The ground trembled beneath their feet, threatening to collapse entirely as Morgana's shield flickered like a dying ember. The creatures from the chasm—a writhing tide of shadow and despair—pushed forward, their grotesque forms emerging from the unnatural light below.
Aiden, battered and breathless, gritted his teeth. "Form up!" he bellowed, his voice cutting through the rising cacophony. His soldiers scrambled to comply, forming a protective semicircle around Morgana as she continued her incantation.
Elara stepped forward, her eyes blazing with determination. "We need to buy her time," she said, her hands already crackling with raw energy. "Aiden, if these things reach her, it's over."
"I know." Aiden turned to his troops, his expression grim. "Hold the line. No matter what comes through, we stand our ground."
