The entity rose from the altar in a torrent of black mist, its form twisting and writhing like a storm given life. Its eyes burned a vivid crimson, locking onto Adira and Kane with a hatred that seemed to chill the very air. Each pulse of its energy reverberated through the clearing, shaking the ground and snapping branches like brittle bones.
Kane's voice was steady, but his knuckles whitened on his blade. "Adira, tell me you've got a plan."
Adira's throat tightened, her mind racing. The entity was a force beyond anything she'd ever encountered, its power oppressive and suffocating. The edges of her vision blurred as the dark energy clawed at her resolve.
"We have to sever its connection to the altar," she said, her voice trembling but determined. "It's drawing its power from the ritual site."
"Great," Kane muttered. "And how do you propose we do that?"
