Von raised his mace, channeling the shadows to intercept the attack. The tendrils lashed out, swallowing the magic whole, their movements more erratic and frenzied than before.
Von's body trembled under the strain, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as he continued to absorb the artifact's relentless barrage. The battlefield around him was a blur of light and shadow, the conflicting forces clashing in a spectacle of destruction. Each time he consumed a spell, the darkness within him grew stronger, its whispers louder and more insistent.
His vision blurred, the edges of his consciousness fraying as the hunger threatened to take over. But through the chaos, Von clung to a single thought: he was doing this to protect them. Lydia, Horizon, the others—they were counting on him. If he failed, they would all die.
