A Western Kid’s Journey into the Eastern Cultivation World

The dark energy blast from Elias tore through the chamber like a tempest, shattering ice formations and sending Elder Li's golden chains flying in molten fragments. Jack was thrown backwards, his back slamming into a crystalline pillar that cracked under the impact. Blood trickled from his lip, but his eyes remained locked on Elias, whose form now writhed within a swirling maelstrom of shadowy tendrils.​Lyra, dagger still in hand, leaped nimbly over a jagged shard of crystal that came hurtling towards her. She ducked and rolled, using her speed to dodge the onslaught. "Jack, we can't keep this up!" she shouted, her voice barely audible over the deafening roar of the dark magic.​The Keeper, her ice - blue sword now chipped and dulled from countless battles, raised it high. Frost spread from the blade as she summoned a massive wall of ice to shield them. But Elias merely sneered, and with a flick of his wrist, the wall shattered into a million shards, each piece turning into a deadly projectile that rained down upon them.​Elder Li, leaning heavily on his staff, began to chant in a language so ancient it seemed to make the very air vibrate. Golden runes formed in the air around them, creating a protective dome. But the strain was evident on his face; his hands shook, and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. "I can only hold this for so long," he gasped.​Jack pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the searing pain in his side. The merged orb in his chest burned like a furnace, and the tome in his grasp pulsed with a strange, otherworldly light. He could feel the connection to Elias—the memories of their childhood, the laughter, the shared dreams—all of it was there, buried beneath the layers of darkness.​"Elias!" Jack shouted, his voice filled with a mix of desperation and determination. "Look at what they've done to you! This isn't who you are!"​Elias' eyes, glowing a malevolent purple, turned towards Jack. "I am what I was always meant to be," he hissed. "The vessel of the Abyssal Eclipse. You are the one who is blind, Jack. Blind to the true power of the darkness."​With that, Elias raised both hands, and the shadowy tendrils around him began to spin faster, creating a tornado of pure, concentrated dark energy. The very ground beneath their feet began to crack and split, revealing an inky void below.​Jack knew he had to act fast. Closing his eyes, he delved deep within himself, drawing on the combined power of the orb and the tome. He could feel the energy building, a maelstrom of light and dark within him. When he opened his eyes, his gaze was filled with a newfound resolve.​"Then let me show you the power of the light," Jack said, his voice steady.​He charged forward, his sword ablaze with a brilliant, multicolored light. As he neared Elias, the shadowy tendrils lashed out, but Jack parried them with ease, his sword cutting through the darkness like a hot knife through butter. When he was close enough, he reached out with his free hand and grabbed Elias by the shoulder.​A jolt of energy surged between them, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Memories flashed before their eyes—countless adventures, promises made under the stars, and the day Elias was torn away. Elias' body tensed, and for the first time, a flicker of doubt crossed his face.​But the Abyssal Eclipse was not so easily defeated. A wave of dark energy erupted from Elias, knocking Jack back. Elias' eyes glowed brighter than ever, and his voice, now a terrifying blend of multiple voices, echoed through the chamber. "You will fail, Jack. And when you do, the world will burn."​Jack, battered and bruised, but still standing, looked Elias in the eyes. "I will never give up on you, Elias. Not ever."​With a final, desperate push, Jack summoned every ounce of his strength and launched himself towards Elias once again, ready to face whatever fate had in store for him.