The chamber was alive with dark energy, the swirling shadows coalescing into grotesque shapes as the dark sorcerer raised their arms. The barrier around the pedestal shimmered with malevolent power, pulsing with the same dark rhythm that emanated from the Heart of Shadows.
Elara tightened her grip on her sword, her eyes fixed on the sorcerer. "We need to break through that barrier and get to the Heart!"
Morgana and Aric immediately began working on a counter-spell, their voices rising in a chant that sought to disrupt the dark magic. Cedric and Elias took defensive positions, their weapons ready to fend off the emerging creatures. The sorcerer's laughter echoed through the chamber, a sound that seemed to grow more oppressive with each passing moment.