First Strike

As the seven supporting magic circles of Mana Storm winked out of existence, the air above the valley rippled and distorted, giving way to a titanic magic circle that snapped into being directly above the keep. It dominated the sky, casting an eerie golden hue across the snow-dusted mountains.

Grand as it was, the circle's true magnificence lay in its sheer scale. Its outermost runes stretched far beyond the confines of the city, encompassing the fortress and the valley walls.

It was the largest spell I had ever cast, coming close to the circle that had heralded the Starfall in High Valley. They differed drastically in power, of course, but my lips twitched in a small smile all the same. 

Golden light crackled like lightning between the spinning runes, rapidly absorbing the mana I poured into the spell. The magic circle didn't merely condense this power; it imbued it with discordance and chaos, transforming it into a force of pure destruction.