That night, the fog thickened, shrouding Cloud City as if it were adrift in a dark sea. A massive shadow with glowing red eyes loomed, watching Alaric from behind the veil of mist. The air was heavy, saturated with a dark aura that gripped every corner of the city.
Alaric stepped forward slowly, a calm smile still playing on his lips. Raising his right hand, a glowing golden magic circle lit up beneath his feet, cutting through the fog. "Looks like you're more than just a legend," he said. "I do enjoy surprises."
The creature roared, its voice a resonant boom that shattered the night's stillness. It lunged toward Alaric, its sharp claws slicing through the air.
But before the attack could land, Alaric snapped his fingers. "Aegis Radiant!" A golden shield of light materialized before him, absorbing the creature's blow with a deafening crash. The impact sent ripples through the fog, scattering it with the force of released energy.
