The final gate loomed before Jin Long and Yue Lan, its surface pulsing with a deep, ominous red. The air was heavy, thick with an oppressive energy that pressed down on them like a crushing weight. The eerie silence was only broken by the occasional echo of Zhan Wuhen's haunting laughter, a chilling reminder of the darkness that awaited them.
Yue Lan took a deep breath, steadying herself. "This is it," she said, her eyes fixed on the gate. "Once we step through, there's no turning back."
Jin Long nodded, his jaw clenched. "We're ready. Whatever Zhan Wuhen has planned, we'll face it together."
Together, they placed their hands on the gate. The red light intensified, and the ground beneath them rumbled as the gate began to open. Shadows spilled forth like a flood, enveloping them both in a torrent of dark energy.
For a moment, there was nothing but darkness—a void that seemed to stretch on forever. Then, the shadows parted, revealing a vast, desolate landscape.
Jin Long's breath caught in his throat. They stood atop a jagged cliff, overlooking an abyss filled with swirling black mist. The sky was a deep crimson, as though the heavens themselves were bleeding. Far below, rivers of molten lava flowed like veins of fire, and in the distance, a colossal fortress towered over the abyss—a fortress shrouded in darkness.
"That's it," Yue Lan whispered. "The Heart of the Void."
Jin Long's eyes narrowed. "Zhan Wuhen is there. Waiting for us."
A gust of wind howled through the abyss, carrying with it a chorus of anguished screams. The ground shook, and from the depths of the abyss, dark figures began to rise—shadowy wraiths with hollow, glowing eyes. They hovered in the air, their voices a cacophony of whispers that echoed in Jin Long's mind.
"Power is nothing but a curse," the wraiths chanted. "The Core will consume you."
Jin Long raised his sword, its blade shining with the energy of the Genesis Core. "Stay behind me, Yue Lan. This is my fight."
Yue Lan stepped forward, her eyes fierce. "No. We're in this together."
Before Jin Long could protest, the wraiths lunged at them, their claws swiping through the air. Jin Long slashed through them, each strike releasing bursts of radiant energy that burned the shadows away. Yue Lan spun, her hands weaving intricate patterns as she unleashed waves of blinding light that dispersed the wraiths like smoke.
But for every wraith they destroyed, two more rose from the abyss, their forms growing larger and more menacing. The ground quaked violently, and the abyss seemed to ripple as if it were alive.
"Jin Long!" Yue Lan shouted, pointing to the fortress. "The closer we get, the stronger they become!"
Jin Long gritted his teeth. "Then we need to end this quickly."
They sprinted forward, leaping from rock to rock as the abyss trembled beneath them. The fortress loomed ever closer, its towering gates adorned with dark, runic symbols that pulsed with malevolent energy.
A deafening roar echoed through the air. Jin Long skidded to a stop as a massive, armored beast rose from the abyss. It was a dragon, its scales pitch black and its eyes glowing with the same crimson light as the gate. Its jaws opened, releasing a torrent of dark flames that engulfed the path ahead.
Yue Lan gasped, raising a shield of light to protect them. "Zhan Wuhen is throwing everything at us!"
Jin Long's eyes blazed as he stepped forward, his sword crackling with the power of the Core. "Then it's time to show him what we're made of."
The dragon roared again, its massive wings beating the air as it charged toward them. Jin Long leaped forward, his sword flashing like a comet as he slashed at the dragon's maw. The blade connected, releasing a burst of energy that sent the dragon reeling back.
Yue Lan moved swiftly, weaving light and fire into a spear that she hurled at the dragon's chest. The spear struck true, piercing the dragon's armor and releasing a shockwave of radiant energy.
The dragon roared in pain, dark flames spewing from its wounds. But it wasn't finished. With a final, furious roar, it lunged forward, its claws aimed directly at Yue Lan.
"Yue Lan!" Jin Long shouted, sprinting toward her.
But before he could reach her, a dark figure appeared in a flash of black smoke. Zhan Wuhen. His crimson eyes gleamed as he intercepted the dragon's attack with a single, effortless swipe of his hand. The dragon howled in agony before disintegrating into shadowy mist.
Zhan Wuhen lowered his hand, his gaze fixed on Jin Long. "You've come far," he said, his voice smooth yet dripping with malice. "But power alone will not save you."
Jin Long's grip tightened on his sword. "This ends now, Zhan Wuhen."
Zhan Wuhen's smile widened. "Oh, it will end. But not in the way you think."
Before Jin Long could react, Zhan Wuhen raised his hand, and the abyss below them surged with dark energy. The ground cracked and split, and from the abyss, chains of black lightning erupted, wrapping around Jin Long and Yue Lan, binding them in place.
Jin Long struggled, but the chains tightened, sapping his strength. The Genesis Core pulsed within him, but its energy felt distant, unreachable.
Zhan Wuhen stepped forward, his eyes glowing with a sinister light. "The Core is not yours to wield, Jin Long. It belongs to the Void."
Jin Long gritted his teeth, his gaze defiant. "I will never let you have it!"
Zhan Wuhen leaned closer, his face inches from Jin Long's. "You don't have a choice."
With a flick of his wrist, Zhan Wuhen unleashed a wave of dark energy that engulfed them both. The world around them dissolved into darkness, and Jin Long's vision faded as a sinister, echoing laugh filled the void.