The team moved into position, ready to disrupt the ritual and disable the portal. Owen set up a series of distractions, creating small explosions in the outer chambers to draw the guards away from the central chamber. The diversions worked, causing chaos and confusion among the faction's members.
With the guards distracted, Sofia and Leo entered the central chamber, moving swiftly and silently. They knew they had a narrow window of opportunity to disrupt the ritual and prevent the faction's plans from coming to fruition. The energy from the portal was pulsating, creating a sense of urgency and tension.
The faction's leader, a tall figure with a commanding presence, stood at the center of the ritual circle. He was chanting in an ancient language, his voice deep and resonant. The ritual artifacts around him were glowing with energy, suggesting that the ritual was reaching its climax.
Sofia and Leo acted quickly, using their skills to disrupt the ritual and break the pattern etched into the stone. Sofia's precision and agility allowed her to move through the chamber without drawing attention, while Leo used the artifact's energy to counter the dark force emanating from the portal.
The leader noticed the disruption, his chant faltering as he turned to face Sofia and Leo. His eyes glowed with a dark energy, and his presence was intense and foreboding. He raised his hands, channeling the power from the portal and sending waves of force toward the team.
Sofia evaded the attacks, using her agility to avoid the energy blasts. Leo focused his energy, creating a barrier that absorbed the impact of the leader's attacks. The battle was intense, with the energy from the portal creating a chaotic and unstable environment.
Evelyn provided support, using her healing abilities to keep the team in fighting shape. She moved through the chamber, avoiding the energy blasts and providing aid where needed. Owen's diversions continued to cause chaos in the outer chambers, keeping the guards occupied and giving the team a chance to complete their mission.
As the battle escalated, Leo and Sofia combined their powers, creating a surge of energy that overwhelmed the leader's dark force. The resulting explosion shattered the ritual circle, sending shockwaves through the central chamber and destabilizing the portal's energy.
The faction's leader was thrown off balance, his energy disrupted by the sudden surge. The base began to collapse as the unstable energy from the portal became uncontrollable. The team knew they had to escape before the entire outpost was destroyed.
The team raced through the collapsing tunnels, narrowly avoiding falling debris and escaping into the open air. The outpost was in chaos, with the faction's members fleeing as the unstable energy threatened to bring the entire structure down. The team regrouped outside the outpost, catching their breath as the outpost collapsed behind them.