain shooting through them, but they held on, their eyes fixed on the wave as the golden light flickered, fueling their will. They poured the wave's power into the codex with a shout, a golden blast erupting outward, the wave amplifying it to push Jiao Mei and the gaunt guy back with a thunderous crash. The surge weakened, the shadow trembling with a growl, its strength faltering under the wave's assault, offering a desperate chance to turn the tide.
"Stand tall and fight for our light," Qian Yu shouted, her voice piercing the purple haze, her staff high with the wave's light inspiring them to resist. The disciples' shields flickered, their chants rising with grit, hands clutching broken staffs with resolve that shone like a beacon. The ravine's edge crumbled further, its waters churning, the festival's power chaotic again, tossing magic like a stormy sea, knocking some to their knees with heavy thuds.
Lian Wei's blue light struck the shadow, ice cracking its edges with a snap, the wave enhancing the shards to rain down like a cold storm. The black-cloaked figure's voice grew louder, a dark wave rolling like a flood, its tendrils pulsing with renewed vigor. Qian Yu's energy surged from the shard, her vision clearing with power, her body steadying as she fought the dizziness with a united grip.
They gripped the shard's legacy, its light pulsing wildly, flaring with their chant, struggling against the purple surge. The golden flower dimmed, the festival's power slipping, leaving them weak but driven with every ragged breath. Wei Tao's array faltered, the disciples struggling, their magic fading under the dark wave's crush, but the wave's light steadied them, their faces showing the toll and a flicker of hope.
"Find your strength within," Lian Wei urged, their staff bright with the wave, their voice steady despite the danger, nodding to bolster their resolve. Qian Yu rallied with a fierce cheer, their green light flaring with the wave, lifting hearts with fire against the dark, spirits reigniting with a cry. Lin Hao's spirit roared through the shard, the golden burst lighting the hill, the wave amplifying it to push back the shadow with a thunderous roar, rallying the warriors with vigor—until the shadow unleashed a massive purple wave, shattering the shield and engulfing the sect in a blinding chaos.
Qian Yu's shield exploded with a bang, her energy spent, her body collapsing as the wave faltered, gasping with labored breaths. The blast rocked the hill, rocks flying like angry birds, pelting fighters through the smoky air, leaving trails of debris and shadow. She fell to the ground, the shard glowing faintly, the shadow towering over them, the tear widening with a triumphant pulse, hinting at a darkness poised to reclaim the valley.
Lian Wei and the disciples pushed back, their magic clashing with the blast in a burst of color, faces strained with effort, sweat and blood mixing. The chants broke, shields crumbling, leaving them exposed to the surging energy, hands reaching in desperate defiance. The ravine's edge collapsed fully, the chasm yawning wide with a hungry maw, the shadow's glow pulsing with a menacing rhythm that promised a new reign of night.
The violet shadow dominated the sky, its purple light swallowing the last of the dawn, the hill trembling under the weight of the Gate's return. Rong Shen cackled, his fire blazing high, Jiao Mei and the gaunt guy advancing with fierce determination, weapons glowing with dark power. Qian Yu crawled forward, hands bleeding on the shattered ground, clutching the glowing shard with a defiant lunge, the shadow's voice booming, "The Gate reigns eternal," leaving the sect's fate hanging in a void of endless darkness.