A deafening roar reverberated through the air as a torrent of flames erupted from the site where the bar once stood. The mercenaries exchanged concerned glances, recognizing the magnitude of the inferno and fearing the worst. With the dwarf and lizardman positioned closest to the door, the moonfolk was left to search for Willow on his own.
Meanwhile, Willow's senses were heightened, every sound, every flicker of light, seemed amplified as if the world around her had been magnified. The roar of the flames engulfing the bar felt like a primal force asserting its dominance. Though blinded by the brilliance of the fire's glow, Willow could sense its ferocity, daring anyone to challenge its supremacy.
As quickly as the blaze had erupted, it began to recede, plunging the surroundings into darkness once more. Sensing the urgency in the air, the lone remaining mercenary intensified his search for Willow, his hastened movements palpable to her even from her concealed vantage point beneath the altar. Lost in thought, Willow failed to notice the mercenary's sudden halt.
Peering cautiously around the corner of the altar, Willow's gaze fell upon the mercenary, suspended mid-air in the center of the cathedral. His closed eyes and clasped hands seemed to herald a shift in the atmosphere, as a chilling wave swept through the room, heralding the approach of winter. The pale-skinned man gently touched the ground before ascending, his eyes ablaze with an otherworldly light as a surge of frigid energy coursed through the building.
In a matter of moments, the once-warm sanctuary was transformed into a frozen wasteland. Ice spread relentlessly, coating every surface in its glacial embrace, including Willow herself. As the icy tendrils enveloped her, robbing her of sensation and rendering her motionless, Willow's mind raced with apprehension. She knew instinctively that this was only the beginning, and dread gnawed at her as she contemplated what would follow.
With the chill of the ice seeping into her bones, Willow's thoughts turned to escape. However, her hopes were dashed as the man conjured a wall of ice, sealing off her only route to freedom. As the assault continued, Willow evaded the barrage of ice shards, each miss narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.
Taking refuge behind a crumbling pillar, Willow's mind raced for a solution, but her options dwindled with each passing moment. Suddenly, a desperate plan formed in her mind—a reckless gamble, but perhaps her only chance at survival.
Summoning her courage, Willow taunted her icy assailant, drawing his attention as she scrambled atop the decaying pillar. With a final challenge hurled into the tempestuous night, Willow watched in disbelief as the massive shard of ice narrowly missed her, cleaving through the pillar and hurtling towards the heavens.
Time seemed to slow as Willow teetered on the brink of oblivion, the world around her descending into chaos. Yet, in that fleeting moment of clarity, she seized upon a chance—a single, desperate act of defiance.
With a surge of determination, Willow shifted her weight, directing the collapsing pillar towards her adversary. Their eyes met in a silent exchange of realization, and as the impact sent them hurtling through the cathedral, Willow braced herself for the tumultuous collision that awaited.