Jack, Tom, and Lily were well aware of the dangers of venturing into the church's underground to uncover the mysterious stone tablet, but their resolve was unwavering. Determined to face the unknown challenges ahead, they began their preparations. Jack, drawing on his studies in the occult, crafted several exorcism charms and distributed them to Tom and Lily, reminding them that they might come in handy during critical moments. Tom retrieved some sharp silver knives from home, as silver was said to have a restraining effect on evil spirits. Lily scoured her family’s library for clues about the church’s history and its underground structure, hoping to gain an advantage during their adventure.

　　Once everything was ready, the three of them set out for the church under the cover of night. The church loomed ominously in the moonlight, its towering spire seemingly piercing the sky. The Gothic architecture made it feel as though they had stepped back into a dark medieval era. The massive doors were tightly shut, with rusted iron locks that seemed to tell tales of the passage of time. Taking a deep breath, Jack pulled a bent wire from his pocket, attempting to pick the lock. After some effort, the lock clicked open with a soft “click,” and the door creaked ajar, releasing a musty, decaying odor.

　　They cautiously stepped inside the church, the dim moonlight filtering through the stained glass windows, casting eerie shadows on the floor. The air was thick with a strong religious atmosphere; the pews were neatly arranged, and at the far end stood a towering crucifix, Jesus’s gaze seemingly fixed on them, sending chills down their spines. Jack led the way, gripping the cross tightly, vigilantly scanning their surroundings. Tom and Lily followed closely, the silver knives glinting ominously in the faint light.

　　“According to the clues Lily found, the entrance to the underground should be near the altar,” Jack whispered.

　　They slowly approached the altar, each step accompanied by the creaking of the wooden floorboards, echoing in the stillness of the church, almost like whispers from malevolent spirits. Upon reaching the altar, they noticed a large stone slab that appeared different from the surrounding floor. Jack crouched down to examine the patterns on the stone and discovered a faint cross-shaped groove.

　　“I think this might be the mechanism to open the entrance,” Jack said.

　　He attempted to insert the cross into the groove and twisted it with all his might. At first, the stone remained still, but as Jack applied more force, accompanied by a deep grinding sound, the slab slowly shifted, revealing a dark, gaping entrance. A chilling, bone-cold air surged up from below.

　　“It’s so dark down there. Do we really have to go?” Lily asked, her voice trembling with fear.

　　“We have no other choice. For the town, for Ava, we must go down,” Jack replied firmly.

　　They descended the narrow stone steps, dimly lit by ancient oil lamps that flickered uncertainly, illuminating the tense expressions on their faces. The steps were steep and slippery, threatening to send them tumbling at any moment. As they ventured deeper underground, the temperature dropped, and a foul odor filled the air, making them gag.

　　“This smell is unbearable. There can’t be anything terrifying down there, right?” Tom said, frowning.

　　Suddenly, a massive rat scurried past their feet, causing Lily to scream in fright. The scream echoed through the narrow passage, as if awakening slumbering evil. A gust of cold wind swept through, causing the flames of the oil lamps to flicker violently, nearly extinguishing them. In the darkness, a low growl echoed, as if some monstrous creature was lying in wait.

　　“Everyone be careful!” Jack shouted, raising the cross and watching ahead warily.

　　The growling grew louder, and the ground began to tremble slightly. Suddenly, a gigantic black claw shot out from the darkness, reaching for them. Jack quickly sidestepped, the claw grazing his clothes and sending a chilling breeze past him.

　　“What is that thing?” Tom yelled in terror.

　　“Whatever it is, we need to find a way to deal with it!” Jack said calmly.

　　He focused his energy, channeling his spiritual power, and began reciting an exorcism chant. A faint light emanated from the cross, illuminating a small area around them. In the glow, they saw a massive, grotesque demon, its body covered in black scales, eyes glowing a blood-red, and sharp fangs protruding from its mouth, exuding an oppressive evil aura.

　　The demon swung its enormous claws and lunged at them again. Jack fought back, using the cross to block the demon’s attack. Seizing the moment, Tom rushed forward, stabbing the demon’s leg with the silver knife. The knife sparked against the demon’s scales but appeared to inflict little damage, only enraging it further.

　　“Its scales are too tough; a regular silver knife can’t hurt it!” Tom shouted.

