Fwuushh! The dragon unleashed a torrent of fire, a wave of searing heat that warped the air itself as it slammed into the golden barrier.
An ear-splitting roar echoed through the city, shaking the very foundations of the buildings. The Elven citizens, many of them young and untested in battle, cried out in terror.
The Elven King, his weathered face etched with grim determination, held his ground. Sweat beaded on his brow despite the cool mountain air, the strain of maintaining the barrier evident.
He channeled every ounce of his power into the golden box, the light emanating from it growing brighter with each passing moment.
"Do not fear, my people! I, your king, stand between you and this infernal beast! The power of the sage flows through me, and it shall protect us!" he boomed, his voice cutting through the terror.
His words, though brave, did little to quell the rising panic.
