The robed man's presence was suffocating, as though the very air bowed to his will. The rift behind him churned violently, its edges crackling with an unnatural light that illuminated his sharp features.
Darian tightened his grip on his sword, his stance firm. "If you've been watching, then you know exactly how this ends. Speak fast or draw steel."
The man chuckled, the sound low and condescending. "Oh, brave hero. Always so eager to strike before understanding. Tell me, what do you think you've accomplished here today? Toppling a stronghold, shattering a vortex? Noble efforts, to be sure… but ultimately futile."
Wei Lin felt the Codex in her hands tremble, its ancient power stirring. She could sense something sinister in the man, as if he were tied to the same dark energy that had seeped through the fortress. Her heart raced, but she forced herself to speak. "Who are you? What do you want with us?"
