The glow from the runes flickered ominously, casting eerie shadows across the park. Willow's chanting grew more intense, her voice a steady anchor in the mounting chaos. Cyrus, his senses heightened, scanned the perimeter for any signs of the dark magic users. Xander stood by, holding a stake with a look of grim determination.
"There," Cyrus whispered urgently, pointing to a figure emerging from the trees. The shadowy figure stepped forward, eyes glowing with malevolence, revealing a pale face twisted in a sinister smile.
"So, you thought you could disrupt our plans?" the figure sneered. "Fools."
Buffy appeared seemingly out of nowhere, her arrival silent but impactful. "Guess you didn't get the memo. We're pretty good at messing up evil plans."
The figure, now clearly a sorcerer, hissed in anger and raised his hands, sending a bolt of dark energy hurtling towards Buffy. She dodged swiftly, rolling to the side and coming up with a stake in hand.
"Willow, keep going!" Buffy shouted. "We've got this!"
Willow nodded, her concentration unwavering as she continued to chant. The runes' glow began to fade, their power waning under her spell. Cyrus and Xander stepped forward to face the sorcerer, their resolve unshakable.
"You're outnumbered," Cyrus said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. "It's over."
The sorcerer laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "You have no idea what you're dealing with, boy."
With a flick of his wrist, the sorcerer summoned a swirling vortex of dark energy. Cyrus felt the pull, his feet sliding across the ground as the vortex threatened to engulf them. He focused, summoning his own magic to counter the force. Blue energy crackled at his fingertips as he pushed back against the dark vortex.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Xander, get ready!" Cyrus shouted, his voice strained with effort.
Xander nodded, his eyes fixed on the sorcerer. He edged closer, waiting for an opening. Buffy, seeing the struggle, leaped into action. She darted behind the sorcerer, her movements a blur of speed and precision.
With a swift, powerful strike, Buffy kicked the sorcerer in the back, sending him stumbling forward. The dark vortex wavered, its pull weakening. Cyrus seized the opportunity, unleashing a blast of blue energy that collided with the sorcerer's magic, causing an explosion of light and shadow.
"Now, Xander!" Cyrus yelled.
Xander lunged forward, driving his stake into the ground near the sorcerer, disrupting his concentration. The sorcerer let out a guttural scream, his body convulsing as the magic around him faltered.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook violently. From the depths of the earth, dark tendrils of energy erupted, wrapping around Cyrus and Xander's legs. They were yanked off their feet, dragged towards the sorcerer. Buffy's eyes widened in alarm as she watched her friends being pulled into the growing vortex.
"Buffy, help!" Cyrus shouted, struggling against the tendrils.
Buffy sprinted towards them, but the sorcerer raised his hand, creating a barrier of dark energy between her and her friends. She slammed into the barrier, bouncing back with a grunt of pain.
"Willow, we need to do something!" Buffy yelled over her shoulder.
Willow's chanting faltered for a moment, her eyes widening as she took in the scene. She redoubled her efforts, her voice rising in intensity. The runes' glow intensified, battling against the darkness.
The sorcerer's sinister smile widened. "You cannot win. Your friends are doomed."
The tendrils tightened their grip on Cyrus and Xander, pulling them closer to the vortex's maw. Cyrus's fingers crackled with blue energy, but he was struggling to maintain his focus.
"We have to break this barrier!" Buffy shouted, slamming her fists against the dark energy. "Willow, hurry!"
The park echoed with the sounds of battle, the air thick with tension and the clash of magic. As the vortex's pull grew stronger, Cyrus and Xander's fate hung in the balance, leaving Buffy and Willow in a desperate race against time.