As they marveled at the awe-inspiring sight, a sudden text and timer appeared in front of them, startling the trio.
"Congratulations on reaching the third stage of the tomb. You have two hours to cultivate within this sacred realm. Make the most of this opportunity to strengthen your elemental affinities and grasp the essence of your chosen elements."
Yara blinked in surprise. "Two hours? That's not much time to cultivate in such a place of boundless energy."
Eryx nodded, his expression serious. "We must focus and utilize every moment wisely. This is an extraordinary chance to deepen our understanding of our elemental powers."
Eryx clenched his fists, ready to seize the opportunity. "Time is of the essence. We must cultivate with unwavering focus and dedication."
With a shared understanding, the trio split up, each entering their respective elemental sections.
Alix stepped into the fire section, feeling the heat embrace him as flames danced around his body. He closed his eyes, centering his mind and tapping into the vast well of fire energy present in this realm. He allowed the flames to guide him, deepening his connection to his fiery bloodline.
Yara submerged himself in the water section, the gentle lapping of waves soothing his spirit. He focused on merging his consciousness with the ebb and flow of water, immersing himself in its fluidity and adaptability. He absorbed the wisdom of the water element, refining his control over its power.
Eryx ascended into the sky section, where winds whispered secrets and clouds billowed with untamed energy. He spread his arms wide, embracing the currents that surrounded him. He honed his senses, allowing the lightning-fast movements of the wind to sharpen his lightning affinity, unlocking new depths of speed and agility.
The timer counted down, reminding them of the fleeting nature of their opportunity. The trio poured their heart and soul into their cultivation, their determination unwavering. Time seemed to warp within the sacred realm, each second feeling like an eternity, yet the hours slipping by like mere minutes.
As the two-hour mark approached, they could feel the energies of the cultivation world beginning to wane. The landscapes around them dimmed slightly, signaling that their time was running out.
With the last few moments, Alix, Yara, and Eryx released their most powerful techniques, pushing the boundaries of their elemental powers to the very limit. The cultivation world responded, amplifying their efforts in one final surge of energy.
As the timer reached zero, a brilliant burst of light enveloped them once more. They found themselves back in the waiting room, their bodies glowing with the lingering energy of the cultivation world.
Yara gasped for breath, his body drenched in water. "That was incredible. I feel like I've unlocked new possibilities with water cultivation."
Eryx's eyes crackled with electricity. "Me too. The lightning energy in that place was unlike anything I've ever experienced. I have a deeper understanding of my affinity now."
Alix's fiery aura blazed brightly. "This place has given me a glimpse of the true power of my bloodline. It feels like I've tapped into something even greater than before."
As the three of them caught their breath and discussed their experiences, the room suddenly started shaking, causing them to stumble and grab onto each other for support.
"What's happening?" Eryx exclaimed, glancing around in alarm.
Before anyone could respond, a door materialized at the far end of the room. It was unlike any other door they had encountered so far. It exuded an eerie darkness, as if leading to an abyss. They exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what awaited them on the other side.
Yara's voice quivered slightly. "I... I don't think we've encountered a door like this before. It feels... ominous."
Alix nodded, a serious expression on his face. "Agreed. We've faced challenges in the previous stages, but this one feels different. I can sense a malevolent presence beyond that door."
Yara raised an eyebrow. "This door looks different from the others. What could be on the other side?"
Eryx's hand hovered over the doorknob. "There's only one way to find out."
With a determined nod, Eryx pushed the door open. The moment the door creaked open, a chilling gust of wind swept through, sending shivers down their spines. Beyond the door was an abyss of darkness, an empty void devoid of any light.
Alix squinted, trying to peer into the darkness. "I can't see anything. What could be in there?"
Yara's voice quivered slightly. "I have a bad feeling about this. Whatever's on the other side, it seems foreboding."
Eryx took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever lay ahead. "We've come this far together. Let's face whatever challenges await us as a team."
With unwavering resolve, the three stepped through the threshold, entering the dark void beyond the door. As they moved forward, the darkness seemed to engulf them, and their surroundings became increasingly obscure.
In the distance, faint whispers echoed through the void, sending chills down their spines. As they pressed on, the darkness seemed to take on an eerie life of its own, coalescing into shadowy forms that darted at the edge of their vision.
