Chapter 78 - The Black Smoke of Death and the Shrine

The creature unleashed a guttural roar, and from its cavernous maw erupted a torrent of black smoke that surged forth like a dark tidal wave, twisting and writhing in the air. This inky cloud poured out in relentless waves, a seemingly endless mass that defied the confines of its monstrous form. With a menacing tilt of its body, it unleashed a powerful flap of its wings, sending the smoke cascading downwards like a sinister storm ready to engulf the earth. A chill ran down my spine as I watched the ominous cloud descend, a foreboding sense of dread gripping me. I sprinted towards the shrine at the end of the path, my heart pounding like a war drum. In that moment, I regretted breaking my wing more than ever. If I couldn't reach the shrine in time, I was resolved to push through the pain and soar the rest of the way, no matter the cost.