~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!~
The tremors shook the cavern violently, dislodging ancient dust from the ceilings and sending scrolls tumbling from their precarious perches.
Neron steadied himself against the pedestal, his mind racing.
The booming voice outside rang in his ears, its authority undeniable, and it stirred a sense of foreboding deep in his gut.
Lilith, standing by the entrance to the hideout, exuded a calm that belied the chaos outside.
Her back was to him, her posture rigid and purposeful.
"I told you to stay here," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Neron clenched his fists. "And I told you, I'm not just going to sit here while someone's clearly targeting you—and possibly me. You've trained me for weeks now. I can hold my own."
