Loran charged toward Moke, the power of three elements condensing along his blade into a Purifying Light Spear that thrust straight at Moke's staff. Moke was ready. With a sweep of his black robe, countless Rotting Soul Worms formed an insect shield to block the light spear. At the same time, he pressed the Evil Bone Crystal onto the formation's focal point on the raised platform-the black-purple vortex instantly swelled, the cracks in the barrier around the sealed core widened, and a powerful surge of energy spilled from the core. The entire Frozen Ruined Capital shook violently.
"Hahaha! The seal is about to break!" Moke laughed wildly, madness flashing in his eyes. "The Evil Bone Core's energy will turn the entire continent into a paradise for Evil Bone and the Insect Clan! The Abyss Matriarch will sense the energy here and descend ahead of time!"
Just then, a blurred black silhouette actually emerged within the energy spilling from the core. Shrouded in black-purple light, it had six insect limbs and a pair of enormous compound eyes that could just barely be made out-it was a phantom of the Abyss Matriarch! The phantom appeared only briefly, yet released a suffocating pressure. Lei Lin's fiery wings and Snow Spirit Qilin's icy mist instantly contracted, and even Loran found it difficult to wield the three-element power within him.
"This is bad! The Matriarch's consciousness has already seeped through!" Liya's voice trembled. "We have to interrupt the ritual immediately, or the core will go completely out of control!"
Loran gritted his teeth and unleashed all the three-element power within him, along with the Lotus Heart Crystal's pale green light. His knight's sword became a streak of light, pierced the insect shield, and slashed at the hand Moke held against the formation's focal point. Moke screamed as the blade of light severed his left hand, and the Evil Bone Crystal slipped from his grasp. Yet he still refused to give up. Snatching the crystal with his right hand, he rushed toward the focal point again. "Even if I die, I'll make the core explode!"
"Not a chance!" Snow Spirit Qilin suddenly rushed in front of Loran. Lustrous white icy mist merged with Lei Lin's golden-red flames, forming an Ice and Fire Purification Shield that blocked Moke's charge. At the same time, A Ze's water-element spear, Liya's nature vines, and the Icefield Wolf's sharp claws struck together. Hit by several attacks, Moke's body was gradually swallowed by purifying light.
"No-! The Matriarch will avenge me!" Moke let out one last roar as his body turned to black ash, leaving only the Evil Bone Crystal, which fell beside the formation's focal point on the platform.
But just then, the barrier around the Evil Bone Core shattered completely. Black energy gushed from the core, and the black-purple vortex instantly expanded, spreading toward the entire Frozen Ruined Capital. Snow Spirit Qilin's ice runes flickered violently, their lustrous white light almost extinguished. "The core's energy is leaking! We can't suppress it! We have to find a way to seal it again as soon as possible!"
Loran picked up the Evil Bone Crystal Moke had left behind and suddenly discovered that its patterns resonated with the Explorer Runes on the city walls. He looked at Liya. "Does the catalog record a way to seal the core again?"
Liya quickly leafed through the Illustrated Catalog of Plants, her expression grave. "We need the 'power of the three-element source'-nature, light, and Qilin ice and fire-along with the Swamp Spirit Clan's water element and the Rune Guardians' inheritance runes! Right now, we only have nature, Qilin power, and the water element. We're still missing the power of light and the inheritance runes!"
"I can contact the temple for the power of light!" Loran immediately took out the Holy Spring amulet Elder White had given him. "What about the inheritance runes?"
"The runes on the stone stele!" A Ze pointed toward the stele that had been embedded in the ice earlier. "That's the Rune Guardians' inheritance stele. As long as we can activate it, we can obtain the inheritance runes!"
By then, however, the black energy had already spread into the streets. The ice began to melt, exposing the dormant Evil Bone remains below, which seemed about to be awakened by the energy. Loran gripped the Holy Spring amulet and shouted to the others, "Liya, you and A Ze go activate the inheritance stele. Lei Lin, Snow Spirit Qilin, use your ice and fire power to suppress the core's energy for now. Icefield Wolf, keep watch and stop any remaining insect carcasses from ambushing us! I'll contact Elder White and ask the temple to send the Holy Spring Guard as reinforcements!"
Everyone immediately split up to act. Loran crushed the Holy Spring amulet, and pale golden light rose to form a communication projection. Elder White's figure appeared within it. Seeing the scene in the ruined capital, his expression changed sharply. "Loran! What happened? How did the Evil Bone Core start leaking?"
"Moke joined forces with the Insect Clan to break the seal. We need the temple's Holy Spring power to help seal it again!" Loran said urgently. "Also, how is Chief Tongchui progressing with the forging of the sacred warship? We may need the warship later to transport the core somewhere safe to seal it permanently!"
"The Holy Spring Guard has already set out and should arrive in three days!" Elder White replied at once. "Chief Tongchui has already smelted the Fallen Star Iron blanks, and the warship's main body will be finished next week! You must hold on. I'll also contact the Elven Forest and have Elder Aila bring Tree of Life sap!"
The communication ended, and Loran looked up toward the platform. Lei Lin and Snow Spirit Qilin's ice and fire power had already formed a barrier of light, temporarily containing the energy leaking from the core, but its light was gradually weakening. Liya and A Ze had reached the inheritance stele and were using nature power and the water element to activate its runes. The pale purple runic light contended with the core's black energy, forming a brief balance.
The Icefield Wolf suddenly growled toward the north, its golden eyes filled with vigilance. Countless tiny black silhouettes had appeared on the distant ice and were moving toward the ruined capital. They were clearly the remaining Evil Bone and Insect Clan forces, drawn by the scent of the leaking energy to seize the core.
Loran tightened his grip on his knight's sword, the three-element power surging within him. He knew this was only the midpoint of the battle for the Frozen Ruined Capital. They would not only have to face the remaining forces' counterattack, but also unite the elves, dwarves, temple, and other powers to resolve the Evil Bone Core crisis completely. And the appearance of the Abyss Matriarch's phantom foretold that this war was far from over.
In the bitter winds of the Frozen Ruined Capital, the clash between the ice-and-fire barrier and the black energy continued. The inheritance stele's runic light gradually brightened, like a flame of hope kindled in the darkness. Loran stood shoulder to shoulder with his companions, their gazes fixed resolutely on the distance-their battle was still continuing.