The cavern shook violently as Valthor, the Abyssal Sorcerer, unleashed his Abyssal Wave, an eruption of dark energy that rippled through the air. Junzo barely had time to react before the dark magic crashed into them with the force of a tsunami, sweeping them off their feet.
[System]
You have taken damage from Abyssal Wave.
Junzo: -500 HP
Rina: -450 HP
Kai: -400 HP
Garron: -600 HP
The force of the blast sent them flying in different directions, their bodies colliding with jagged rocks, the air heavy with the stench of dark magic. Junzo groaned as he pushed himself to his feet, his body aching, his mana reserves draining fast from the effect of the Mana Drain. He could feel the Abyssal Wave sapping his strength, leaving him vulnerable.
Junzo: "Damn it! We can't let him get away with this!"
Rina was the first to recover, her body glowing with a faint light as she activated her Light of Purity. The healing light washed over her, and her wounds began to close, but even she was visibly shaken from the attack.
Rina: "I can't heal everyone at once. We need to stop him before he does it again!"
Kai, ever quick on his feet, darted forward, his daggers glinting in the dim light as he aimed for Valthor's weak points, his movements precise and deadly. He was fast, but the sorcerer's reaction speed was far quicker. With a flick of his wrist, Valthor summoned another dark wave, forcing Kai to leap back just in time to avoid being engulfed.
Kai: "He's fast! We need a plan!"
Garron: "We have one shot. We can't just keep dodging. We have to get close."
Junzo, struggling to shake off the effects of the Abyssal Wave, cast a quick glance at his party members. The Abyssal Sorcerer was no ordinary foe. His power was overwhelming, and the oppressive magic surrounding them made every spell feel weaker. Their Mana Drain debuff was making their powers less effective with each passing moment.
[System]
Mana Drain effect active – 20% reduction in maximum mana per player.
Junzo clenched his fists, his thoughts racing. The only chance they had was to use the environment against him. He had noticed something during the battle — the pool of dark water in the center of the cavern was far more than just a pool. It seemed to pulse with energy, feeding Valthor's power. If they could disrupt the source, perhaps they could weaken him.
Junzo: "Rina! Can you keep him distracted for a few moments? I have a plan."
Rina: "Distract him? Are you insane? He's too powerful!"
Junzo: "Trust me. We need to destroy the pool. It's fueling his power!"
Without waiting for a response, Junzo sprinted toward the dark pool, his staff crackling with faint traces of light as he prepared his Holy Smite. It wasn't much against Valthor's darkness, but it could be enough to disrupt the flow of energy if used correctly. He glanced back at his party — they were holding their ground, but barely. Garron was blocking another Abyssal Wave with his sword, and Kai was dodging the dark tendrils that Valthor summoned from the pool.
Junzo: "Hold on, everyone!"
He reached the edge of the pool, the water rippling with a malevolent energy. His staff hummed in his hands, gathering energy for the attack. As he swung it down, the light from his staff shone bright, cutting through the darkness like a blade.
[System]
You have used Holy Smite on the Abyssal Pool!
Critical hit!
The light exploded upon contact with the dark water, a shockwave of holy magic radiating out in all directions. The water recoiled, dark tendrils twisting violently as if fighting back against the divine power. For a moment, the pool stilled, its pulsing energy momentarily subdued.
Valthor: "NO! You dare"
Before Valthor could finish his words, the dark water began to bubble, and the cavern shook again, more violently this time. A loud crack echoed through the chamber, and the pool began to churn and twist like a living thing, pulling the very air around it into its depths.
Rina: "Junzo, it's working! Keep going!"
Junzo didn't hesitate. His Holy Smite had damaged the pool, but it wasn't enough. The cavern began to glow with an unnatural light as the pool's magic tried to heal itself, to restore what Junzo had disturbed. Valthor, enraged by the assault on his power source, raised his hands to the sky, summoning a massive wave of darkness.
Valthor: "Foolish children! You have no idea what you've awakened!"
The dark magic coalesced into a massive ball of energy above Valthor's head, crackling with raw power. The pressure was unbearable. Junzo could feel the immense force of the spell building, threatening to destroy everything in its path.
Junzo: "Get out of the way!"
He knew this was their last chance. With the pool still in chaos, he had to stop Valthor before the sorcerer could unleash his full power.
[System]
Warning: Abyssal Wrath incoming. Extreme danger to all players.
Countdown: 10 seconds
Kai: "We can't dodge this! We have to strike now!"
Garron stepped forward, his sword glowing with a faint aura as he activated his Blood Frenzy skill, a skill that doubled his damage output for a short time but also drained his health. With a roar, he charged toward Valthor, his sword held high, intent on ending the battle once and for all.
Garron: "For the Light!"
As Garron closed the distance, Junzo's heart raced. He had only one shot to stop the sorcerer. His staff glowed with holy energy, the light pulsing as he prepared to cast his final spell. With a decisive motion, he raised it high and released a blast of Divine Wrath, a spell he had been saving for this moment.
[System]
You have cast Divine Wrath on Valthor, Abyssal Sorcerer!
The light of the spell collided with Valthor's dark magic, the two forces clashing with an earth-shattering roar. The cavern seemed to tremble as the overwhelming might of both powers collided, the sound deafening.
Valthor: "No…!"
The Abyssal Wrath faltered, and with a final surge of light, it shattered, dispersing the dark magic into nothingness. Valthor screamed as his power unraveled, the energy around him collapsing in on itself. The shadows faded, and the once oppressive darkness of the cavern began to lift.
[System]
You have defeated Valthor, Abyssal Sorcerer!
You have gained: 5000 EXP, Abyssal Orb, Abyssal Robe.
Junzo: "We… we did it."
But Junzo couldn't relax yet. As the remnants of Valthor's power faded away, the cavern started to tremble again, even more violently than before. The walls cracked, and the ground beneath their feet began to split open.
Rina: "What's happening now?"
Kai: "We've triggered something... Haven't we?"
Garron: "We need to get out. Now!"
The walls of the cavern were collapsing, and the very ground seemed to be breaking apart. The battle wasn't over.