The Journey of Anaya

Chapter 98: The Battle Begins

The Journey of Anaya
Chapter 98: The Battle Begins

The dark creatures that emerged from the walls were like nothing Anaya had ever seen before. Their forms were fluid, shifting and twisting in the dim light, their eyes glowing with malevolent energy. Each one seemed to move independently, yet there was an eerie coordination to their movements, as though they were all connected to a single, dark consciousness.

Anaya's heart raced as she gripped her sword tighter. She felt the cold chill of fear creeping into her bones, but there was no time to hesitate. The creatures were closing in, and she could hear the low growls rumbling from their throats.

"Stay together!" she shouted, glancing at her companions. "Don't let them surround us!"

Shanaya was already in motion, her blade flashing in the dim light as she charged at one of the creatures. With a swift, fluid motion, she brought her sword down, slicing through the shadowy figure. But instead of falling, the creature simply reformed, its body twisting back into shape as though the attack had no effect.

"They're not real," Shanaya said, frustration clear in her voice. "They're made of shadows."

Anaya cursed under her breath. The creatures weren't physical, which meant that ordinary weapons wouldn't be enough to defeat them. They needed magic, something that could dispel the darkness.

"Use your magic!" Anaya called out, focusing her own energy. She raised her hand, summoning a wave of light that surged forward, striking the nearest creature. This time, the shadowy form recoiled, its dark energy dissipating as the light engulfed it.

The creature let out a shriek before dissolving into nothingness, and Anaya felt a surge of hope. They could be defeated.

"Light magic works!" she shouted to the others. "Use whatever magic you have—it's the only way to stop them."

Ayaan was quick to respond, raising his hand to conjure a barrier of glowing energy around the group, keeping the creatures at bay. Rahi followed suit, summoning bolts of light that shot through the air, striking the creatures and causing them to dissolve into wisps of smoke.

But for every creature they destroyed, two more seemed to take its place. The fortress was alive with dark energy, feeding the shadows and strengthening them with each passing moment. Anaya could feel the oppressive force pressing down on her, and she knew they couldn't keep this up for long.

"There's too many of them," Ayaan grunted as he unleashed another blast of light. His face was pale, and beads of sweat dripped down his forehead. "We need to find a way to stop this at the source."

Anaya's eyes darted toward the altar at the center of the room, where the dark figure still stood, watching them with a twisted smile. It hadn't moved since the battle began, as though it was content to let the shadows do its bidding. The dark energy in the room seemed to radiate from the altar itself, and Anaya realized that the figure was the key.

"We have to destroy the altar!" Anaya shouted, pointing toward the center of the chamber. "That's where the dark magic is coming from!"

Shanaya nodded, her eyes narrowing with determination. "I'll cover you. Go!"

Without hesitation, Anaya sprinted toward the altar, her magic surging through her veins as she prepared to unleash everything she had. The shadows lunged at her, but Shanaya was there, cutting them down with swift, precise strikes, her blade glowing with faint light as she infused it with magic.

Anaya reached the altar and raised her sword, ready to strike at the dark stone, but before she could land the blow, the figure on the altar moved. Its hand shot out, grabbing her wrist with an iron grip, and the force of it sent a shockwave of dark energy through her body.

"You think you can stop me?" the figure hissed, its eyes glowing with malice. "You are nothing compared to the power I possess."

Anaya gritted her teeth, struggling against the figure's grip. She could feel the dark energy pulsing through her, trying to sap her strength, but she fought back, summoning every ounce of light magic she had. With a cry, she channeled the energy into her sword, sending a surge of pure light through the blade and into the figure.

The dark figure let out a blood-curdling scream as the light engulfed it, its grip loosening on Anaya's wrist. She pulled free, stumbling back as the figure's form began to disintegrate, its body dissolving into ash and smoke.

But even as the figure was destroyed, the dark energy in the room didn't dissipate. The shadows still writhed around them, and the fortress walls seemed to tremble as the dark magic continued to surge.

"It’s not enough!" Ayaan shouted, his voice strained. "The altar is still channeling the magic!"

Anaya turned her attention back to the altar. The dark figure might be gone, but the stone was still pulsing with energy, the symbols on its surface glowing with a sickly light. She knew what she had to do.

Summoning all of her remaining strength, Anaya raised her sword once more and plunged it into the heart of the altar. The impact sent a shockwave of energy through the room, and the ground beneath their feet shook violently. Cracks began to form in the stone, and the glow of the symbols flickered, growing weaker with each passing second.

"Get back!" Anaya shouted, retreating from the altar as the cracks spread. The others followed suit, moving toward the far end of the chamber as the altar began to collapse in on itself, the dark energy imploding with a deafening roar.

The shadows screamed as the dark magic was sucked back into the altar, their forms dissolving into nothingness. The oppressive weight in the air lifted, and for the first time since they had entered the fortress, Anaya felt like she could breathe again.

As the dust settled, the room was plunged into silence. The altar was nothing more than a pile of rubble, and the dark energy that had filled the fortress was gone.

"We did it," Rahi said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Anaya nodded, her body trembling with exhaustion. "For now," she said, her voice hoarse. "But this isn’t over. Whatever was controlling this place… it’s still out there."

Shanaya sheathed her sword, her expression grim. "Then we find it, and we end this once and for all."

To be continued ✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️

Byyyyyy
Have a nice day 👍😊