The air in the sealing hall was still filled with an inescapable silence. The faint light in the cracks flickered weakly, like an old candle flame forgotten by time. Although the battle had temporarily subsided, Lucas, Darlene, and the Soul Reaper all knew that the threat they faced was far from over.
"Although the seal has been restored for now, its vulnerability will soon be revealed again," the Soul Reaper said in a low voice after a moment of silence. "Next, we must find the soul lamp as soon as possible and completely sever the source of the nightmare spirit."
Darlene gripped her staff tightly, a trace of unease flashing in her eyes. "The soul lamp? What is that?"
The Soul Reaper nodded slowly, his gaze solemn. "The soul lamp is a legendary artifact. It can completely destroy the power of the nightmare spirit. If we can find it, we can prevent the nightmare spirit from reviving again."
"Then how do we find it?" Lucas furrowed his brows tightly, gripping the hilt of his sword slightly.
The Soul Reaper took a deep breath and looked into the distance, as if he could see through this dimly lit hall and gaze at a more distant place. "The soul lamp has been lost for many years, but the last place it was seen was in the Realm of the Dark Fire and the Secluded Lamp."
"The Realm of the Dark Fire and the Secluded Lamp?" Darlene repeated softly. It was a name full of mystery and danger.
"Yes, the Realm of the Dark Fire and the Secluded Lamp," the Soul Reaper continued. "This is the birthplace of the source of the nightmare spirit and also the final resting place of the soul lamp. It is said that this realm is full of deadly tests and trials. Those who enter without sufficient strength will surely not be able to survive."
"Do you know how to enter that realm?" Lucas asked calmly.
The Soul Reaper didn't answer directly. Instead, he closed his eyes and began to chant an ancient incantation in a low voice. As the incantation sounded, the runes in the hall glowed slightly, as if responding to his words. Suddenly, the ground shook, and the crack beneath the stone statue changed again, revealing a dark door.
"This is the entrance to the Realm of the Dark Fire and the Secluded Lamp," the Soul Reaper said in a low voice. With a wave of his hand, the dark door slowly opened, revealing a passage leading to an unknown abyss.
Lucas and Darlene exchanged a glance and stepped in without hesitation. As they entered this unknown darkness, the surrounding light disappeared instantly, and all around them was only the heavy air and an indescribable sense of oppression.
The darkness surged like a tide, swallowing up their sight and senses. Only the ground beneath their feet continued to extend. Occasionally, a heavy echo came from a distance, as if some huge monster was lurking. Lucas gripped his long sword tightly, and Darlene followed closely behind. The atmosphere around them became more and more tense.
"Be careful. The rules of the Realm of the Dark Fire and the Secluded Lamp are different from those of the regular realm," the Soul Reaper's voice echoed in the darkness. "Everything here is
dominated by the power of the nightmare spirit. Every step we take may expose us to unknown dangers."
Suddenly, a low humming sound came from the air. Lucas stopped abruptly and scanned the surroundings nervously. In the distance, the black fog gradually condensed, forming blurred images. Distorted figures loomed in the black fog.
"What is this?" Darlene asked warily, her gaze fixed on the approaching black shadow.
The Soul Reaper looked down at the ground and said slowly, "These are the images of the nightmare spirit. They are the guardians of the Realm of the Dark Fire and the Secluded Lamp. Every intruder must face their test."
Before he finished speaking, those images quickly gathered, as if forming a huge vortex that swallowed up all the light. Then, the black shadow suddenly pounced on them, and its eyes flashed with a suffocating red light.
"Prepare for battle!" Lucas shouted in a low voice. He unsheathed his long sword, and the sharp light of the sword cut through the darkness, slashing towards the pouncing image.
The sword qi intertwined with the black fog, and a harsh collision sound was heard. Darlene waved her staff, and golden light shot out, dispersing the black fog. However, these images did not disappear. Instead, they became denser, as if they were endless.
The Soul Reaper was silent for a moment. Suddenly, he waved his hand and cast a spell. The runes around him glowed brightly, and spiritual power converged into a huge barrier that instantly wrapped the three of them.
"These are just the images of the nightmare spirit. They have no physical body," the Soul Reaper said calmly. "Our goal is to pass through them as quickly as possible and enter the deeper part."
However, the speed of the images became even faster. In an instant, they pounced again. Lucas didn't hesitate. He quickly swung his sword to break open a path and led Darlene and the Soul Reaper through it.
In this distorted darkness, time seemed to lose its meaning. Every confrontation with the black shadow made the three of them physically and mentally exhausted. Although Lucas and Darlene were physically strong, under this endless pressure, they gradually felt overwhelmed.
Finally, they saw a faint light in the distance. It was the secluded fire on the altar, burning faintly but firmly.
"We're here!" Darlene exclaimed excitedly. Although her voice carried a hint of fatigue, the light in her eyes was extremely determined.
"Let's go!" Lucas growled and led the way towards the light without hesitation.
They finally broke through the layers of black fog and came to the front of the altar. On the altar, the secluded fire burned more fiercely, like a guiding lamp. However, this light was not warm. Instead, it was full of a strong sense of aggression.
"The soul lamp is on this altar," the Soul Reaper's voice came again. His gaze was firm, and the runes in his hand emitted a strong light. "But to touch the soul lamp, we must go through the final trial."
As his words fell, the secluded fire above the altar suddenly swayed violently. The atmosphere in the entire space instantly froze, as if everything was suppressed by this force.
"Is this... the final trial?" Darlene stared at the flames on the altar, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
"Yes," the Soul Reaper replied in a low voice. "Once we touch the soul lamp, the final test of the nightmare spirit will come. Only by passing it can we completely eliminate the source of the nightmare spirit."
As the secluded fire on the altar burned again, the three of them had no way back. They could only move forward.