The battlefield around the obsidian gates erupted into chaos as the convergence ritual approached its peak. Shadow-forged creatures prowled the fractured terrain, their glowing eyes fixed on the clashing combatants. Above, the sky churned with streaks of violet lightning, reflecting the unstable energy radiating from the gates.
Kaelron hung suspended within a cocoon of writhing shadow energy at the heart of the ritual. Tendrils of corruption tightened around him, their force dragging him deeper into the Maw's suffocating presence. The crown fragments at his side pulsed erratically, their once-bright glow dimming under the strain.
Nyx, mounted on Ignis, Kaelron's gryphon, swooped low over the battlefield. Flames from Ignis's wings scattered cultists and shadow-forged creatures alike, clearing a temporary path toward the epicenter.
