**Chapter 12: Sacrifice**
The air inside the fortress had thickened with the weight of impending doom. The ritual that Malakar had unleashed rumbled through the stone walls, sending vibrations under Riven's feet. His heart pounded, each beat echoing like a war drum. There was no time to waste, no room for hesitation. The moment of truth had arrived. The fate of the world hung by a thread.
Riven's team moved with practiced stealth through the corridors, their footfalls muffled by the thick, oppressive stone that surrounded them. They had only one objective now—stop the ritual before it reached its apex. But as they approached the central chamber, Riven could feel the pressure mounting, the air charged with the raw energy of the dark ritual. He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the responsibility pressing on him.
They reached a large, open chamber. The ceiling arched high above them, and the ground was slick with the blood of countless sacrifices, the floor covered in strange runes that seemed to pulse with an unnatural energy. At the center of the room stood Malakar, his back turned to them, focused on the altar where the power of the ritual was beginning to coalesce.
But it wasn't Malakar who drew their attention—it was the monstrous presence looming just beyond the altar, a twisted shape formed from the chaos of the ritual's energy. A massive beast, its body a grotesque fusion of shadow and flame, eyes burning with malevolent fury.
"That's the creature Malakar was summoning," Lia whispered, her voice taut with fear. "The Exiled Beast—Azoghar."
Azoghar's form writhed, its massive limbs twisting in unnatural angles, as though it were an entity born from a nightmare. Its roar split the air, shaking the very foundations of the fortress. The creature was a thing of legend, an ancient being that had been cast out of the world centuries ago. With the ritual, Malakar had brought it back into existence—an apex predator capable of laying waste to entire cities.
"Azoghar is the key to Malakar's plan," Nyx said quietly, her eyes darting between the creature and the ritual at the altar. "If we can't take it down, the world is lost."
Riven nodded, his eyes locking onto Azoghar's fiery gaze. The creature was formidable, but Riven knew that they had no choice but to face it head-on. They were running out of time.
"We need to destroy the altar and disrupt the ritual," Riven said firmly. "But we can't let Azoghar roam free while we do it. Lia, can you hold it off?"
Lia didn't hesitate. Her eyes were fierce with determination, but there was something more in them—something heavy. Riven saw it, but he didn't question it. There was no time.
"I'll keep it distracted," Lia replied, her voice steady. "You focus on the altar."
Before Riven could stop her, Lia dashed forward, her sword drawn. She was fast, her movements fluid as she closed the distance between herself and the massive creature. Azoghar's massive head swung toward her, its fiery eyes narrowing as it recognized the threat. With a growl that shook the air, the creature lunged, swiping its claws with a speed that belied its size.
Lia barely managed to evade the first strike, rolling across the floor and getting back on her feet in a fluid motion. She wasn't as strong as the beast, but she was faster. She needed to be. Azoghar let out a deafening roar, flames shooting from its maw as it charged toward her, determined to crush her.
"Don't get distracted," Riven shouted, his voice a command, though his heart was torn. But Lia didn't flinch. She was focused, her every movement precise and calculated. The beast was terrifying, but she was a warrior.
As the battle between Lia and Azoghar raged, Riven and the others moved toward the altar. The ritual was in full swing now, the dark energy swirling around the altar like a storm. Malakar's voice rang out, twisted and mocking, as he stood in the eye of the storm, seemingly oblivious to the battle that was unfolding around him.
"You cannot stop it," Malakar said, his voice filled with smug confidence. "Azoghar will crush your resistance, and the ritual will be complete. There is no force in this world that can undo what has already been set in motion."
Riven's anger flared. "We'll see about that."
He raised his sword, rushing toward the altar, but a loud, thunderous crash from behind made him pause. He turned just in time to see Lia dodging another strike from Azoghar. She was bleeding from several deep gashes, her movements slowing, but she refused to stop. The creature's massive tail whipped through the air, knocking Lia off her feet. Her body slammed into the stone floor, and for a moment, Riven thought the worst had happened.
"NO!" Riven shouted, charging toward her.
But Lia was already on her feet again, her eyes filled with pain but also determination. She glanced over her shoulder, locking eyes with Riven for the briefest of moments.
"Keep going!" she screamed, her voice strained. "I'll buy you time! Go!"
Riven hesitated, but there was no choice. The ritual was still progressing, and they couldn't afford to waste any more time. His heart broke as he turned toward the altar, but his legs moved on their own accord. They had no choice but to trust that Lia could hold off the beast long enough.
With a single, decisive movement, Riven reached the altar. The runes were glowing brighter now, each one pulsating with malevolent energy. He raised his sword, prepared to destroy the source of this nightmare. But as his blade came down, a sudden explosion of energy erupted from the altar, sending a shockwave through the room.
Riven was thrown backward, crashing into the stone floor. His vision blurred, his body aching from the impact. But as he struggled to get up, the sound of Lia's voice rang out again.
"Riven!"
It was a scream—one filled with pain and fear. Riven's heart clenched as he turned toward the source of the sound. Lia was on her feet, blood pouring from multiple wounds, but it wasn't the sight of her injuries that stopped him. It was the way she was standing.
Lia was standing between Azoghar and the altar, her sword raised, blocking the creature's path. But she wasn't moving. She couldn't.
"NO!" Riven shouted, pushing himself to his feet. "Lia!"
Azoghar was closing in, its massive jaws dripping with fire, ready to strike. Lia was barely able to stand, her strength fading with each passing second. And yet, she didn't move.
In a final, desperate act of courage, Lia hurled herself at the creature, aiming for its throat. But Azoghar was too quick. The beast's massive paw slammed down on her, sending her crashing into the stone floor with sickening force. A final scream echoed through the chamber before falling silent.
Riven's heart shattered as he watched, helpless. His mind refused to process the reality of what had just happened. Lia was gone.
"No..." he whispered, his voice breaking as he fell to his knees. "No, no, no!"
The beast roared in triumph, but Riven didn't hear it. He didn't hear anything. All he could hear was the deafening silence in his soul, the hollow emptiness left behind by Lia's sacrifice.
It wasn't supposed to end like this. They had come so far, and now it felt like everything was falling apart.
But there was no time to mourn. Riven's body shook with rage, the grief threatening to consume him. But he couldn't allow it. Not now. He had to finish what they had started. For Lia. For Zephyr. For everyone they had lost.
With a final, guttural cry of fury, Riven stood, his sword clenched tightly in his hands. He had made a promise. He wasn't about to let that promise die.
"Azoghar," Riven spat, his voice low and filled with raw fury. "You will pay."
And with that, the battle for the world's future continued.