Lucas and Darlene's steps suddenly stopped in front of the crack. Billowing black mist surged like a tide. The Nightmare Spirit stood on the edge of the crack, as if he were the master of darkness, looking down on this world on the verge of collapse.
"Do you really think you can light the Soul Lamp in front of me?" The Nightmare Spirit slowly spread his arms. The black mist flowed between his fingers, and a dull, low chant faintly came from the depths of the crack, as if something was stirring restlessly.
Darlene raised her staff high. Holy light shone, dispelling the shadows around. She gritted her teeth tightly. "How will we know if we don't try?"
Lucas didn't say much. He suddenly thrust his long sword into the ground. The embers of the Soul Lamp remaining on the sword body faintly emitted a dim light.
"Burn!"
He roared in a low voice. A scorching blue flame emerged in his palm and stabbed straight at the sword body, trying to ignite the remaining glow.
The flame flickered, but only for a moment before being swallowed by the darkness gushing out from the crack.
"Useless struggle." The Nightmare Spirit took a step forward, made a false grip with his five fingers, and the crack began to slowly widen. Icy black gas leaked out, as if it was about to devour the entire space.
Lucas gritted his teeth and urged the power in his body again. The veins on his forehead bulged, yet the light was still faint.
"It's not enough." Darlene said in a low voice, frowned tightly, and suddenly looked at Lucas. "Use my soul."
Lucas was stunned and subconsciously gripped the hilt of the sword tightly. "No!"
Darlene's gaze was extremely firm. "You know, only a powerful enough soul force can ignite the embers. Now, we have no other choice."
Lucas's heart trembled violently. He knew Darlene was right, but he was even more aware of what this meant. Using her soul to light the Soul Lamp was very likely to make her soul scatter and never be able to return to the world again.
"Darlene..." Lucas called her name in a low voice, with a hint of hesitation and pain in his voice.
Darlene smiled faintly, stood beside Lucas, and said softly, "If we don't do this, the darkness in the crack will devour the whole world. By then, we will all die."
Her hand gently rested on Lucas's shoulder, and she whispered, "This is not a sacrifice, but a protection."
Lucas's gaze was as deep as iron. Finally, he slowly nodded, held Darlene's hand, and connected her power to his own soul.
Boom!
The blue flame suddenly burst out. The embers of the Soul Lamp burned violently, and a dazzling beam of light shot straight into the sky. The darkness in the crack seemed to be torn apart in an instant, emitting shrill screams.
The face of the Nightmare Spirit twisted. He suddenly rushed forward, trying to extinguish the flickering flame.
Lucas was quick - eyed and quick - handed. He blocked the crack with the edge of his sword and slashed out a sharp sword qi, forcing the Nightmare Spirit back several steps.
"If you want to pass, step over me first." Lucas said coldly. The sword edge was burning with raging blue flames, as if a war god had descended to the world.
The Nightmare Spirit growled. Countless black shadows emerged behind him. Each one had a distorted face, like the souls climbing out of hell.
"They can't stop us." Darlene's voice was cold and firm. She tapped the ground lightly with her staff, and a golden light shield rose from the ground, firmly suppressing the black shadows outside.
Lucas narrowed his eyes, gripped his long sword tightly, and suddenly rushed into the black shadows. The sword light criss - crossed, and the black shadows were constantly torn apart and turned into nothingness.
The Nightmare Spirit's anger reached its peak. His black robe fluttered loudly, and his whole body seemed to turn into the source of darkness. He rushed straight towards Darlene, trying to completely devour her before the Soul Lamp burned out.
Lucas roared, "No way!"
He suddenly leaped up, and the tip of his sword pointed straight at the Nightmare Spirit's heart.
"Seal!"
With Lucas's angry shout, the long sword pierced through the Nightmare Spirit's body. The blue flame burned wildly along the sword body, nailing the Nightmare Spirit firmly in front of the crack.
Darlene gripped her staff tightly. Her whole body's soul power was completely exhausted. The light of the Soul Lamp reached its extreme. In the raging flames, the crack slowly closed, and the darkness gradually dissipated. The Nightmare Spirit let out one last wail and was sealed in eternal darkness along with the crack.
Light will eventually break through the dawn.
Lucas gasped for breath and slumped to the ground. The long sword in his hand had already broken, and the flame of the Soul Lamp slowly went out in the air.
Darlene's figure was illusory, and her body was gradually becoming transparent. The burning of the Soul Lamp had taken away most of her soul power.
Lucas held her hand, and his eyes were full of guilt and distress. "You..."
Darlene chuckled softly. "I'm not dead. Just that my soul is damaged and it may take a long time to recover."
Lucas heaved a sigh of relief and helped her up. "We survived."
The two stood on the mountain top on the verge of dawn, welcoming the long - awaited morning light.