The statue of the Weeping Angel loomed before Yome and Elara, its pristine white stone glowing softly in the pale light of the mountains. The serene beauty of the statue was almost hypnotic, the gentle flow of water from the angel's eyes creating a soothing, rhythmic sound as it trickled into the pool below. For a moment, the duo stood in awe, feeling the weight of history and sorrow that seemed to emanate from the monument.

Yome, still kneeling by the pool, looked up at Elara, his voice filled with wonder. "This place… it feels so peaceful, but there's something else too. Like… like it's hiding something."

Elara nodded, her eyes narrowing as she studied the statue more closely. "I feel it too. There's a power here, something ancient and powerful, but… there's also a darkness. It's almost like the statue is… cursed."

As if in response to her words, the air around them suddenly grew colder, the gentle trickling of the water slowing to a halt. The once serene atmosphere became thick with tension, and the light that had softly illuminated the statue began to dim, casting long, ominous shadows across the rocky ground.

"Elara," Yome said, his voice low and cautious, "something's not right."

Elara's hand instinctively went to the hilt of her sword, her senses on high alert. "Be ready, Yome. I think we're about to find out what this statue is really hiding."

As they watched, the statue of the angel began to tremble, small cracks appearing along its surface. The serene expression on the angel's face twisted into one of agony, and the tears that had flowed so gently from its eyes turned black as pitch. The water in the pool darkened, the surface rippling as if something beneath it was stirring.

Then, with a deafening crack, the statue shattered, the pieces flying outward as if propelled by some unseen force. Yome and Elara shielded themselves from the debris, but when they looked up, their eyes widened in horror at what stood before them.

From the remains of the statue emerged a towering figure, its form twisted and grotesque. The creature was vaguely humanoid but with jagged, obsidian-black wings that jutted out from its back like shards of glass. Its skin was the color of ash, and its eyes burned with a malevolent red glow. The air around it was thick with a suffocating darkness, and the very ground seemed to tremble beneath its feet.

Yome's heart raced as he took in the sight of the creature. "What… what is that?"

Elara's voice was steady, but there was an edge of urgency. "It's a demon, Yome. We have to destroy it!"

The demon let out a bone-chilling roar, shaking the ground beneath their feet. It fixed its glowing eyes on the duo, and with a swift motion, it lunged at them, its claws slashing through the air with terrifying speed.

Yome reacted instinctively, summoning a Gale Barrier to shield them. The demon's claws struck the barrier with immense force, sending shockwaves through the air, but the wind shield held strong.

"Elara, we need to weaken it!" Yome shouted, his voice strained as he struggled to maintain the barrier.

Elara wasted no time, channeling her mana into her sword. The blade ignited with flames as she unleashed Flame Burst at the demon. The fiery attack struck the creature's chest, causing it to roar in pain as the flames scorched its flesh.

But the demon was far from defeated. It retaliated with a blast of dark energy, forcing Yome to pour more mana into the barrier to withstand the impact. The strain was immense, and Yome could feel his mana reserves dwindling.

"This thing is too strong!" Yome grunted. "I can't hold this much longer!"

Elara knew they needed to act fast. "I'll try to break its defenses. You focus on supporting me—just keep that barrier up!"

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Yome nodded, knowing that his wind magic was their best defense against the demon's relentless attacks. He couldn't use Echo of the Fallen—the demon's dark energy was incompatible with his wind-based grimoire. Instead, he concentrated on maintaining the Gale Barrier and using Wind Step to increase his speed and agility, dodging the demon's strikes while keeping Elara protected.

Elara charged forward, her sword blazing with fiery energy as she struck at the demon with a powerful Inferno Strike. The flames erupted from her blade, slashing across the demon's torso and leaving a trail of molten slag in its wake. The demon howled in fury, but it wasn't enough to bring it down.

"We need more power!" Elara shouted, her voice filled with determination. "I'm going to use the gem!"

