The starship sliced through the sky, leaving the Northern Mountains far behind. Below them, the land gave way to the Western Sea—an endless expanse of blue, its waves glinting in the afternoon sun. Xiao Ya pressed her face to the window, her fingers tracing the water's surface from above, while Su Qing spread Elder Gao's map across the cabin table.
"The Sunken City is three miles off the coast," Su Qing said, pointing to a faded X on the map. "Elder Gao's notes say it was a Guardian outpost, built to protect the Sea Tear. When the Ancient Dark first threatened the world, the Guardians flooded the city to hide the relic—now it's 200 feet below the waves."
Mo Ying leaned over the map, frowning. "200 feet? We can't dive that deep in just our cloaks. The pressure'll crush us. And what about sea monsters? The notes mentioned them—creatures that guard the city."
Lin Che held up the Mountain Core, its blue light casting a soft glow over the table. "The relics have power. The Forest Heart fixed the seal, the Mountain Core helped us defeat the Ancient Dark's avatar. Maybe the Mountain Core can help us dive—create a shield against the pressure and the monsters."
Xiao Ya nodded, her hands glowing faintly green. "The sea plants say yes. They know the Sunken City—they grow around its walls. They'll guide us, if we ask. And the Mountain Core's light will calm the monsters."
They landed the starship on a small, rocky beach at the edge of the Western Sea. The air smelled of salt, and the waves crashed against the shore, sending spray into the air. Lin Che, Su Qing, Mo Ying, and Xiao Ya gathered their supplies—Su Qing's Arcane Manual, Mo Ying's wrench, the light shard, and the Mountain Core—before walking to the water's edge.
Lin Che held the Mountain Core above his head. Its blue light flared, spreading outward until it formed a bubble around the four of them—clear, warm, and glowing. "It works," he said, smiling. "The bubble'll keep the water out, protect us from the pressure."
Xiao Ya stepped into the water, the bubble moving with her. "Come on!" she said, grinning. "The sea plants are waiting."
They followed her into the sea, the bubble sinking slowly. The water grew darker as they descended, but the Mountain Core's light cut through the darkness, illuminating the world below. Fish swam past—colorful, strange shapes—and seaweed swayed gently in the current.
After a few minutes, they spotted it: the Sunken City. Its stone walls were covered in coral and seaweed, its towers leaning slightly, but it was still intact. A wide gate stood at the entrance, carved with Guardian runes—just like the Ice Temple and the Forest Seal.
"The Sea Tear is inside the central tower," Su Qing said, her voice calm despite the darkness. "Elder Gao's notes say the tower is guarded by a 'Wave Serpent'—a monster with scales like silver and teeth like knives. It's powered by the Ancient Dark's energy."
As they approached the gate, the water stirred. A low growl echoed through the depths, and a massive shape emerged from the shadows—the Wave Serpent. It was as long as the starship, its scales glinting silver, its red eyes fixed on them. It lunged, its jaws open wide.
"Xiao Ya!" Lin Che shouted.
Xiao Ya closed her eyes, her hands glowing bright green. She whispered to the sea plants, and they erupted from the sand, wrapping around the Wave Serpent's body. The serpent roared, thrashing, but the plants held tight.
Su Qing raised her hands, chanting an Arcane spell. Flames burst from her palms—even underwater, they burned bright—hitting the serpent's scales. The serpent hissed, its scales smoking.
Mo Ying grabbed her wrench, swinging it at the serpent's head. It hit with a loud clang, and the serpent stumbled. Lin Che held up the Mountain Core, its blue light flaring. He ran toward the serpent, pressing the core to its scales.
The serpent screamed, its body convulsing. The Ancient Dark's energy fled from it—black mist drifting into the water—and its red eyes faded to blue. The sea plants released it, and it swam away, disappearing into the shadows.
"The Ancient Dark was controlling it," Su Qing said, breathing heavily. "Now it's free."
They walked through the gate, into the Sunken City. The streets were empty, lined with stone houses covered in coral. The central tower stood ahead, its doors closed, its windows glowing with a faint blue light—the Sea Tear's light.
They climbed the tower's stairs—wet, slippery stone—and reached the top chamber. In the center, a stone pedestal stood, and on top of it, the Sea Tear glowed: a small, clear crystal, pulsing with the power of the sea.
But as Lin Che reached for it, the chamber shook. The Ancient Dark's mist seeped through the walls, swirling into the same shadowy figure they'd faced in the Ice Temple.
"You think you can win?" it laughed, its voice cold. "You have the three relics—but I have the void beast, the ice golems, the Wave Serpent. I have an army. And soon, I'll have the relics too."
It lunged at Lin Che, who held up the Mountain Core and the light shard. Their combined light pushed the figure back, but it didn't vanish.
"The relics alone won't stop me," the figure said. "But together… they will destroy you. The Forest Heart, the Mountain Core, the Sea Tear—they hold the power of the Guardians. Power that can destroy as easily as it can protect. And I'll make sure it destroys you."
Xiao Ya stepped forward, her hands glowing green. "No," she said. "The relics aren't just power. They're hope. The Guardians made them to protect the world, not destroy it. And we'll use them to protect it—together."
Su Qing nodded, her hands glowing green. "The Arcane magic, the plants, the relics—we're stronger together. The Ancient Dark feeds on fear, but we're not scared. We're family."
Mo Ying grinned, swinging her wrench. "And family sticks together. Now let's kick this darkness's butt."
Lin Che held up the Mountain Core, and Su Qing held out her hands—Arcane magic swirling around her. Xiao Ya's hands glowed green, and Mo Ying stood beside them, ready to fight. The Sea Tear pulsed brighter, its light merging with the Mountain Core's and the light shard's.
The Ancient Dark's figure roared, lunging at them. But this time, they didn't back down. Lin Che pressed the Mountain Core forward, Su Qing sent flames at the figure, Xiao Ya's vines wrapped around it, and Mo Ying swung her wrench—hitting it square in the chest.
The figure screamed, its mist dissolving. It tried to reform, but the relics' light was too strong. It faded, bit by bit, until it was gone—vanished into the water.
The chamber stopped shaking, and the walls stopped leaking. The Sea Tear glowed brighter, its light filling the room.
Lin Che walked to the pedestal, picking up the Sea Tear. It was warm in his hand, its power merging with the Mountain Core and the Star Marrow on his wrist.
"We did it," he said, smiling. "We have all three relics. The Ancient Dark is gone."
They walked down the tower, through the Sunken City, and back to the surface. The bubble dissolved as they reached the beach, and the sun was setting—painting the sky pink and orange.
They climbed aboard the starship, the three relics glowing softly in Lin Che's hands. Mo Ying started the engine, and they lifted off—flying back toward Ma Lan's village, toward Jax and Li Wei, toward home.
Xiao Ya sat by the window, watching the sunset. "The plants and the sea plants are happy," she said. "The world is safe again."
Su Qing nodded, leaning her head on Lin Che's shoulder. "For now. But if darkness comes back, we'll be ready. Together."
Lin Che smiled, holding the relics close. The Star Marrow on his wrist glowed, matching the relics' light.
Their journey had been long—filled with battles, fear, and loss. But it had also been filled with friendship, love, and hope. They'd faced the Syndicate, the Shadow Shards, the void beast, and the Ancient Dark. And they'd won—together.
The starship flew into the sunset, toward the future. Whatever came next, they'd face it—together.
The end of one journey. The start of many more.
And they were ready.