The incarnation of the Nightmare Spirit completely collapsed in the light, the black mist was dispelled, and the entire space returned to a brief moment of tranquility. On the altar, the flame of the Soul Lamp gradually dimmed, leaving only a faint spark flickering unsteadily in mid-air, as if it could go out at any moment.
Lucas held his sword and his gaze was fixed on the Soul Lamp. His heart did not relax for a moment. Darlene stood by his side, slowly lowering her staff, but her palms were still full of sweat. The Soul Ferryman quietly stared at the altar and said in a deep voice, "The power of the Nightmare Spirit has been weakened, but this is not the end."
Lucas turned his head back, frowning slightly. "What do you mean? Haven't we... eliminated it?"
The Soul Ferryman shook his head and pointed at the Soul Lamp. "The flame of the Soul Lamp has not gone out yet, which means that the remnant shadow of the Nightmare Spirit still exists. It may not be able to take on an incarnation anymore, but its consciousness still lurks in the depths of the darkness, waiting to coalesce again."
A trace of worry flashed in Darlene's eyes. "We must purify it completely, otherwise all our efforts will be in vain."
Before the words were even finished, the ground suddenly shook violently, and the entire altar began to crack. An even colder and more sinister aura spread out from the cracks. Lucas suddenly gripped his long sword tightly and leaped in front of Darlene and the Soul Ferryman, his eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings.
"It's coming!" Lucas whispered sharply.
From the cracks, the thick black mist rolled again. Like a living thing, it slowly gathered together to form a blurred shadow, exuding a suffocating pressure. This shadow was different from the previous incarnation of the Nightmare Spirit. It was purer, as if it were the core will of the Nightmare Spirit at its deepest level - no longer taking on a specific form, but just an existence in the darkness that stared at them indifferently.
The expression of the Soul Ferryman became even more solemn. "This is the original will of the Nightmare Spirit. It is using the power of the cracks and the Fire of the Soul to repair itself."
Lucas's gaze was icy cold, and he slowly raised the long sword in his hand. "Even if it's just its will left, I will completely destroy it."
The Soul Ferryman reached out and pressed down on Lucas's sword. "No, relying solely on a weapon can't reach the original will of the Nightmare Spirit. We must use the last flame of the Soul Lamp to purify it completely."
Darlene looked at the almost extinguished Soul Lamp, and a trace of hesitation flashed across her face. "But the power of the Soul Lamp is almost exhausted. Can it hold out until the end?"
The Soul Ferryman pondered for a moment and then said slowly, "There is still one way..."
His voice was low and firm. "Let the Soul Lamp burn our souls and use this as a guide to ignite the ultimate fire."
Lucas's pupils shrank, and he suddenly turned his head. "What?"
Darlene's face also changed instantly. "Sacrificing our souls? Then wouldn't that mean..."
The Soul Ferryman showed a tired smile, as if he had already made up his mind. "This battle was destined to end with sacrifice. My soul has already been eroded when I was guarding the Soul Lamp. Let it burn me, and that will be enough."
"No!" Lucas refused firmly. "We fought together, and we should end this together!"
The Soul Ferryman slowly raised his head, his gaze piercing through the darkness as he stared at Lucas and Darlene. "You still have a future, but for me, there is no turning back."
At that moment, the dark will of the Nightmare Spirit coalesced again, turning into a swirling black hole that slowly began to devour the three of them. The altar was shaking violently, and the flame of the Soul Lamp flickered wildly, as if it could go out at any moment.
The Soul Ferryman did not hesitate any longer. He suddenly stepped onto the altar, stood in front of the Soul Lamp, put his hands together, and began to chant ancient incantations. The power of his soul slowly rose from his body and was gradually injected into the Soul Lamp.
"What you have to do is to protect the last flame of the Soul Lamp," the voice of the Soul Ferryman echoed in the air, carrying an irresistible force.
Darlene gritted her teeth, and tears glistened in her eyes. "We will definitely protect it!"
Lucas took a deep breath, raised his sword and stood in front of Darlene. He stared at the approaching darkness, and an unwavering determination flashed in his eyes. "We won't let your sacrifice be in vain."
The body of the Soul Ferryman gradually turned into specks of light and merged into the Soul Lamp. The flame burned brightly again, and the dazzling Fire of the Soul burst out, illuminating the entire space.
The will of the Nightmare Spirit twisted continuously in the flames, emitting angry and painful roars. The black mist receded like a tide, and the cracks gradually closed as well.
In the midst of the flames, Lucas and Darlene clearly saw that the shadow of the Nightmare Spirit gradually dissipated and finally disappeared completely into the light. Everything returned to calm. The Soul Lamp on the altar slowly went out, leaving only a trace of faint embers floating in the air.
Lucas watched the disappearing flames in silence, feeling a mixture of emotions.
Darlene said softly, "He did his job."
Lucas paused for a moment, thrust his sword into the ground and whispered, "This is a sacrifice we will remember."
However, just as they were about to leave the altar, Lucas suddenly felt a strange fluctuation coming from under his feet. He suddenly turned his head and saw that at the place where the Soul Lamp had gone out, a barely noticeable black shadow quietly drilled into the depths of the cracks and disappeared.
Lucas's heart sank, and he said in a low voice, "This is not over yet..."
Darlene also sensed something was wrong and gripped her staff tightly. "The origin of the
Nightmare Spirit might still have some remnants left."
The two of them looked at each other. Although the darkness had temporarily receded, they knew in their hearts that this battle was far from truly over.