The star-like dragon in the sky opened his mouth, a bright, flickering darkness gathering inside. The sight of his allies retreating below held him back momentarily, their understanding of his intention clear in their hurried movements.
Vesuvius waited, his throat itching with pent-up energy. At last, the land before the gate cleared, and he released his wrath. A pitch-black beam, pulsing with blindingly bright golden and purple flames, descended, drawing a line to the gate.
The center of the beam was a void of utter darkness, surrounded by a dazzling halo of radiant energy, like the accretion discs around a black hole. The beam's core devoured everything in its path, while the surrounding flames scorched the air and land.
The moment the burning darkness struck the gate, it expanded rapidly, tearing stones from the ground. The beam carved a swath of devastation, pulverizing and incinerating everything within hundreds of meters.