Xelithos's scream continued to echo through the chamber, a haunting sound that sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.
The machines hummed and clicked, drawing his blood and something more—his very essence, his connection to times long past.
The ritual was brutal, a necessary but painful step to reach their goal.
His sacrifice, a testament to his allegiance, would awaken a power that had been dormant for eons.
The room went quiet, the mechanical tendrils retracting as the last of Xelithos's green blood was drained.
The metallic heads glowed, their eyes shining with an intelligence that transcended machinery.
A glow began to emanate from the roots, a soft, warm light that seemed to pulse with life itself.
The Tree of Life responded to Xelithos's sacrifice, its ancient power awakening.
A burst of light erupted and shot into the skies like a colossal beam.
