The light of the Soul Lamp illuminated the entire altar, like a ray of dawn breaking through from the depths of darkness. The faint flame flickered in the air, like a star on the verge of going out, yet it contained infinite power. Lucas, Darlene, and the Soul Ferryman all held their breaths and stared at the Soul Lamp before them.
An indescribable oppressive feeling filled the air, as if an ultimate decisive battle was about to arrive.
"Is this the Soul Lamp?" Darlene asked softly, a hint of surprise and doubt in her eyes.
The Soul Ferryman nodded, his eyes solemn. "Yes. Once the Soul Lamp is lit, it can completely purify the power of the source of the Nightmare Spirits and burn them to the ground. But this also means that it will consume all of our soul power, and it may even cost us our lives."
Lucas gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his gaze firm. "We've come this far and can't retreat any longer."
Darlene took a deep breath, held her staff tightly, and determination flashed in her eyes. "To put an end to all of this, we must be prepared for everything."
The Soul Ferryman looked at the two of them with a complicated expression, then slowly walked to the front of the altar, put his hands together, and began to chant ancient incantations. As his incantations sounded, a circle of blue runes once again appeared around the altar. The entire altar seemed to start shaking, with faint flames shooting out in all directions, and the whole space became distorted.
"The Soul Lamp will trigger the Fire of the Soul. This power can penetrate all obstacles," the Soul Ferryman continued in a whisper. "But it's not just about destruction. It will also make us face the darkest part of our own hearts."
Lucas frowned slightly, feeling the oppressive force coming from the altar. He gripped his long sword tightly and stared intently at the flame of the Soul Lamp. "Do you mean that each of us will face our own trials?"
The Soul Ferryman nodded. "That's right. This battle is not just a confrontation with the source of the Nightmare Spirits, but also a confrontation with your own hearts. Only by truly overcoming your inner fears can you guide the Soul Lamp to burn out the Nightmare Spirits."
Darlene's gaze was firm, and she said in a deep voice, "We have nowhere to retreat. Neither fear nor desire can hold us back any longer."
As soon as the words were spoken, the Soul Lamp suddenly burst out with a dazzling light. The light of the entire altar fluctuated violently, as if the darkness between heaven and earth had been completely torn apart. A strong suction force pulled the three of them towards the altar. Lucas felt as if his limbs were bound by heavy iron chains and he couldn't move.
In the darkness, the aura of the Nightmare Spirits revived again and spread out. A blurred figure gradually emerged in the light. It was the incarnation of the Nightmare Spirit, full of endless darkness and decay. Its eyes were like abysses, exuding a suffocating chill.
"Do you think you can destroy me?" The voice of the Nightmare Spirit was like the whisper of the Reaper, full of provocation and contempt. "You are just insignificant beings. My power is far
beyond your imagination!"
Lucas's face darkened, and he gripped the hilt of his sword even more tightly. "No matter what you are, we won't let you be resurrected again."
The Nightmare Spirit laughed mockingly. With a wave of its hand, a thick black mist filled the air, like a curtain of the sky descending, covering the altar. In the black mist, black shadows surged one after another, as if countless wandering souls were coming back to life and pouncing towards the three of them.
"This is your fear," the Soul Ferryman's eyes were as sharp as knives, and he said in a low voice. "They come from the deepest part of your hearts."
Then, he quickly raised his hands. The runes around the altar began to flash, and a powerful soul power surged out from his body, forming a protective barrier that blocked the black mist outside.
"You must hold on!" the Soul Ferryman shouted. "Turn your fear into power and defeat them!"
A cold light flashed in Lucas's eyes, and the anger in his body surged out like a torrent. He felt the countless fears and desires in the black mist. However, at this moment, he transformed these fears into power and sneered coldly. "I'm not afraid of any challenges!"
The long sword in his hand burst out with a dazzling light. Lucas swung his sword, and the sword qi was like a dragon, slashing straight towards the incarnation of the Nightmare Spirit in the black mist. The sword qi collided with the body of the Nightmare Spirit, making a deafening explosion. The black mist twisted for a while, as if it had been torn open by the sword qi.
However, the laughter of the Nightmare Spirit still resounded through the sky and the earth. "You can cut through the illusion for a moment, but you can't defeat me. Your power is built on fear."
The blade of Lucas's sword was instantly swallowed up by the black mist, and the stone bridge under his feet began to shake. At this moment, a deep sense of fear suddenly struck. Lucas's heart trembled violently, and the scene in front of him became blurred. This was his deepest fear - being unable to protect the people he loved and pushing them into the abyss with his own hands.
Suddenly, Darlene grabbed Lucas's wrist, and her voice was urgent. "Don't let fear control you!"
Lucas came back to his senses, suddenly breaking free from the fear in his heart, and firmness returned to his eyes. "I won't let anything affect me anymore!"
At the same time, Darlene had already rushed into the black mist. She waved her staff, and golden runes quickly drew a series of circles in the air, dispelling the black mist around her. Her gaze became sharp. "I am my own master, not just an image of my father."
The Soul Ferryman was not to be outdone either. His figure quickly merged into the energy field of the altar. He condensed a huge rune with his hands and slammed it hard towards the figure of the Nightmare Spirit. As he whispered the incantation, the rune turned into a mighty force, burning up the black mist of the Nightmare Spirit.
"Do you think you can escape in front of me?" the Nightmare Spirit roared, and the black mist spun wildly, pouncing towards the three of them.
However, the three of them had already transformed their fear into power. They shouted in
unison and quickly launched a counterattack. The Soul Lamp flickered in the air, illuminating the entire altar, like a sharp sword cutting through the darkness.
A dazzling light shot out from the Soul Lamp, directly hitting the incarnation of the Nightmare Spirit. The whole space shook violently, and the Fire of the Soul began to spread. The figure of the Nightmare Spirit gradually collapsed in the light, and the powerful dark power also gradually dissipated.
Finally, the incarnation of the Nightmare Spirit completely collapsed. The Soul Lamp on the altar burst out with a scorching brilliance, illuminating the entire Dark Realm. The black mist dispersed, and the threat of the Nightmare Spirit disappeared along with it.
But the three of them did not relax. They still stared closely at the center of the altar, ready to face the final blow.