After defeating the wyvern, Kaito's determination only grew stronger. He continued his arduous climb up the mountain, following the cryptic clues inscribed on the artifact. The path grew even steeper, and the air became so thin that every breath was a struggle.
As he rounded a sharp bend in the trail, Kaito noticed a faint glow coming from a crevice in the mountainside. The glow was similar to the energy that emanated from the artifact in his pocket. Could this be the entrance to the dark sorcerer's lair? he wondered.
Approaching the crevice cautiously, Kaito discovered that it was indeed an entrance to a large cavern. The entrance was narrow, but as he squeezed through, the space opened up into a vast, dimly - lit chamber. The walls of the cavern were lined with strange, glowing crystals that cast an otherworldly light, creating a kaleidoscope of colors.
The air in the cavern was thick with a palpable sense of magic, a heady mix of dark and ancient power. Kaito could feel it seeping into his pores, making his skin crawl. As he walked further into the cavern, he heard soft whispers echoing through the chamber. The whispers were in a language he couldn't understand, but they carried an undertone of malevolence.
Suddenly, the ground beneath his feet began to shake. Large, stone golems emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing with a fierce red light. Each golem was at least twice Kaito's height, and their massive fists were clenched menacingly.
Kaito knew he was in for a tough fight. He drew his dagger and readied himself. The first golem charged at him, its steps causing the ground to tremble. Kaito waited until the last moment, then, using his quick reflexes, he dodged to the side. The golem's fist crashed into the ground, creating a large crater.
Kaito took the opportunity to strike at the golem's leg. His dagger, though sharp, barely made a dent in the stone surface. The golem let out a rumbling growl and swung its other arm at Kaito. Kaito leaped back, narrowly avoiding the blow.
He realized that he needed to find a more strategic approach. Looking around, he noticed that the golems seemed to be powered by a glowing crystal on their chests. If he could somehow destroy those crystals, he might be able to disable the golems.
The other golems joined the fray, surrounding Kaito. He was in a tight spot. One golem tried to grab him, but Kaito rolled between its legs, coming out on the other side. He then sprinted towards the nearest golem, aiming for the crystal on its chest.
With a mighty leap, Kaito reached the golem's chest and drove his dagger into the crystal. The crystal shattered with a bright flash, and the golem let out a groan before collapsing to the ground. Encouraged by his success, Kaito turned to face the remaining golems.
The other golems seemed to be more cautious now, but they still advanced on Kaito. He had to think fast. Kaito noticed that the crystals on the golems' chests were connected to the ones on the cavern walls. If he could disrupt that connection, it might weaken the golems.
He ran towards the cavern wall and began to smash the crystals with his dagger. As he did, the golems let out angry roars, and their movements became more erratic. Kaito continued to destroy the crystals, and one by one, the golems lost their power and fell to the ground.
With the golems defeated, Kaito could finally explore the rest of the cavern in peace. But he knew that the dark sorcerer was likely close, and he braced himself for the final confrontation. As he walked deeper into the cavern, the whispers grew louder, and the sense of foreboding increased. He was about to come face - to - face with the source of all the evil that had plagued the town and the Fujiwara Mansion.