Chapter 290

After the Dark Lord disappeared, the pressure permeating the air did not dissipate, but became increasingly heavy, like sticky ink wrapping around everyone.

The holy light released by the Messenger of Light seemed to be swallowed by the darkness, the light weak, adding a bit more strangeness.

Everyone stood back to back, forming a defensive circle, watching the surroundings vigilantly, the atmosphere suffocating.

The Nebula Sage frowned and muttered to himself: "He hasn't left... he just hid in the deeper darkness..." The Starry Knight gripped his longsword, the veins on the back of his hand bulging; he keenly felt the surrounding darkness surging, like a dormant beast, ready to pounce and tear them apart at any moment.

"Everyone be careful!" His voice was low and tense.

"He is even more powerful than we imagined..." The Messenger of Light's voice carried a hint of trembling; she leaned tightly against the Starry Knight, seeking a sense of security.

The Blue Star Guardian said nothing, but his clenched fists and the sweat on his forehead showed his inner tension.

Suddenly, countless black tentacles reached out from the darkness, attacking the group like lightning.

Caught off guard, the Blue Star Guardian and Kelinda were entangled by the tentacles; they struggled hard, but the more they struggled, the tighter they became, the barbs on the tentacles piercing their skin, blood seeping out.

"Kelinda! Guardian!" Zhang Cheng exclaimed, wanting to step forward to help, but was forced back by other tentacles.

"Hahaha! A bunch of ants, daring to challenge the Dark Lord's majesty!" A harsh laugh came from the darkness, hair-raising.

A gaunt figure emerged from the darkness—it was the Dark Lord's henchman, a cruel smile on his face, his eyes full of mockery.

"Just wait to be swallowed by the darkness!"

Other pirates also appeared from the darkness, surrounding the entangled Kelinda and the Blue Star Guardian, letting out bursts of mockery.

"You want to fight us? It's just wishful thinking!" "Wait to die obediently, your struggle is meaningless!"

Kelinda's face was pale, but her eyes were firm, without a hint of fear. "Zhang Cheng, don't worry about us, go! Find the holy relic!"

The Blue Star Guardian also gritted his teeth and roared: "You go! Don't sacrifice yourselves in vain for us!"

Zhang Cheng looked at his entangled companions, his heart filled with anger and powerlessness. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.

"No..." Zhang Cheng whispered, a flash of determination in his eyes.

Zhang Cheng's eyes froze, and golden light erupted from within him, like a rising sun, dispelling the surrounding darkness.

He roared, his figure turning into a golden light, rushing toward the black tentacles entangling Kelinda and the Blue Star Guardian.

Wherever the golden light passed, the tentacles melted rapidly like ice and snow meeting the scorching sun, making a sizzling sound.

"What?!" The gaunt man exclaimed; he had never seen such powerful force. Other pirates retreated one after another, their eyes full of fear.

Kelinda and the Blue Star Guardian regained their freedom; they looked at Zhang Cheng gratefully, their hearts filled with hope.

"Well done, Zhang Cheng!" The Starry Knight shouted excitedly, wielding his longsword and beating back the approaching pirates one by one.

The rest of the group also had their morale boosted and joined the battle one after another.

Just when everyone thought victory was in sight, the Dark Lord appeared again.

His figure was tall, his whole body shrouded in darkness, a pair of scarlet eyes like burning flames, exuding heart-palpitating murderous intent.

"Humble ants, you dare to resist my will!" The Dark Lord's voice was low and full of majesty, like a roar from hell.

He slowly raised a hand, and the surrounding dark energy surged frantically, gathering into a huge black sphere, exuding an aura of destruction.

The gaunt man crawled on the ground, trembling: "Great Dark Lord, please show your divine power and destroy these ants completely!" Other pirates also knelt and bowed, their eyes full of fanaticism and worship.

"This is... Dark Annihilation!" The Nebula Sage's expression changed greatly. "This strike contains the power to destroy everything; we simply cannot resist it!"

The Messenger of Light held the holy light staff tightly, her face pale, but her eyes were firm, without a hint of retreat.

The Dark Lord smashed the black sphere in his hand toward the group.

The black sphere drew a black trajectory in the air, like death's sickle, carrying the power to destroy everything, attacking the group.

Facing this world-destroying strike, Zhang Cheng took a deep breath, a flash of determination in his eyes. He turned to look at the group, "Lend me your power!"

The Nebula Sage injected the light of wisdom into Zhang Cheng without hesitation, and the Starry Knight, Blue Star Guardian, and others also continuously transmitted their power to Zhang Cheng.

