The air in the stronghold was thick with tension as Lucius strode through the grand halls, his dark armor gleaming faintly under the dim light of enchanted torches.
He arrived at the central chamber, where Lili, Luca, Legion, and Grimm were already waiting, their expressions solemn.
Each of them sensed the shift in their lord's aura—it was darker, more potent, and brimming with raw power.
"Activate the emergency lockdown," Lucius ordered without preamble, his voice cold and commanding.
Lili stepped forward, her hands already glowing with a Spell.
"Understood, my lord."
She raised her arms, chanting an ancient incantation.
Dark tendrils of energy snaked from her hands, surging outward and intertwining as they formed a protective field.
The stronghold groaned as the energy expanded, wrapping the entire fortress in an impenetrable dome of swirling shadows.
A faint hum resonated through the air as the spell solidified.
