The battle raged on. Kael, his eyes locked onto the swirling mass of wraiths emerging from the rift, summoned more of his Cursed Spirits, pushing the limits of his necromantic abilities. His hands trembled slightly as he commanded the spirits to surge forward, their skeletal forms clashing with the wraiths in a chaotic frenzy of death.
[System Alert: Active Skill – Soul Reaver: Unleash!]
Kael's command activated his Soul Reaver ability, amplifying his necromantic power. Black tendrils of energy shot from his body, latching onto the wraiths and draining their ethereal life force. Each wraith that fell to his power dissolved into a burst of dark mist, leaving behind faint, glowing remnants that merged with the Cursed Spirits, strengthening them further.
"Keep them distracted! I need to close this rift!" Kael shouted over the growing tumult.
Nira, still hovering in the air on her Voltshade Revenant, unleashed a barrage of lightning strikes, each bolt striking a wraith and reducing it to ashes. Her Elemental Fusion: Undeath + Wind had evolved since their encounter with the Temple Guardian, allowing her to summon Wraith Zephyrs—fury-filled wind spirits bound to the undead. These new summons were faster and more deadly, tearing through the enemy ranks with ease.
But despite their power, the wraiths kept pouring from the rift. It was as if the trial itself was testing them in waves, each more intense than the last.
The darkness that surrounded them seemed endless, and Kael could feel the weight of the trial pressing down on his shoulders. This wasn't just a battle for survival—it was a test of their will to continue.
[System Alert: New Sub-Quest – Rift Closure Imminent]Objective:
Use the Ancient Seal of Tharemon to close the rift.
Ensure that Nira and your allies remain unharmed during the process.
Survive until the rift is sealed.
Kael's thoughts raced as he searched for a way to end this madness. He knew that the Seal was the key, but activating it in the middle of battle was far from ideal. He needed a moment of peace, however fleeting it might be, to use the Seal properly.
"Nira, cover me! I'm going to try something!" Kael yelled.
Nira nodded without hesitation, sending her Wraith Zephyrs into the heart of the rift. They swirled around the edges, trying to disrupt the flow of energy that fueled the wraiths' emergence. At the same time, she launched another lightning strike, zapping one of the wraiths just as it reached Kael.
Kael stepped forward, holding the Seal firmly in his hands. As he did, the ancient energy within the Seal began to pulse, sending waves of light through the chamber. His connection to the Seal deepened, and Kael could feel the very fabric of the Trial beginning to shift.
[System Alert: Seal Activation – Initiating Rift Closure]Objective:
Protect Kael during Seal activation.
Prevent the wraiths from overwhelming the area.
The Seal flared with energy, the ancient runes inscribed upon its surface lighting up in brilliant gold. Kael's vision blurred, and for a brief moment, he saw flashes of images—long-forgotten memories of the ancient Lords of Tharemon. They seemed to be watching him, silently judging him, as the Seal hummed with power.
"I can do this…" Kael whispered to himself, focusing all his energy on the Seal. The wraiths pressed closer, their malevolent gazes fixed on him, but he couldn't afford to let fear take hold.
As Kael chanted the ancient words, the Seal emitted a final burst of golden light. The energy flowed from the Seal and into the rift, which shimmered with a vibrant pulse before suddenly contracting inward.
A deafening roar filled the chamber as the rift began to collapse, sucking in the wraiths and the surrounding energy. But as the rift contracted, the dark figure that had risen from the sarcophagus—the Echo Lord—stepped forward, its shadowy form solidifying.
"You think you can defeat me with mere ritual?" the Echo Lord growled, its voice full of disdain. "I am the echo of Tharemon itself. You cannot stop me."
[System Alert: Echo Lord – Final Boss Phase Activated]Objective:
Defeat the Echo Lord to complete the Trial of Tharemon.
Survive the Echo Lord's final assault.
Kael gritted his teeth. "We'll see about that."
With a sweeping motion, the Echo Lord conjured a storm of energy. The ground shook, and a black tempest materialized around the figure, swirling violently as it unleashed torrents of destructive force in all directions. Kael was forced to shield himself with his necromantic energy, but the blast was immense, pushing him back.
Nira swooped down to Kael's side, her Tempest Revenant dodging the incoming energy blasts. "We need to work together to take him down!"
Kael nodded, his eyes fixed on the Echo Lord. He could feel the immense power radiating from the figure, but the Seal had stabilized the rift, and now they had a chance to end this trial once and for all.
"Nira, focus your energy on his attacks!" Kael commanded, summoning all the power within him. "I'll finish this!"
[System Alert: Active Skill – Necrotic Wrath]Objective:
Unleash the full potential of Kael's necromantic abilities.
Use all available resources to defeat the Echo Lord.
Kael raised his staff high, and the ground around him cracked open as massive skeletal hands emerged, reaching for the Echo Lord. The figure snarled in response, unleashing more destructive blasts, but Kael's control over the Cursed Spirits was stronger than ever. He twisted the energy, funneling it into an overwhelming wave of dark power.
Nira, understanding his intent, unleashed a final wave of Elemental Fusion: Undeath + Wind, her Wraith Zephyrs combining their fury with the storm of dark energy.
Together, their combined attacks slammed into the Echo Lord, causing it to howl in agony as its form began to disintegrate.
[System Alert: Echo Lord Defeated!]Objective Complete: Trial of Tharemon Passed.Rewards:
Ancient Power of Tharemon unlocked.
Echo Lord's Essence obtained.
New Quest Available: The Legacy of the Supreme Lords.
The Echo Lord's form crumbled into nothingness, and the storm of energy dissipated. The entire chamber fell silent, save for the echoing thrum of the Seal, which now rested gently in Kael's hand.
"We did it…" Nira breathed, her voice filled with relief.
Kael allowed himself a brief moment of rest before nodding to Nira. "We did. But this… this is just the beginning."