The chamber erupted in chaos as the dark shapes lunged toward them. Rylan braced himself, the Keystone's light radiating outward, casting back the encroaching shadows. Thorne moved first, his sword a blur as he met the twisted figures head-on, his blade slicing through their smoky forms. Kael darted beside him, daggers flashing in the dim light, while Lyra and Morgana began weaving spells, their magic crackling with energy.
The shadowy creatures, though seemingly endless, were not the true threat. The hooded figure remained still at the far end of the chamber, watching with an eerie calm as its minions swarmed toward the group. Rylan's gaze never left the figure, knowing that their true test lay with the Keeper of the Shard, not these lesser beings.
"Lyra! Morgana! Keep them off us," Rylan shouted over the din, the Keystone pulsing in his hand. "I'll deal with the Keeper."