　　Lily, nervously brainstorming strategies, suddenly recalled that the demon’s eyes were one of its weaknesses, as mentioned in her readings.

　　“Jack, aim for its eyes!” Lily shouted.

　　Heeding Lily’s advice, Jack waited for the right moment. As the demon lunged again, he leaped up, thrusting the cross toward its eye. The demon couldn’t evade in time, and the cross struck its left eye, eliciting a painful roar as it thrashed wildly. Jack was knocked back by the demon’s force, crashing hard against the wall.

　　“Jack!” Tom and Lily cried out, rushing to help him up.

　　“I’m fine; we have to keep moving,” Jack said, wiping the blood from his mouth with determination.

　　They maneuvered around the injured demon and continued down the passage. The corridor grew narrower, and strange runes and murals began to appear on the walls, depicting ancient sacrificial scenes and dark rituals. Jack examined the runes closely, hoping to find clues.

　　“These runes might be connected to the mysterious stone tablet; we need to be cautious,” Jack warned.

　　Just as they focused on the runes, the ground beneath them suddenly gave way, and they had no time to react before falling into a bottomless pit. They plummeted through the darkness, the sound of rushing wind filling their ears. After what felt like an eternity, they landed heavily on a pile of something soft. Although they were uninjured, they were left dazed.

　　“Is everyone okay?” Jack asked.

　　“I’m fine, but where are we?” Tom replied.

　　They stood up to find themselves in a vast underground chamber filled with strange containers and experimental equipment. In the center stood a large stone platform, covered in intricate runes, with a mysterious stone tablet glowing with a bluish light.

　　“That must be the stone tablet we’re looking for!” Jack exclaimed excitedly.

　　They cautiously approached the platform. As Jack neared the tablet, he felt a powerful force drawing him in. He reached out to touch the runes on the tablet, and suddenly, a flash of light surged through him, flooding his mind with strange information.

　　“These runes detail the source of the curse and how to break it, but it requires my blood to activate the tablet,” Jack said.

　　“Jack, that’s too dangerous! Is there another way?” Lily asked worriedly.

　　“There’s no other option; this is our only chance,” Jack replied resolutely.

　　He took out a small knife and, without hesitation, cut his wrist, allowing his blood to drip onto the tablet. The blood flowed along the runes, and the tablet’s glow intensified, illuminating the entire chamber. However, just then, the entrance to the chamber suddenly sealed shut, and an evil laughter echoed around them.

　　“Did you think it would be so easy to break the curse? Foolish humans!” a sinister voice reverberated in the chamber.

　　“Who are you?” Jack shouted.

　　“I am the guardian of the dark forces of this town. You have trespassed here, and you will pay the price!” the voice declared.

　　Suddenly, countless evil spirits surged in from all directions, lunging at them. Jack, Tom, and Lily stood back to back, nervously fending off the spirits’ attacks. Jack continued to let his blood drip onto the tablet, trying to activate it as quickly as possible to lift the curse. Tom and Lily wielded their silver knives and exorcism charms, desperately defending against the onslaught of spirits.

　　The spirits relentlessly battered their defenses, and the three began to feel overwhelmed. Tom’s arm was scratched by a spirit, while Lily was weakened by the spirits’ malevolent energy. Yet Jack continued to persevere, knowing that if they gave up, the town and Ava would be lost to darkness forever.

　　As his blood continued to flow onto the tablet, its glow finally reached its peak. Suddenly, a brilliant beam of light shot from the tablet, dispersing the spirits wherever it touched. The guardian of darkness let out an enraged roar but began to fade away under the light’s brilliance.

　　With the curse lifted, Jack, Tom, and Lily collapsed to the ground in exhaustion. They understood that this was merely a temporary victory; the peace of the town still needed their protection. They found an exit in the chamber and left the church.

　　As they emerged from the church, the eastern sky was already beginning to lighten. The town appeared tranquil and harmonious in the morning light, as if everything they had just experienced was merely a nightmare. But Jack knew that their battle was just beginning, and more challenges awaited them.

　　Jack gazed into the distance, silently praying, “Ava, no matter where you are, I will find you and save you.”

　　On the other side of the town, a mysterious shadow watched them from the darkness. A cold smile crept across the shadow’s face as it whispered, “This is just the beginning; a greater conspiracy lies ahead.” With that, the shadow vanished into the darkness, leaving behind an eerie silence.