The bluish-purple corona surrounding the monolith radiated brighter as the sound within increased in volume and ferocity. Within the monolith's black emptiness, a single pinprick of twinkling white light appeared, like the first star in an evening sky. Around the monolith, the symbols on the back of the stone columns surrounding it began to glow with a pulsing red light as a haze of ozone rose from each stone's base. A low thrum rose and fell in rhythm with the symbols. Suddenly, tendrils of white and blue arcs shot from the monolith to the stones, followed by a loud clap of thunder with each strike. The base and brass sounds caused the air, stones, and the very vale itself to shake, hit by a calumniated crescendo of power.

Within the crevasse, arcs of energy from the stones reflected in the narrowed eyes of the shadowed creature that stood sentinel over the ring of stones, chronicling what was happening or watching expectantly for an event to occur. As the creature watched, the arcs of energy intensified in power and frequency. Thunder, preceded by pops and crackles of energy buildup, grew louder with each discharge to the monolith. The process became more frequent, louder, and brighter, until the creature's narrowed eyes became mere slits, trying to fend off the brightness. The sound was deafening, the atmosphere tense. The energy within the ring of stones made the very air feel palpable, almost as if it would overflow. Arcs of energy began to rebound off the monolith back to alternate stones, with occasional more powerful arcs striking outside the ring. As if by instinct, the creature in the shadows closed its eyes just as an arc of energy struck near the opening of the crevasse. A blinding flash turned the darkness within into day for but a brief instance, partially revealing the horror: an elongated skull with jagged, long, sharpened teeth in a grimaced, rictus smile, bowed on two enormous hooked front appendages. Its eyes shut tight against the light as it emitted a hiss. Darkness returned to the crevasse, but the lamplit-like eyes never returned.

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