Time seemed to slow as the shadow lunged toward Raven, its claws outstretched and eyes glowing with a malevolent light. In that instant, the world around me faded, the sounds of battle dulled, and all I could see was Raven—her back turned, unaware of the danger. My hand instinctively went to the crystal. I felt its pulsing energy beneath my fingertips, ready and eager to be unleashed. For a moment, I hesitated. Using it again would bring me closer to losing control, closer to becoming something I feared. But I couldn't let Raven die.
With a sharp intake of breath, I pressed my fingers firmly against the crystal. Its power surged into me, filling me with a dark energy that made my heart race and my vision blur. It was as if the world shifted, everything becoming sharper, more intense. My body moved before I could think, and in a heartbeat, I released a burst of raw energy from the crystal.
