The light from the pendant engulfed the shrine, its brilliance blinding. The entity's roar turned into a deafening screech as the coins around the altar flared to life, their symbols glowing with golden light. The air crackled with energy, and the ground beneath me trembled violently.
I could feel the pendant's warmth spreading through me, but it was different now—more intense, almost painful. The keeper's words echoed in my mind: *The pendant's energy is tied to your life force. To activate the anchors, you must give all of yourself.*
The entity's form writhed in the light, its shadowy tendrils dissolving into smoke. **"You fool!"** it screamed, its voice a cacophony of rage and desperation. **"You think this will stop me? I am eternal!"**
I gritted my teeth, pressing the pendant harder against the altar. The warmth turned to searing heat, and I felt my strength draining away. My vision blurred, and my legs buckled, but I forced myself to stay upright. The coins' glow intensified, their light intertwining with the pendant's energy to form a web of golden threads that wrapped around the entity.
Lin Mo stirred on the ground, his body still twitching as the corruption fought to claim him. His voice was weak, barely audible over the chaos. "Don't… don't do it…"
I glanced at him, my heart aching. The choice was clear: complete the ritual and seal the entity, or save Lin Mo and risk everything. The whispers in my mind grew louder, their voices a mix of temptation and despair.
**"Save him,"** the entity hissed, its voice slithering into my thoughts. **"You don't have to die. You can have power, immortality. You can save him and rule this world."**
For a moment, I hesitated. The pendant's heat lessened, and the golden threads flickered. The entity's form began to solidify again, its eyes burning with triumph.
But then I remembered the keeper's words: *The path of eternal life is paved with sacrifice.* I thought of the world I had come to care for, of the people who had fought beside me, of Lin Mo's unwavering loyalty. If I didn't do this, they would all be lost.
"No," I whispered, my voice trembling but resolute. "This ends here."
I poured everything I had into the pendant, my life force surging through it like a river of light. The heat became unbearable, and my vision darkened at the edges. The golden threads tightened around the entity, its form disintegrating into smoke and ash.
**"You cannot destroy me!"** it screamed, its voice fading as its form dissolved. **"I will return!"**
The light from the pendant and coins reached its peak, and then—silence.
The shrine was still, the air heavy with the scent of ozone and burnt stone. The altar was gone, reduced to a pile of ash. The pendant in my hand was cold and lifeless, its glow extinguished.
I collapsed to my knees, my strength completely drained. My vision blurred, and I felt myself slipping away. The last thing I saw was Lin Mo crawling toward me, his eyes filled with tears.
"You did it," he whispered, his voice breaking. "You saved us."
I tried to speak, but no words came. The darkness closed in, and I let it take me.