Yome's eyes widened. "Elara, are you sure? That's going to drain you completely!"

Elara didn't hesitate. "We don't have a choice! This thing won't go down unless we hit it with everything we've got!"

With a deep breath, Elara activated Dragon's Wrath. The red gem in her necklace flared to life, the energy within it surging through her body like a tidal wave. In an instant, the dragon armor enveloped her once more, its scales glowing with a fiery light. Her sword, now infused with the power of the dragon, pulsed with raw energy.

The demon, sensing the sudden increase in power, lashed out with its claws, aiming to crush Elara before she could strike. But Yome, quick on his feet, used Wind Step to intercept the attack, redirecting the force of the blow with a gust of wind. The maneuver left him winded, but it gave Elara the opening she needed.

With a roar of determination, Elara unleashed a Heat Wave, the intense flames sweeping across the battlefield and slamming into the demon with overwhelming force. The firestorm melted the demon's obsidian scales, exposing the vulnerable flesh beneath. The demon shrieked in agony, its body writhing as the flames consumed it.

But the demon wasn't finished yet. In a final act of desperation, it summoned all of its remaining dark energy, forming a massive sphere of black flames in its hands. The energy crackled with malevolent power as the demon prepared to unleash its devastating attack.

Elara, her dragon armor glowing brighter than ever, knew this was their last chance. With a fierce battle cry, she charged at the demon, her sword blazing with the combined power of her mana and the dragon's essence.

"Dragon's Fury!" Elara shouted, the flames on her sword erupting into a roaring inferno as she brought the blade down on the demon's head.

The impact was cataclysmic. The flames exploded outward, engulfing the demon and its dark energy in a blinding burst of light. The force of the attack shattered the ground beneath them, sending shockwaves through the mountains. The demon's body disintegrated in the flames, its dark energy consumed by the power of the dragon.

As the light faded, the battlefield fell silent. The demon was gone, reduced to ashes and dust. Elara's dragon armor flickered and then faded away, the red gem in her necklace dimming as the last of its power was spent.

Elara collapsed to her knees, completely drained. "It's… over," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Yome rushed to her side, his own energy nearly spent from maintaining the barrier and supporting her. "Elara! Are you okay?"

Elara managed a weak smile, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "I'll be fine… just… need a moment."

As they caught their breath, a soft, warm light began to emanate from the remains of the statue. The light coalesced into a small, ethereal figure—a spirit, delicate and beautiful, with wings of shimmering light. It floated gently above the ground, its eyes filled with gratitude.

"Thank you," the spirit said, its voice like a gentle breeze. "You have freed me from the curse that bound me. I am the spirit of the Angel of the Wind, once bound to this statue by the Demon King's foul magic. For centuries, I have been trapped, unable to find peace."

Yome and Elara listened in awe as the spirit continued. "For your bravery and strength, I offer you a gift—a token of my gratitude and the blessing of the wind." The spirit extended its hands, and a small, ornate artifact appeared before them—a delicate pendant shaped like a swirling gust of wind, its surface glowing with a soft blue light.

"This Wind Pendant is a rare artifact, imbued with the power of the wind. It will enhance your abilities and protect you on your journey. It also comes with a blessing—your wounds, mana, and equipment are restored."

As the spirit spoke, Yome and Elara felt a wave of energy wash over them. Their fatigue faded, their mana replenished, and their wounds healed. Their equipment, battered from the battle, was restored to pristine condition.

"Thank you!" Yome said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.

The spirit smiled, a serene expression on its face. "You both possess great strength and courage. The road ahead will be difficult, but you are not alone. Carry my blessing with you, and may the winds guide you."

With those final words, the spirit began to fade, its form dissolving into golden particles that drifted into the air. The light of the particles illuminated the area, bringing warmth and peace to the once cursed place.

As the last of the light faded, Yome and Elara stood together, feeling a renewed sense of purpose and strength.