The massive shape in the darkness continued to solidify, the air crackling with ancient power. Blake and his companions stood their ground, hearts racing as they prepared for battle.
"I ask again," the thunderous voice boomed, "are you prepared to face the trials of eternal night?"
Blake stepped forward, his blood humming beneath his skin. "We are," he declared, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through him. "We've come too far to turn back now."
A deep, rumbling chuckle echoed through the cavern. "Very well," the voice said. "Then let the trial begin."
Suddenly, the darkness surged forward like a living wave. Blake reacted instinctively, forming a blood shield that glowed crimson in the gloom. The impact sent him skidding backward, his boots leaving furrows in the stone floor.
