The atmosphere of the battle grew increasingly tense. Black tentacles shot out from the ground like a rainstorm, surging towards Lucas like countless venomous snakes. Eerie screeches filled his ears, almost suffocating him. Lucas swung his sword to split one tentacle, but as it broke, even more tentacles surged forward like a tide.
His mind was calm, yet his body was gradually straining from the intense movements. The embers of the Soul Lamp had already been exhausted, and the clone of the Nightmare Spirit in the darkness didn't seem eager to make a move. Its presence was more like a shadow, quietly observing the battle situation, waiting for the most opportune moment.
"Do you really think you can stop all this?" The voice of the Nightmare Spirit clone was full of disdain. With a gentle wave of his hand, the black crystal emitted a strong light, and the tentacles became even more ferocious under the light's summons, forming an inescapable encirclement.
A flash of determination passed through Lucas's eyes. He shifted his body, raised the edge of his sword, and with a dazzling sword light, he cut off all the approaching tentacles one by one. However, with each swing of the sword, more tentacles grew back in the black mist, as if this darkness itself was endless.
"You're just a revenant after all," Lucas said coldly. "Let's see how you deal with this."
He suddenly turned around, both hands gripping the hilt of the sword tightly, and launched the "Shattering Slash." A brilliant white light burst out from the sword body, shooting up into the sky, and directly hitting the core part of those tentacles. The tentacles immediately let out terrifying screeches, as if in excruciating pain, and instantly shattered.
However, just as he thought this strike could completely tear through the darkness, the Nightmare Spirit clone suddenly appeared and blocked the further spread of the white light.
"How ridiculous," the voice of the Nightmare Spirit was icy cold. "All you can do is a short - lived counterattack."
Suddenly, the Nightmare Spirit clone in the darkness made a fierce move. His figure disappeared in the black mist, and the next moment, he appeared in front of Lucas. The black crystal in his hand shone with a dazzling light, as if possessing the power to tear everything apart.
Lucas's heart tightened. He immediately held his long sword horizontally in front of his chest, but he could still feel an invisible force pressing down on him, heavy and oppressive, as if the entire space was squeezing towards him.
"Die!" The Nightmare Spirit clone growled. The black crystal burst out with a strong black light, directly lunging towards Lucas's heart.
At this moment, a golden light suddenly appeared in the air, as dazzling as the dawn breaking through the night.
"Want to hurt him?" Darlene's voice rang out, filled with extreme coldness. "You have to ask me first if I agree."
She raised her staff, and the golden light formed a powerful shield around her. The brilliance was so resplendent that it almost blocked the black light of the Nightmare Spirit clone.
"Is this your trump card?" The Nightmare Spirit clone sneered. "It's nothing special."
He waved the crystal again, and the darkness quickly spread in all directions, devouring all the light. In this darkness, Darlene's face changed slightly. "No, this isn't just darkness. It's corroding our souls!"
Lucas's heart sank suddenly. He felt the oppressive force coming from all directions. That force seemed to be devouring their spirits and souls bit by bit.
"Quick, focus!" Darlene shouted loudly. "Don't let it control us!"
Lucas forced himself to concentrate, gripping the hilt of the sword tightly, and focusing the sword qi of the long sword at the tip. The mental oppression didn't make him yield; instead, it made him even more determined. He knew that only by defeating this Nightmare Spirit clone could he completely break this darkness.
"Shattering Blade!" Lucas growled. The tip of the sword pointed straight ahead, and the sword qi turned into a brilliant white light, hitting the black crystal of the Nightmare Spirit clone.
However, something unexpected happened. The light of the black crystal not only didn't dissipate but became even more dazzling, as if absorbing the energy of this attack and gradually growing larger.
"Do you think you can stop me?" The voice of the Nightmare Spirit clone carried a smile. "How stupid."
Suddenly, another earth - shattering rumble came from behind the stone door. A strong tremor came from below the mountain range, as if the whole world was shaking violently. Lucas and Darlene's bodies jolted, and their eyes involuntarily turned towards the direction of the stone door.
Boom -
The stone door was completely smashed open, and a monstrous dark aura gushed out. Deep, low hisses came from the depths of the ground.
"What is that?" Darlene's face turned deathly pale, and her eyes were filled with horror. "It's it!" Lucas's voice was filled with unprecedented solemnity. "The true source of the Nightmare Spirit has been hidden here all along."
With a huge rumble, the black mist rose. In the darkness, it seemed that a huge figure was slowly emerging. That figure didn't seem to be a living being but an incarnation of endless darkness, capable of devouring all light.
It was approaching step by step.
This battle was far from over.