Stella's breath hung in the cold air, the adrenaline coursing through her body as she locked eyes with William. The dark cathedral seemed to close in around them, the remnants of William's failed ritual fading into the eerie silence. But the battle wasn't over.
William, still fueled by his own twisted determination, stepped forward. Without the Heart of Dusk, he was no longer invincible, but the rage that fueled him now made him even more dangerous. His eyes were wild, and his fists clenched at his sides as dark energy crackled faintly at his fingertips.
"You think this is over, Stella?" William snarled, his voice dripping with venom. "You've only delayed the inevitable."
Stella stood her ground, heart pounding in her chest as Ethan came to her side. Together, they faced the man who had tormented their city for far too long.
