The ground shook violently beneath Ji-ho’s feet as she darted toward the glowing crack, her heart pounding in her chest. The oppressive energy emanating from the shadow seemed to grow stronger with every step, as if it was feeding off the mountain itself. Behind her, she could hear the clang of weapons and the grunts of Hwan and Elysia as they fended off the dark entity, buying her time.
— Hurry! — Hwan’s voice rang out, strained from the effort of holding the creature at bay.
Ji-ho’s mind raced as she reached the edge of the crack. The light from the fissure pulsed with an otherworldly glow, casting eerie shadows across the jagged rocks. The connection between the mountain and the shadow felt palpable, like a thread she could almost see. If she could find the source of the power and disrupt it, they might stand a chance.
— There has to be a marker here, — Ji-ho muttered to herself, scanning the area. — There’s always a marker.
But as her eyes darted around the foggy terrain, there was no sign of the stone markers they had encountered before. Just the crack in the ground, glowing faintly and pulsing in time with the shadow’s movements. The shadow itself seemed to be tethered to the earth by this energy—twisted, ancient, and powerful beyond anything they had faced.
— Found anything? — Elysia called out breathlessly, dodging another swipe from the shadow’s claws.
— Not yet! — Ji-ho shouted back, her frustration mounting. She could feel the pressure building, the weight of the task pressing down on her.
Suddenly, the memory of the scrolls from the temple flashed in her mind—the ones that had detailed the original guardians of the mountains and their power. One phrase echoed in her mind: "The earth remembers." The mountain was alive, not just a place but a being with its own will. The markers had always been physical representations of this ancient will, but here, at the heart of the mountain, there might not be a physical marker at all.
— We have to reach the core of the mountain’s power! — Ji-ho called out, her voice filled with urgency. — It’s not a marker this time. The mountain itself is the source!
Hwan, still battling the shadow, turned toward her. — And how do we access it?
Ji-ho stared into the glowing crack. — We go in.
— In? — Elysia glanced at the fissure skeptically. — You want us to jump into the glowing death crack? That’s your big plan?
Ji-ho nodded, her mind made up. — It’s the only way. The mountain is alive—it’s calling to us. We have to go to the source.
— She’s lost it, — Elysia muttered, though there was no time for debate.
Another roar from the shadow sent a fresh wave of darkness rolling toward them, and Hwan barely managed to deflect the brunt of it with his sword. — If you’re right, Ji-ho, now’s the time. Do it!
Without hesitation, Ji-ho leaped into the fissure, her heart racing as she plunged into the glowing light. For a moment, there was nothing but a rush of energy, like diving into a river of pure power. The light surrounded her, pulsing with the heartbeat of the mountain. She felt weightless, suspended in time as she descended deeper into the core of the earth.
The energy was overwhelming, ancient and vast, but there was also a familiarity to it—a recognition. The mountain had been watching them all along, guiding them to this moment. Ji-ho could feel it now, the pulse of the mountain's heart calling out to her, as if it had been waiting for someone to listen.
And then, just as suddenly as she had fallen, her feet touched solid ground again.
Ji-ho found herself in a vast underground chamber, the walls glowing faintly with the same light from the fissure above. In the center of the room was a massive stone altar, intricately carved with symbols she recognized from the scrolls. The energy here was stronger than anywhere else, pulsing with the power of the mountain itself.
— This is it, — she whispered to herself. — The heart of the mountain.
Above her, she could hear the battle still raging. She had no idea how much time she had, but she knew she had to act fast. Ji-ho approached the altar, her fingers tracing the ancient symbols. The power hummed beneath her skin, responding to her touch. She felt it resonating with the core of her being, as if she had been part of this place all along.
Closing her eyes, Ji-ho focused on the energy, reaching out with her mind to connect with the mountain’s will. The power surged through her, filling her with a sense of purpose. This was what the mountain had been waiting for—for someone to awaken its true power and restore the balance.
— I’m here, — Ji-ho whispered. — Show me what to do.
The response was immediate. The symbols on the altar began to glow brighter, and Ji-ho felt the energy shifting, aligning itself with her will. She could feel the shadow’s presence above, feeding off the mountain’s corruption, but now she understood. The shadow wasn’t the mountain—it was a parasite, something that had invaded this sacred place and twisted its power.
Ji-ho raised her hand, channeling the mountain’s energy through her. — I won’t let you take this place, — she said, her voice steady with newfound strength.
The light from the altar flared, bright and blinding. Ji-ho could feel the power flowing through her, stronger than anything she had ever felt. The mountain’s will surged within her, and she directed it toward the shadow, willing it to be cleansed.
Above, she could hear the shadow roar in pain as the light pierced through the darkness, driving it back. The ground trembled once more, but this time, it was different. The mountain was fighting back, reclaiming its power from the corruption that had taken hold.
Ji-ho gritted her teeth, focusing all of her energy on the task at hand. The shadow fought against her, but she didn’t back down. She wouldn’t let this place fall. Not after everything they had been through.
And then, with one final surge of power, the shadow shattered.
The darkness dissipated, leaving only the faint glow of the mountain’s energy behind. The ground stopped shaking, and the oppressive weight lifted from the air. Ji-ho opened her eyes, breathing heavily as she looked around the now-silent chamber.
It was over.
For now.