The altar pulsed beneath Ji-ho’s hand, radiating an ancient, primal energy. It was as if the mountain itself was alive, watching them, weighing their every move. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, focusing on the vibrations running through the stone.
— This is it, — she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rumble of the earth. — The way to the core.
Hwan and Elysia exchanged glances, unsure of what was about to happen but trusting Ji-ho’s instincts. The mountain had already thrown its worst at them, and yet, here they were, still standing. There was no turning back now.
Ji-ho’s fingers tightened around the edge of the altar, and with a deep exhale, she focused her energy. The stone began to glow, faint at first, then brighter, illuminating the dark ruins around them. The light was warm, a sharp contrast to the cold and menacing atmosphere of the mountain’s wrath. For a brief moment, the tremors stopped, as if the mountain itself was holding its breath.
— Are you sure about this? — Hwan asked, his voice laced with concern.
Ji-ho didn’t answer immediately. Her mind was racing, piecing together the visions she had seen when she touched the altar. The mountain’s core wasn’t just a place—it was a prison. A prison for the souls that had been taken, including her parents. And now, they had to free them.
— We have no other choice, — Ji-ho finally said, meeting Hwan’s gaze. — We have to free the souls. If we don’t, the mountain will destroy everything.
Elysia stepped forward, her brow furrowed in thought.
— If we go into the core, what happens to us? I mean, we’re talking about the mountain’s heart here. It’s not exactly friendly territory.
Ji-ho’s resolve hardened. She knew the risks, but this wasn’t just about them anymore. It was about the countless lives that had been trapped by the mountain’s power, including her parents.
— We’ll figure it out, — Ji-ho said, her voice stronger now. — But we have to try. If we don’t, we lose everything.
Hwan nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He had always been by Ji-ho’s side, through every challenge, every battle. He wasn’t about to abandon her now.
— Then let’s do this.
Ji-ho took a deep breath and channeled her energy into the altar once more. The stone glowed even brighter, and a soft humming filled the air, as if the mountain itself was awakening to their presence. The ground beneath them began to shift, the stones rearranging themselves to reveal a hidden pathway—a narrow, spiraling staircase leading deep into the heart of the mountain.
— That’s it, — Elysia breathed, her eyes wide with awe.
— It’s the only way down, — Ji-ho confirmed, stepping toward the entrance. — Stay close. We don’t know what’s waiting for us down there.
The descent was slow, the staircase winding deeper and deeper into the earth. The air grew colder with each step, the oppressive weight of the mountain pressing down on them. Ji-ho kept her focus, guiding them through the darkness with the light from the altar still glowing faintly at her fingertips.
— I don’t like this, — Hwan muttered, glancing around the narrow passage. — It feels too quiet.
Elysia nodded in agreement, her usual bravado nowhere to be found.
— Yeah, like we’re walking into a trap.
Ji-ho knew they were right to be cautious. The mountain had been furious just moments ago, and now there was only silence. It was unsettling, but they had no choice. They had to keep moving.
As they descended, Ji-ho began to feel a strange pull in her chest, like an invisible force guiding her forward. It was the same feeling she had when she touched the altar—an ancient, powerful energy calling to her. She knew they were getting closer.
— We’re almost there, — she whispered.
The staircase finally ended in a large cavern, its walls glowing with a soft, eerie light. In the center of the cavern stood a massive stone structure, ancient symbols carved into its surface. The air was thick with power, and Ji-ho could feel the presence of the trapped souls, their energy swirling around them like a storm.
— This is it, — she said, stepping toward the structure. — The mountain’s core.
Hwan and Elysia followed her, their eyes scanning the cavern warily. The oppressive energy was almost overwhelming, but Ji-ho pressed on, determined to finish what they had started.
— How do we free them? — Hwan asked, his voice tense.
Ji-ho placed her hand on the stone structure, feeling the energy pulse beneath her fingertips.
— The souls are trapped here, bound by the mountain’s power. If we can break the binding, we can set them free.
Elysia frowned.
— And how exactly do we do that?
Ji-ho’s eyes narrowed as she focused on the ancient symbols carved into the stone. They were old, older than anything she had ever encountered. But there was something familiar about them—something she had seen before in her visions.
— These symbols… they’re the key, — Ji-ho said, her voice filled with certainty. — They represent the balance of life and death, the cycle of the mountain’s power. If we can disrupt the flow, we can break the binding.
Hwan stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
— And if we can’t?
Ji-ho met his gaze, her resolve unshaken.
— Then we don’t leave here alive.
Hwan’s expression softened, and he nodded.
— Let’s do this.
With renewed determination, Ji-ho began tracing the symbols with her fingers, channeling her energy into the stone. The cavern began to shake, the mountain’s power reacting to their presence. The air grew thick with tension as the binding began to unravel.
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed through the cavern, and the ground beneath them trembled violently. The stone structure cracked, releasing a blinding light that filled the cavern. Ji-ho gasped as the energy surged through her, the force nearly knocking her off her feet.
But she held on, determined to free the souls.
— Keep going! — Hwan shouted over the roar.
Ji-ho pushed harder, her energy merging with the mountain’s as she fought to break the final binding. And then, with a final surge of power, the stone structure shattered, releasing a torrent of energy that flooded the cavern.
The trapped souls, once bound by the mountain’s power, were finally free.