By the time they reached the outskirts of the Shattered Spire, the group was weary but unbroken. The Spire itself was a haunting sight: a towering structure of jagged black stone, its surface cracked and glowing with faint red lines that pulsed like veins. The ground around it was littered with the remains of ancient battles—broken weapons, shattered armor, and the skeletal remains of those who had perished here.
"This place feels wrong," Alina murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lila nodded, her hands glowing faintly as she cast a detection spell. "The magical energy here is... unstable. Be on guard."
As they approached the Spire, the air grew colder, and the shadows seemed to deepen. Aiden could feel the seal reacting, its energy thrumming in time with the Spire's pulse. It was as if the two were connected, their fates intertwined.
