Every stride through the labyrinth was met by wall movements and distortions which produced agonized sounds. The magic projectors made their figures fade away before losing all shape just like a dying fire does. The tightness in Natasha's chest combined with explosive heartbeats when she observed the spectral image of her brother.
His eyes pinned her motionless. So real. So familiar.
She gripped her weapon in her hands.
Inner wisdom confirmed to her the truth about the situation.
This wasn't him.
This was the labyrinth's trickery.
With determination she squeezed her teeth while closing her eyes before passing through the deception.
His low pleading tone quickly disappeared after she entered through the doorway.
She clenched her heart but managed to push away those feelings. The spell was broken.
But the others?
They were still trapped.
Alison battled with a spectral form that replicated her father's combat techniques until both parties displayed a complete synchronized execution of each strike.
Dren pounded his hands against his own face which smiled to mock his own attacks with surgical accuracy.
Ira knelt on the floor as her unstable magic embraced her like bonds which threatened to strangle her.
Eldric stood motionless while fear widened his eyes as he stared at an invisible face.
Her grip tightened.
Enough.
She summoned all of the will she had before striking the ground with her sword.
The labyrinth experienced explosive energy emissions that produced powerful shockwaves across its structure.
The illusions shuddered, flickering violently—
And then they shattered.
Shining fragments spread through the air before being erased by the mist-like effects.
The members of her team broke loose from their trance resulting in rapid gasps as they returned to reality.
With his blade still in position Alison fell backward to the ground.
Dren breathed uncontrollably as he gripped his hands tightly.
The moment passed and Ira fell to the ground while trying to catch her breath since her wild magic remained out of control.
Eldric made eye contact for the first time because something he witnessed made him freeze. The experience of whatever he saw made him extremely unsettled.
After experiencing relief Natasha was too late to react when
BOOM!
The ground shuddered powerfully and split apart in the earth's undersurface.
The air shifted—dense, suffocating, ancient.
The abyss released a frightening deep voice.
"You have seen your fears… now face your judgment."
The rising volcanic ash turned into a giant form which transformed from one shape to another like a shadow monster with no fixed outline. The darkness revealed burning empty eye sockets above a bone crown on its huge head.
Through her senses Natasha received a message: "Abyssal Warden – Keeper of the Lost has been detected."
[You Have Encountered: Abyssal Warden – Keeper of the Lost]
[Level: ???]
[Warning: Boss Battle Initiated]
Alison moved first toward the creature with his sword shining bright under the mystic light. "I don't like this."
Dren cracked his knuckles. "No kidding."
With her staff in hand Ira worked to prevent herself from falling. The creature has been consuming souls from the dead since ancient times.
The Guardian raised its hand.
The deceased spirits warped into chains at that instant.
The chains unleashed strikes that targeted them like venomous snakes.
The ground beneath them collapsed into empty space during the fight.
The team was forced apart.
The Battle Begins
Natasha stood free as a chain injured the spot she vacated before it. Waste matter rushed past her as a strong blast hit her position. She needed several seconds to escape but yet another chain burst toward her legs.
She cut through the blade which reacted with a sharp metallic sound.
As Alison reacted first he blocked each attack from the Guardian that moved towards him. But the Guardian wasn't idle.
The creature emitted a deep sound as it reached out its fanged fingers towards him. The spectral warriors arose from darkness bringing back deceased souls whose bodies had been damaged by the process.
Alison fought back another attack with all his determination as another blade tried to catch him from the side.
The crumbling battlefield between them saw Dren dodge a moving chain as his powerful arms lit up. He punched the earth and the impact rippled throughout the floor.
The links broke into fragments yet the Guardian did not stop.
The Guardian was relentless.
Her magic shot out uncontrollably as Ira fired the bolt. When the Guardian's body met the spell it absorbed the strike into its dark energies.
Her eyes widened in horror.
"It's absorbing my magic!"
Eldric commanded his team to attack simultaneously when he shouted above the storm.
"We need to work together! Hit it at once!"
Natasha didn't hesitate.
"On my mark—NOW!"
With a fast move Alison pushed electrical energy into the air.
Dren unleashed a ground-shattering punch.
Ira sent all her magical powers directly toward the Guardian.
Eldric rushed toward the Guardian setting his blades for the heart strike.
Their attacks collided—
For the very first time the Guardian lost its balance.
Its darkness trembled as its physical appearance wavered briefly.
In an immediate burst Natasha rushed ahead with her sword ready for the final strike
But then—
The Guardian released a powerful sound from its throat.
Darkness exploded outward.
The battlefield vanished.
The World of Pure Darkness
Natasha gasped.
She could see nothing.
Everything was black.
The endless darkness pushed down upon her body and turned her skin numb.
She couldn't hear the others.
She couldn't see them.
Was she alone?
A voice murmured next to her ear.
"You will never leave."
Her breath hitched.
Then, another whisper—Alison's voice. "Natasha? Are you there?"
She exhaled sharply. They were still here.
But they couldn't see.
The Guardian used its final power to make everyone on the team lose their sight.
The empty space let out a quiet searching noise.
The battle wasn't over.