Even the White-Clothed Elf raised the purification staff in her hand, and a holy light injected into Zhang Cheng.

Zhang Cheng's body emitted dazzling light, like a god descending.

He slowly raised his hands, and a powerful energy fluctuation radiated from his body... "Come on!"

The golden light and the Nebula Sage's light of wisdom complemented each other, the Starry Knight's sword energy, the Blue Star Guardian's protective power, and the surging energy within Zhang Cheng all flowed into the purification staff in the White-Clothed Elf's hand like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.

The staff hummed and trembled, the tip of the staff erupting with unprecedented dazzling light, a huge light of purification, like the dawn of daybreak, piercing the darkness and shooting straight toward the black sphere carrying the aura of destruction.

The moment the two forces collided, the heavens and earth trembled.

Huge energy fluctuations swept out, and the surrounding space cracked like a broken mirror, revealing pitch-black fissures.

The dark sphere frantically swallowed the light of purification, while the light of purification tenaciously resisted the erosion of the darkness.

The Messenger of Light held Zhang Cheng tightly, her body trembling slightly, her cheek against Zhang Cheng's back, feeling the surging power within him.

Zhang Cheng could feel her silent love and trust; this warm power flowed into his heart, making him even more determined to defeat the Dark Lord.

He held the Messenger of Light's hand back, giving her a firm response.

In the stalemate, the light of purification gradually gained the upper hand.

The holy light bit by bit devoured the dark sphere, and the dark energy let out a harsh hiss, like the wail of a trapped beast.

The black sphere grew smaller and smaller, and finally, with a deafening explosion, it dissipated completely.

The Dark Lord let out an angry roar, the dark aura on his body rolling and surging, like a volcano about to erupt.

"You... must all die!" He roared, his body beginning to ** 【Note: The source text uses a placeholder or typo here, likely meaning 'distort' or 'swell'】, and a destructive energy condensed within him.

The Red-Robed Mage and the Green-Clothed Elf looked at each other and chanted spells simultaneously.

Red flames and green vines intertwined, forming a huge sealing magic circle, trapping the Dark Lord inside.

Zhang Cheng and the others seized the opportunity, condensing all remaining power together into a dazzling beam of light, striking the Dark Lord directly.

"No——" The Dark Lord let out a final wail, his body gradually disintegrating in the light, finally turning to ashes and dissipating completely between heaven and earth.

The dark aura dissipated, and light shone on the labyrinth again. Everyone cheered, having defeated the powerful Dark Lord!

The labyrinth guardian walked over slowly, but there was no joy on his face, only solemnity.

"Although the Dark Lord is dead..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group, "but the labyrinth has other..."

The Dark Lord let out a roar that shook the heavens and earth, his ** 【distorted/swelling】 body like a black sun about to explode.

"Want to kill me? Then let's be buried together!" He laughed wildly, the energy accumulated in his body reaching a critical point, and the aura of destruction permeated the air.

Space began to distort, and everyone felt a powerful suction pulling them toward the Dark Lord, the shadow of death looming over everyone.

At the critical moment, the Red-Robed Mage and the Green-Clothed Elf chanted ancient spells.

Red flames and green vines intertwined into a huge net, firmly binding the Dark Lord.

"Net of Binding Gods, Seal!" The two shouted in unison, their faces instantly turning pale, clearly this seal consumed a huge amount of their power.

The Dark Lord struggled frantically, the Net of Binding Gods making a creaking sound of being unable to bear the weight, but ultimately withstood the impact of the self-detonation.

Seeing the Dark Lord controlled, Zhang Cheng shouted: "Now! Attack with full power!" Golden light, sword energy, protective power, and various energies gathered again, forming a dazzling beam of light, smashing fiercely onto the Dark Lord.

"Ah——" The Dark Lord let out a miserable scream, his huge body gradually disintegrating in the light, finally turning to fly ash and dissipating completely between heaven and earth.

The dark aura dissipated, and light shone on the labyrinth again, the oppressive atmosphere swept away.

Everyone cheered, hugging each other, celebrating this hard-won victory.

The Starry Knight waved the longsword in his hand excitedly, the Blue Star Guardian stood silently by the group, and Kelinda and the Messenger of Light hugged tightly, crying with joy.

Zhang Cheng let out a long breath, his tense nerves finally relaxing.

However, the labyrinth guardian did not join the celebration; his expression was serious, gazing at the place where the Dark Lord disappeared, his eyes full of worry.

"Although the Dark Lord is dead," he spoke slowly, his voice low, "but the labyrinth has other more ancient existences..." He turned and walked toward the depths of the labyrinth, his figure gradually disappearing into the permeating mist.

"Follow me."