Suddenly, a pair of glowing, crimson eyes appeared in front of them, piercing the darkness like beacons of malevolence. The darkness seemed to gather around the eyes, taking shape and forming a monstrous creature—a massive, dark serpent with wings that spanned the abyss.
The creature's voice reverberated through the void, a chilling sound that sent shivers down their spines. "Welcome, intruders, to the domain of shadows. I am the guardian of this tomb, the embodiment of darkness and despair."
Yara's voice trembled, but he stood his ground. "Who are you?"
The creature's eyes narrowed, its presence looming over them. "I am known as Shadowmire, the Keeper of Darkness. None have dared to challenge me and survived."
As Shadowmire spoke, the darkness around him seemed to intensify, making his crimson eyes appear even more sinister. The serpent-like creature, with its obsidian scales glistening in the faint light, coiled itself, revealing its massive twenty-meter-long form, with a cultivation of peak-stage Golden Core Realm.
The trio exchanged surprised glances at the sight of the dark creature before them. They had faced formidable opponents before, but Shadowmire's aura exuded a malevolence unlike anything they had encountered.
Alix's voice was filled with caution as he assessed the situation. "This is bad. From the aura alone, this is the most powerful opponent I've faced so far. We need to be prepared for a fierce battle."
Yara's determination shone through his eyes. "We've come too far to turn back now. Together, we can overcome any challenge, no matter how formidable."
Eryx cracked his knuckles, electricity flickering around his fists. "Let's combine our strengths and elemental affinities. If we work together, we can bring down even the Keeper of Darkness."
Shadowmire's sinister grin widened as he observed their reactions. "Fear not, little warriors. Your fate has been sealed the moment you stepped into this realm of shadows. Prepare to meet your demise."
Yara clenched his fists, his resolve strengthening despite the overwhelming presence before them. "We won't be intimidated. We've faced countless challenges together, and we will face this one as a team."
Eryx's eyes narrowed with determination. "You may be powerful, but we are not backing down. We've come too far to turn back now."
The dark creature lunged forward with terrifying speed, wings unfurling to reveal their full span. The trio sprang into action, their teamwork honed from years of battles. They knew they had to work together seamlessly to have any chance of victory.
Alix, channeling the intensity of his fiery bloodline, shot forward with a burst of speed. His fists became blazing projectiles, each strike creating a trail of fire in the air. He aimed for Shadowmire's head, seeking to blind the creature and exploit its vulnerability.
Yara manipulated water from the very air itself, forming a swirling shield around the trio to defend against the creature's attacks. Water tendrils emerged from the shield, coiling around Shadowmire's wings, attempting to restrict its movement.
Eryx zipped around the battlefield like a bolt of lightning, seeking the creature's blind spots. He launched lightning-infused attacks at its body, trying to destabilize the dark serpent.
But Shadowmire was no ordinary opponent. He seemed to anticipate their every move, countering with dark tendrils that snaked through the void, attempting to ensnare the trio.
The battle raged on, each attack met with a countermove from the Keeper of Darkness. The trio's teamwork and determination were put to the test as they dodged, blocked, and retaliated against the relentless onslaught of the dark serpent.
Yara, with his water affinity, focused on supporting his teammates. He summoned water arrows with his bow, each imbued with the water element's freezing power. He shot the arrows at Shadowmire's dark tendrils, attempting to freeze and shatter them, providing a brief opening for Alix and Eryx to strike.
Alix's fiery fists continued to blaze, leaving trails of fire as he maneuvered around the battlefield. He targeted Shadowmire's wings, trying to hamper its flight speed and limit its aerial advantage. His fiery strikes clashed with Shadowmire's darkness, creating dazzling displays of light and shadows.
Eryx, using his lightning agility, darted through the dark tendrils and struck at the creature's flank. Each lightning-charged punch crackled with power, sending sparks of electricity through Shadowmire's obsidian scales.
But the dark serpent's defenses seemed impenetrable. The trio's attacks merely scratched the surface of its formidable power. It retaliated with powerful strikes of its own, creating shockwaves that rippled through the void.
Yara summoned a swirling water vortex around them, creating a temporary safe zone amidst the chaos. "We need to find a weakness!" he called out, his voice determined.
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