The team finally reached the core area behind the Abyss Gate. Instead of the previous dark erosion, it was an unexpectedly open plain. Countless light spots were suspended in the sky, like a broken galaxy. In the center of this space, a huge black crystal hovered in the air, exuding a suffocating pressure.
"Is that the core?" Darlene looked at the crystal, her voice tinged with unease.
Alton nodded. "Yes, this is the source of the abyss power. But it's not just a collection of power. It's a kind of life - or rather, it has self - awareness."
A blurred face faintly emerged inside the crystal, as if mocking their arrival. Lucas gripped his double blades tightly and stepped forward. His figure looked solitary and resolute under the reflection of the starlight.
"We must destroy it," he said firmly.
However, a deep voice came from inside the crystal. "Foolish mortals, thinking you can challenge the eternal power of the abyss? You simply can't bear my power."
As soon as the words were spoken, the crystal released countless black tentacles, which quickly attacked everyone. Lucas took the lead in the battle. His double blades danced like the wind, cutting off the incoming tentacles one by one. Victor and Darlene followed closely behind, releasing powerful attacks and suppressing the tentacles' offensive.
Alton began to recite ancient incantations, trying to weaken the power of the crystal. However, the crystal seemed immune to the incantations and became even more violent. The surrounding space began to collapse, and black cracks devoured the ground, making the battle environment even more dangerous.
"We can't fight head - on!" Alton shouted. "Its core needs to be destroyed in a special way!"
Lucas's eyes were sharp. "How?"
Alton replied, "Use the power of the abyss itself to counterattack it! But someone needs to get close to the core and guide the power in!"
"I'll go," Lucas said without hesitation. He knew this was the only chance.
Lucas's decision shocked everyone. Darlene rushed forward and grabbed his arm, her eyes full of anxiety. "Are you crazy? How can you take on such a dangerous thing alone!"
"There's no time," Lucas said softly, but his eyes were extremely firm. "Only I can do it."
Alton handed Lucas a short sword engraved with ancient runes. "Stab this sword into the core of the crystal. It will release the power of the abyss and trigger a counterattack. But you need to hold on before that, or you'll be devoured by the power."
Lucas nodded, gripped the short sword tightly, and turned to run towards the core. Victor and Darlene tried their best to stop more tentacle attacks to buy him time. On the battlefield, the confrontation between light and darkness was extremely fierce.
As he got closer to the core, Lucas felt countless voices whispering in his mind, trying to break his
will. Every step was like stepping on the tip of a knife, and pain and fear surged like a tide. "Give up..." The voice inside the crystal was full of temptation. "You just need to kneel down, and I can bestow upon you supreme power."
Lucas sneered. "Power? That's just a shackle."
He suddenly leaped up and stabbed the short sword into the center of the crystal! Instantly, a dazzling light burst out, the crystal trembled violently, and the power of the abyss began to go out of control.
As the crystal was pierced, the entire space became chaotic. The black cracks devoured everything like huge mouths, and the abyss power inside the crystal began to leak out wildly.
"Get out of here quickly!" Alton shouted loudly, trying to stabilize the space with incantations. However, the speed of the space collapse exceeded everyone's expectations.
Lucas fell from the air, and his body was eroded by the power of the abyss. His eyes began to glow with a black light, as if he was being devoured by the power.
"Lucas!" Darlene rushed towards him and helped him up. "You can't give up! You haven't completed your mission yet!"
Lucas raised his head and a bitter smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "I'm okay... Take everyone away."
Darlene shook her head. "No! We're leaving together!"
At this time, Alton approached. "Lucas has established a connection with the power of the abyss. He is the only one who can control it."
"Control it?" Darlene looked at Alton in shock.
"Yes, but the price is that he will stay here forever and perish with the abyss."
Everyone fell silent, and the air was filled with a sense of despair. Tears welled up in Darlene's eyes. "No, you can't stay!"
"I have no choice," Lucas's voice was low but calm. "If we don't completely destroy the abyss, all this will repeat."
He handed the short sword to Darlene, gently held her hand. "Take this back and tell everyone that we won."
Darlene shook her head while crying, trying to dissuade him, but she knew that Lucas had made his decision. She hugged him tightly, as if she wanted to keep him by her side forever.
"Take care of yourself," Lucas said softly, then pushed Darlene away and turned to walk towards the crystal. His back looked so lonely yet constancy.
Lucas walked up to the crystal, released all the power in his body, and guided the energy of the abyss back to the core. His body was gradually swallowed by the black light, but his will was extremely firm.
"The abyss will finally return to nothingness," he murmured, and with a final strike, he stabbed
into the center of the crystal.
The crystal shattered, and the power of the abyss burst out like a flood. The entire space was submerged in strong light. The cracks devoured everything, but also brought the end of destruction.
Under Alton's guidance, Darlene and the team left the collapsing space. Looking back, that plain had completely disappeared, leaving only endless nothingness.
After the battle, the world returned to peace. The Abyss Gate had disappeared, and the collapse of the ruins had stopped. The survivors gathered again, trying to rebuild their homes.
Darlene stood at a high place, looking into the distance. In her hand was Lucas's short sword, and her eyes were full of nostalgia. "He completed his mission," Alton stood beside her and said softly. "He sacrificed his life for peace."
Darlene nodded and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "He will always live in our memories."
Years later, the legend of Lucas was passed down from generation to generation. He was called the "Abyss Terminator", a hero who sacrificed his life for peace. His name became a symbol of courage and sacrifice.
Darlene walked alone in the mountains. It seemed that she could still hear Lucas's voice in her ears. She gently stroked the short sword and whispered, "We won, but I will always miss you."
The setting sun shone on her back, casting a long shadow, as if there was another person standing beside her.