The chamber erupted in chaos as the masked man unleashed a wave of dark energy. The walls trembled, ancient carvings glowing ominously as though feeding off the violent magic. Kaelen and Sigrid darted to opposite sides of the room, avoiding the initial blast.

Kaelen lunged first, his sword cutting a golden arc through the air. The blade clashed against the man’s barrier, creating a deafening sound that echoed through the ruins. The force sent Kaelen sliding back, but he recovered quickly, his eyes burning brighter as the power of the ancient hunter within him surged.

Sigrid raised her hand, whispering an incantation. A pale blue light spiraled from her fingertips, forming a lance of frost that she hurled at the masked figure. The frost exploded against his barrier, crackling and spreading, but it wasn’t enough to break through.

"You’ll have to do better than that," the man mocked, his voice carrying an unnatural resonance.

"How about this?" Kaelen snarled, charging forward again. This time, his blade pulsed with an intensity that sent a shockwave rippling through the room. The barrier cracked under the force, and the man staggered slightly, his confidence wavering.

Sigrid seized the moment, drawing her daggers. One was enchanted with runes that glowed faintly, the other crafted from pure silver. She moved swiftly, her strikes precise as she aimed for the weak points in the man’s defense.

But the Keeper was no ordinary foe. With a wave of his hand, the chains around the crystal came to life, lashing out like serpents. One wrapped around Sigrid’s arm, pulling her off balance, while another snapped toward Kaelen. He dodged, grabbing the chain mid-air and yanking it hard, pulling the masked man slightly off his feet.

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"You’re annoying," the man hissed, his tone venomous.

"Good," Kaelen shot back, driving his sword toward him. This time, the blade pierced through the barrier entirely, grazing the man’s shoulder. He howled in pain, dark energy leaking from the wound like liquid shadow.

Sigrid used the distraction to free herself, slicing through the chain with her rune-enchanted dagger. "Focus on the crystal!" she called to Kaelen. "If we destroy it, his power might collapse!"

"On it!" Kaelen replied, sidestepping another strike from the chains. He turned his focus to the glowing artifact, but the masked man wasn’t about to let them succeed.

"You think you can destroy this?!" the man roared, raising both hands. The room shook violently, and tendrils of darkness erupted from the ground, aiming to ensnare them.

Kaelen’s golden aura flared, and he smashed his sword into the ground, releasing a wave of energy that disrupted the tendrils. "Sigrid, cover me!"

Sigrid nodded, her hands weaving another spell. This time, she summoned a barrier of her own, a shimmering dome of frost that deflected the Keeper’s attacks. "Make it fast!"

Kaelen sprinted toward the crystal, his sword glowing brighter with each step. As he raised the blade, the energy from the ancient hunter within him seemed to merge with it, forming a brilliant golden flame.

The Keeper screamed, his voice a mix of rage and desperation. "No! You’ll doom us all!"

"Good," Kaelen growled, bringing the blade down.

The sword connected with the crystal, and the room exploded in a blinding flash of light. A shockwave rippled outward, shattering the chains and throwing everyone backward. When the light faded, the crystal was gone, and the chamber was silent.

The masked man lay on the ground, his mask cracked and his body weak. Without the crystal, his power had faded, leaving him vulnerable. Sigrid approached cautiously, her daggers ready.

Kaelen stood, his sword still glowing faintly. "What now?" he asked, his voice steady but tired.

"We question him," Sigrid said coldly, kicking the mask off his face. Beneath it was a pale, gaunt man with eyes that burned with hatred despite his defeat.

"You fools," he spat, blood dripping from his mouth. "You’ve unleashed what you cannot control."

Kaelen exchanged a glance with Sigrid, both of them understanding the weight of his words. Whatever they had destroyed, it wasn’t the end—it was the beginning of something far worse.