Chapter 38 - Chapter 38 Confrontation in the Temple and Dark Revelations

Jack's grip on his bronze sword tightened at the sight of the silver - haired woman. The Chaos Orb within him flared, as if sensing the danger that radiated from her, despite her seemingly elegant appearance. "Who are you? And what do you want with the shard?" he demanded, his voice echoing through the ancient temple.​The woman smiled, a cold and mirthless expression that didn't reach her eyes. "I am Selene, and the shard is but a means to an end. You see, the Gate of Oblivion has been sealed for far too long. It's time to unleash the power that lies beyond, to reshape this world in the image of true darkness."​The Keeper stepped forward, her short sword at the ready. "You're mad if you think we'll let you do that. The Gate was sealed for a reason - to protect our world from unspeakable horrors."​Selene let out a mocking laugh. "Protect? Your so - called protection has only delayed the inevitable. The power of the abyss is the future, and those who stand in its way will be crushed." As she spoke, the hooded figures around the altar began to chant louder, their voices rising in an eerie crescendo. The black shard on the altar pulsed with an intense, malevolent light, and the air around it grew thick with dark energy.​Jack could feel the pressure of the dark energy pressing down on him, but he refused to back down. He channeled the power of the Chaos Orb, feeling its chaotic energy coursing through his veins. "You won't get away with this," he growled.​With a wave of her hand, Selene summoned a horde of shadowy creatures from the depths of the temple. They swarmed towards Jack and his allies, their claws outstretched and mouths foaming with darkness. Jack charged forward, his sword cutting through the air in a blur of multicolored light. Each strike incinerated the shadowy creatures, but for every one he destroyed, two more seemed to take its place.​The Keeper fought beside him, her ice - blue energy creating a path of destruction through the enemy ranks. The Mysterious Yin Alliance disciples held their ground, their weapons flashing as they defended against the onslaught. But the tide of the battle was turning against them. The dark energy in the temple was growing stronger, feeding off the power of the chanting hooded figures and the black shard.​As Jack fought, he noticed something strange. The symbols on the walls of the temple, which had been hidden beneath layers of dust and vines, were beginning to glow. They were the same symbols that had appeared when he first touched the black shard, and they seemed to be connected to the dark energy in the room.​"Elder Li once told me about ancient temples like this," Jack shouted to the Keeper between attacks. "They were built not just to guard the gate, but also to contain the power within. I think these symbols are the key to stopping them!"​The Keeper nodded. "Then find a way to use them! I'll cover you!" She unleashed a powerful blast of ice - blue energy, creating a temporary barrier that held back the shadowy creatures.​Jack darted towards the nearest wall, his eyes fixed on the glowing symbols. He placed his hand on the stone, channeling the power of the Chaos Orb into the ancient carvings. At first, nothing happened. But then, the symbols began to shift and change, forming a new pattern. A surge of energy coursed through Jack's body, and he felt a connection to the temple itself.​The black shard on the altar let out a piercing shriek, and the hooded figures stopped chanting. Selene's eyes widened in surprise and anger. "What are you doing?" she screamed.​Jack didn't answer. Instead, he focused all his energy on the symbols, using the power of the Chaos Orb to reverse the flow of dark energy in the temple. The shadowy creatures began to dissolve, and the pressure of the dark energy lifted.​But Selene was not defeated yet. With a final act of desperation, she grabbed the black shard from the altar and plunged it into her chest. A blinding flash of dark light filled the temple, and when it cleared, Selene had transformed. Her body was now a mass of writhing darkness, and her eyes glowed with an otherworldly power.​"Now, you will truly face the power of the abyss!" she roared, her voice a discordant symphony of a thousand screams.