Chapter 199: Chapter 199: The Final Ascent

The air grew colder as they approached the base of the mountain. The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape. The mountain loomed above them, its jagged peaks cutting into the darkening sky. A sense of foreboding settled over the group as they gazed up at the final challenge that awaited them.

"This is it," Morgana said, her voice barely audible over the wind that whipped around them. "The last fragment lies at the summit."

Elara felt a knot of tension in her stomach as she studied the path ahead. The mountain was steep and treacherous, the trail almost invisible beneath layers of snow and ice. She could feel the presence of the darkness growing stronger with every step they took, its cold, malevolent energy seeping into the very ground beneath their feet.

"We've come this far," Kirin said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "We're not turning back now."