Chapter 25: Blades Against the Abyss
The shadow-beast roared, its voice a chorus of rage that shook the cathedral's shattered walls. Every step it took left the ground cracked and burning with dark energy.
Le Wai charged forward, his blade shimmering with pale light. With a single swing, he carved through the air, the strike colliding against the beast's claw. The impact thundered, sending shockwaves rippling across the hall.
Mei Lin followed swiftly, her sword darting like silver lightning. She slashed at the beast's flank, her strikes sharp and unyielding. Sparks of light scattered, but the creature's shadow-flesh knitted back together as if mocking her efforts.
"Damn it," she hissed. "It regenerates too fast."
From within the darkness, Jian's voice echoed, venomous and cold. "You cannot cut down what is already dead. I am beyond the reach of your light!"
The beast swung its massive arm, a wave of shadows crashing down like a tidal storm. Le Wai raised his blade, the force slamming him to one knee. His body trembled, but his spirit refused to yield.
"I won't let this end like before!" he shouted, forcing himself back up. His blade glowed brighter, fueled by his will.
The light cut through the wave, splitting it apart. For a heartbeat, the beast staggered. Mei Lin seized the moment, thrusting her sword deep into its chest. The shadows screamed, writhing violently—but Jian's laughter followed.
"Struggle all you like. The more you resist, the deeper your despair will grow!"
The runes on the floor blazed, feeding the shadow-beast new strength. It expanded, towering higher, its form more monstrous than before.
Le Wai's eyes narrowed. He could feel it now—the truth hidden within the darkness. Jian wasn't just controlling the shadows. The shadows were Jian. His pain, his fury, his betrayal—all given form.
Mei Lin's voice rang out over the chaos. "Le Wai! If you hesitate, we'll lose everything. Cut through him—cut through the past itself!"
Le Wai steadied his breath. His vision cleared, his doubts falling away. For the first time, his heart was calm.
He raised his blade, its glow intensifying until it blazed like a star in the night.
"This ends now, Jian," he declared. "Not as enemies, not as monsters… but as brothers who once fought side by side."
And with that, he charged—light against abyss, hope against despair. The clash shook the heavens, a battle that would decide not only their fates but the future itself.