The ruins of Aetherfall trembled with the growing force of darkness. As the walls cracked and shadows coiled like serpents in the air, Aleron could feel the pulse of approaching voidspawn echoing through his chest. Each heartbeat felt like a countdown.
"Move!" he commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos.
The group surged into action, retreating from the collapsing chamber. Dorian led the way, his keen eyes picking a path through the twisting corridors, while Aidan covered their rear with arrows that struck down shadowy forms that melted into vapor.
Kael ran alongside Aleron, his movements uncertain but determined. The blade in his hand, unfamiliar and alien in design, seemed to vibrate with a life of its own.
"Stay close!" Aleron shouted, slashing through a tendril of darkness that lunged at them.
"These things—" Kael panted, his storm-grey eyes flickering with fear and fury, "they're drawn to me!"
"They know what you are!" Seraphina called back, her magic igniting the hallway in bursts of blinding flame. "Don't stop!"
As they rounded a corner, a massive voidbeast blocked their path. Its gaping maw split into rows of fangs, and tendrils of darkness writhed from its torso like hungry limbs. It roared, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
"Hold it off!" Aleron planted his feet, raising his sword as he faced the monstrous form.
Jareth sprang into action with a vicious snarl, his daggers slicing through tendrils as they lashed out. "This thing won't fall easily!"
Aidan loosed enchanted arrows, each one bursting with light as it struck the voidbeast's hide, but the creature seemed unfazed. It lunged forward, its claws swiping at Aleron, who barely deflected the blow with a grunt of effort.
Kael's heart pounded in his chest. His hand tightened on his blade. Every instinct screamed at him to run, but something deeper—the pull of destiny or the weight of survival—rooted him in place.
The sigil on his hand flared.
A burst of raw, white-hot energy surged from his palm, arcing through the air like a spear of lightning. It struck the voidbeast, searing into its core with a brilliant explosion that shook the walls and sent waves of darkness recoiling.
The beast writhed, shrieking in agony before dissolving into ash.
Silence fell, save for the heavy breathing of the group.
"What was that?" Jareth demanded, his eyes wide as he stepped back from the smoldering remains.
Kael stared at his hand, the sigil slowly dimming. His breath came in ragged gasps. "I... I don't know."
Aleron watched him carefully. "It saved us."
"But it's also dangerous," Aidan muttered, his bow still half-raised. "That power—"
"Is ours to figure out," Aleron cut in sharply. "We'll find answers, but first, we survive."
Seraphina's expression softened. She reached out, placing a steadying hand on Kael's shoulder. "You're stronger than you know. But strength alone isn't enough. You need control."
Kael nodded, his resolve hardening. "Then teach me."