A Western Kid’s Journey into the Eastern Cultivation World

The shield Jack had conjured crackled and splintered under the onslaught of Elias' dark energy. Jack's knees buckled, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to yield. Every muscle in his body strained as he fought to hold the barrier in place, his vision blurring from the effort.​Lyra, still battling her way through the shadowy creatures, saw Jack's predicament. "Hold on, Jack!" she shouted, her voice barely audible over the din of battle. She managed to sever the head of a particularly large creature with her dagger and then sprinted towards him, slashing at any foe that dared to get in her way.​The Keeper, meanwhile, was surrounded by a swirling mass of the shadowy horde. Her ice - blue sword was a blur of motion, but with each strike, more creatures seemed to take their place. She could feel her strength waning, but she knew she had to keep fighting to give Jack a chance.​Elder Li, his staff now glowing with a desperate, last - ditch effort, sent a volley of golden orbs towards Elias. "You will not win!" the old man shouted, his voice hoarse with exhaustion. But Elias merely laughed and waved his hand, dispersing the orbs with ease.​Jack could feel the shield on the verge of collapse. Taking a deep breath, he released the energy he had been channeling into the shield and instead, focused it all into a single, powerful surge. With a roar, he launched himself towards Elias, his sword aimed at the dark - magic user's chest.​Elias' eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly recovered and raised his own weapon to block. The two collided with a deafening clash, sending shockwaves through the chamber. Jack's sword inched closer to Elias, but the force of the dark - magic user's counterattack pushed him back.​In that moment of struggle, as their weapons locked, a strange thing happened. Images flashed through Jack's mind—memories of him and Elias as children, playing in the fields, their laughter ringing out. And then, darker memories—Elias being taken away by shadowy figures, his cries for help echoing in Jack's ears.​"Elias..." Jack gasped, his voice filled with pain and realization. "You were taken. You didn't choose this."​Elias' expression flickered, and for a brief second, the cold, cruel mask seemed to slip. "Shut up!" he roared, but there was a hint of desperation in his voice. "It doesn't matter how it started. The Abyssal Eclipse is the future, and you will not stop it!"​With renewed strength, Elias pushed Jack back, sending him flying across the chamber. Jack crashed into the wall, his sword skidding out of reach. But he wasn't done yet. He could still feel the power of the merged orb and the tome within him, and he knew that there was one last, risky move he could try.​Lyra reached his side, helping him to his feet. "What's the plan?" she asked, her eyes filled with determination.​Jack looked at her, his expression grim. "I need to get close to Elias again. There's a connection between us, something to do with these memories. I think I can break the hold the Abyssal Eclipse has on him, but I'll need your help to distract him."​Lyra nodded. "You got it. Just tell me what to do."​Meanwhile, the Keeper and Elder Li were still fighting, their efforts buying Jack and Lyra some time. But Jack knew that time was running out, and the next move could be their last.