Vael's eyes gleamed with excitement, his sinister smile widening. His aura swelled, growing darker and colder with every passing second. "Good," he said, his voice echoing unnaturally. "It would've been disappointing if you fell too easily."
Aiden's breath was steady despite the tension in the air. He could feel the immense pressure weighing down on him, but the newly awakened Lumen Noctis pulsed in his hands like a steady heartbeat, filling him with strength. Golden light surrounded him, warding off the suffocating abyssal energy.
"Myne, Rick, Dren," Aiden called out without turning. "Focus on keeping the battlefield clear. I'll handle him."
Rick nodded, charging his gauntlets again. "Got it. Don't die on us, Aiden."
Dren gave a feral grin. "Yeah, leave the grunts to us." He cracked his knuckles, already moving to intercept another wave of Abyssal creatures.
