Chapter 43: The Shattered Altar

The hooded figure stood tall at the altar, their hands glowing with dark energy as they chanted in an ancient language. The air grew colder with each word, and the runes on the altar pulsed faster, their light almost blinding.

Aelric, Seraphina, and Lyra pushed forward, cutting through the beasts that tried to block their path. Aelric's pendant burned against his chest, its warmth a stark contrast to the icy darkness around them.

"Keep going!" he shouted, his voice firm. "We're almost there!"

Seraphina leaped ahead, her sword blazing as she struck at the figure. But they raised a barrier of dark energy, deflecting her attack and sending her skidding across the floor. She groaned, clutching her side.

"Is that all you've got?" the figure taunted, their voice dripping with mockery. "The Lost Heir and his little band of misfits. Pathetic."

Aelric felt anger rise in his chest. He stepped forward, his sword glowing brighter. "You talk too much."

With a surge of energy, he swung his blade, the light colliding with the figure's barrier. For a moment, the barrier flickered, and Lyra seized the opportunity. She hurled a bolt of magic at the altar, the runes dimming slightly.

"It's working!" she cried. "Keep the pressure on!"

Seraphina got back to her feet, her eyes blazing with determination. "Let's finish this."

The three of them attacked in unison, their combined power overwhelming the figure's defenses. The barrier shattered, and the figure stumbled back, their hood falling to reveal a woman's face—pale, with eyes that glowed an unnatural purple.

"You… you don't understand," she hissed, her voice filled with desperation. "This isn't just about me. The Eternal Shadow is bigger than all of us."

"Maybe," Aelric said, his sword raised. "But it's not bigger than our will to fight."

With a final strike, he drove his blade into the altar. The runes exploded in a burst of light, and the entire chamber shook as the darkness began to collapse.

"Run!" Lyra shouted, grabbing Aelric's arm. They sprinted toward the passage as the chamber crumbled behind them.