Amid the deafening roars, Lucas led the team charging all the way into the depths of the cave. The evil aura in the air became stronger and stronger, as if every breath carried a piercing chill.
"Keep going! We mustn't stop at any cost!" Lucas growled, but his steps suddenly halted at the sight before him.
Ahead, a huge hall emerged in front of them. The four walls were engraved with ancient runes, and a dark - red liquid seeped from the runes, looking like flowing blood. In the center of the hall, a huge monster was coiled - it was a strange - shaped creature, wrapped in shadows, with a disgusting appearance.
"What the hell is this thing?" Victor gripped his weapon tightly, and the horror on his face was hard to hide.
"The Guardian of the Abyss..." Alton said in a low voice. "The meaning of its existence is to defend Mo Lingchen's last line of defense."
The monster's eyes lit up like lanterns, and the air instantly froze. It let out a deafening roar, and its huge body moved in front of them. Its limbs were as thick as rocks, and its tail lashed towards the team like a long whip.
"Disperse! We can't be attacked by it all at once!" Lucas commanded, leaping forward first. His double blades sliced through the air, stabbing straight towards the monster's eyes.
The monster roared, and its tail whipped fiercely at Lucas. At the critical moment, Darlene shot an arrow at the monster's joint, barely allowing Lucas to avoid the fatal blow. "This guy is too strong!" Victor roared, while wielding his greatsword and slashing at the monster's leg. However, the monster's skin was as hard as steel, and it made his arm go numb.
Alton stood in the distance, quickly chanting incantations and making complex hand - seals with his hands. As the incantation was completed, a beam of light shot out from his hand, hitting the monster's chest directly. However, the monster quickly retreated before the beam of light touched it. The beam hit the ground, splashing a shower of gravel.
"It's intelligent!" Alton exclaimed. "We must launch a joint attack to force it to reveal its weakness!"
Lucas quickly calmed down and shouted, "Everyone, listen to my command. First, lure it to expose its abdomen! Victor, attract its attention head - on; Darlene, shoot at its joints; Alton, use incantations to suppress its movements!"
The group quickly divided the work and moved smoothly. Victor continuously provoked the monster with his greatsword, and Darlene's arrows hit precisely, making its movements slightly sluggish. Alton's incantations created a restraining light net, successfully restricting the monster's actions.
"Now!" Lucas roared, leaping onto the monster's abdomen and stabbing his double blades into its soft flesh at the same time. The monster let out a scream, twitched violently, and the power all over its body began to run wild.
"Retreat quickly!" Alton shouted.
The team quickly withdrew. The monster's body suddenly exploded, and the black liquid splashed everywhere, corroding everything around. The hall was in a mess, but no one in the team was injured. "It seems that we're getting closer and closer to Mo Lingchen," Lucas wiped the blood from his face, and there was a hint of solemnity in his tone.
The body of the Guardian of the Abyss gradually turned into a pool of corrosive liquid, emitting a nauseating stench. The hall became quiet, and only the faint, deep vibration sound in the distance could still be heard faintly, as if urging the team to move forward.
Lucas stood at the front of the team, his eyes fixed on the deep passage ahead. "The road ahead may be even more dangerous. Is everyone ready?" His voice was calm, but the fatigue was hard to hide.
"Danger is not our only enemy," Alton said in a low voice. His eyes swept over everyone, and his face carried a complex expression. "The closer we get to the power of the abyss, the easier it is for our minds to be eroded. If you feel anything abnormal, you must alert me immediately."
Darlene frowned. "You mean... the power of the abyss may control us?"
"Exactly," Alton nodded. "The abyss is not just a kind of power. It's more like a consciousness that can penetrate into the human spirit and stir up the deepest weaknesses of human nature."
Victor gripped his greatsword tightly and gritted his teeth. "After all we've been through, we won't be defeated here."
"I hope so," Alton sighed, and then led the team into the next passage.
The passage was pitch - black, and only the faint light released by Alton barely illuminated the way ahead. The air was filled with a rotten smell, and the ground under their feet was slippery and uneven. Every step had to be taken with great care.
"The runes here..." Darlene said softly. Her fingers touched the ancient carvings on the wall. "They seem to be warning us of something."
Lucas stopped and carefully examined those runes. He found that their arrangement was different from what he had seen before, and they seemed to carry some hidden meaning.
"These runes are not for sealing, but..." Alton's face changed. "This is a ritual formation leading to the core of the abyss!"
Just then, a deep laugh suddenly came from the front, breaking the silence in the passage.
"So, you've made it this far," a cold and familiar voice came from the darkness, full of endless mockery.
The team immediately became alert, and everyone quickly took up a defensive formation. Lucas narrowed his eyes and stared in the direction of the voice. "Who is it? Show yourself!"
In the darkness, a figure slowly walked out, with steady steps and a sneer on its face. Its figure gradually became clear, and the face made everyone freeze.
"Aileen?!" Darlene exclaimed, her face full of disbelief.
Standing in front of them was Aileen, who had fought side by side with them in the team before.
However, at this moment, she was exuding a dark aura, and her eyes were cold and strange.
"I never thought you could hold out until now," Aileen sneered. "But this is also the end of you." "Aileen, what are you talking about?!" Darlene stepped forward quickly, trying to hold her hand, but was coldly waved away by Aileen.
"She's no longer our Aileen," Alton said in a low voice. "The power of the abyss has eroded her soul."
"Hahaha, eroded?" Aileen laughed. "No, Alton, you're wrong. This is not erosion but awakening! The abyss has made me see the real world, and you... are just living in false light."
Lucas gripped his double blades tightly and stared at Aileen warily. "So, you've been Mo Lingchen's pawn from the beginning?"
Aileen's smile became even colder. "Pawn? No, I'm his most loyal ally. He made me understand what power is, and also made me know that only the abyss is the future of this world!"
"You're being controlled!" Darlene shouted angrily. "The abyss is just using you!"
"Using? Maybe," Aileen gently raised her hand, and black energy danced at her fingertips. "But at least, it has given me power. You can never understand this feeling."
"Then we'll make you come to your senses!" Lucas roared, suddenly charging towards Aileen. His double blades sliced through the air, aiming straight for her shoulder.
However, Aileen moved faster than him. She gently raised her hand, and the dark energy turned into a barrier, blocking Lucas's attack. Then, she swung her hand back, and the black energy fluctuations instantly repelled Lucas.
"How naive," Aileen sneered. "You're no match for me at all."
"Everyone, attack together!" Alton shouted, and at the same time began to chant incantations to dispel the darkness.
Darlene quickly drew her bow, and the arrow shot towards Aileen with a silver light. Victor rushed forward, wielding his greatsword, trying to flank her.
However, Aileen's power was obviously beyond their imagination. She easily defused Darlene's arrow and used the dark energy to create countless phantoms, confusing Victor's sight.
"Aileen, this isn't you!" Darlene's voice was tinged with sobs. "We're friends! You can't forget the things we've been through together!"
Aileen's movement paused, and a trace of struggle flashed in her eyes. But soon, that glimmer of humanity was devoured by the power of the abyss.
"Friends?" Aileen said coldly. "That was the old me. The current me fights only for the abyss!"
"If this is the path you've chosen, then I can only end you!" Lucas gritted his teeth, stood up again, and a firm light burned in his eyes.
Aileen sneered. "Then, let me see what you're really capable of."