Elorin's heart pounds in her chest as the shadowy figure rises from the fissure, its form writhing and shifting in ways that make her stomach turn. The air around it is suffocating, filled with dark magic that makes every breath feel heavy, each gasp harder than the last. Her grip tightens on the relic, its glow intensifying as if responding to the threat before them.

The figure stands tall, towering over the clearing. Its eyes, glowing with a cold, eerie light, lock onto Elorin with a hunger that sends a chill down her spine. The darkness that clings to it seems alive, coiling around its limbs like smoke. For a moment, the world seems to hold its breath, as if waiting for something terrible to happen.

Rhylen steps in front of her, his sword raised, his body tense. "Stay behind me, Elorin," he says, his voice low but commanding. "Whatever that thing is, it's not here by accident."

Elorin's pulse races, her mind struggling to process what's happening. This isn't Varkos. This is something else—something older, darker. She can feel it in the air, in the way the ground trembles beneath her feet. The relic pulses in her hand, its warmth the only thing grounding her as the dark figure takes a step toward them.

"You feel it too, don't you?" the figure says, its voice a deep, guttural rumble that echoes through the clearing. "The relic calls to me. It knows my name."

Elorin shudders. The creature's voice seems to vibrate in the air, crawling under her skin like a living thing. She steps back, clutching the relic tightly against her chest. The symbols etched into it glow brighter, reacting to the presence of the creature, but it's not enough. The power of the relic is still wild, uncontrolled, and she doesn't know how to use it.

"What are you?" Rhylen demands, his sword gleaming in the dim light as he takes a defensive stance. His eyes never leave the dark figure, his body ready to strike at any moment.

The figure chuckles, the sound like stones grinding together. "I am not your concern, mortal," it says, taking another step closer. "The relic… that is what I seek. It was created to open the door between worlds, to bring forth the power that slumbers beyond. And now, you've brought it to me."

Elorin's heart skips a beat. The door between worlds? Her mind spins, trying to grasp the implications of what the creature is saying. She had always thought the relic was a weapon, something powerful enough to stop the invasion. But now… could it be something more? Something far more dangerous?

Rhylen shifts his stance, his sword glinting in the faint light of the relic. "You're not getting the relic," he growls, his voice full of determination.

The dark figure laughs again, the sound grating and mocking. "You cannot stop what is coming. The relic is the key, and its power will be mine."

With a sudden burst of movement, the creature lunges forward, faster than Elorin can react. The darkness around it surges, swirling like a storm as it reaches for her, its long, shadowy fingers outstretched. Rhylen moves to intercept, his sword flashing through the air as he strikes at the creature, but the blade passes through it like smoke.

The creature's eyes flare with light, and the shadows around it twist and writhe, lashing out at Rhylen with tendrils of dark magic. He grits his teeth, his muscles straining as he fights to hold his ground, but the force of the attack drives him back.

"Rhylen!" Elorin shouts, panic rising in her chest as she watches him struggle against the onslaught.

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She knows they can't win this fight—not like this. The creature is too powerful, its magic too overwhelming. The relic flares in her hand, its warmth surging through her, but she still doesn't know how to control it. The power is there, just beneath the surface, but it's wild, untamed.

The creature turns its gaze back to Elorin, its glowing eyes narrowing as it steps closer, the shadows around it shifting and pulsing. "Give me the relic," it says, its voice low and dangerous. "And I will spare you."

Elorin's heart races. The weight of the relic feels heavier than ever in her hand. Every instinct tells her to run, to give in, but she knows she can't. If she hands over the relic, the consequences will be catastrophic.

"I can't," she whispers, her voice shaking.

The creature's eyes flare with anger, and the shadows surge around it, growing darker, more oppressive. "Then you will die."

Before Elorin can react, the shadows lash out, twisting around her like vines, pinning her in place. The darkness is suffocating, cold and relentless, and no matter how hard she struggles, she can't break free. Panic rises in her chest as the creature steps closer, its eyes burning with hunger.

Rhylen lets out a roar of defiance, charging forward with his sword raised, but the creature swats him aside with a flick of its hand, sending him crashing into the trees. He hits the ground hard, groaning in pain.

"Rhylen!" Elorin screams, her heart clenching with fear.

The creature reaches for her, its shadowy hand closing around her wrist. The relic pulses violently in her hand, its light flaring as if in protest, but it's not enough. The shadows tighten around her, and she feels the cold, dark energy seeping into her skin, draining her strength.

"Do you feel it?" the creature whispers, leaning in closer. "The power of the relic is mine. It was always meant to be mine."

Elorin's vision blurs as the darkness presses in from all sides. Her heart pounds in her chest, fear and helplessness overwhelming her. She can feel the relic's power, but it's slipping away from her, out of her control. If she doesn't do something—if she doesn't find a way to stop this—Varkos won't be the only one they have to worry about.

The creature's grip tightens, and Elorin gasps as a searing pain shoots through her arm, the relic's light flickering as the creature tries to take it from her.

"No," she whispers, her voice barely audible.

The relic pulses again, harder this time, the light flaring once more. Elorin squeezes her eyes shut, focusing all of her energy on the relic, willing it to respond, to fight back. She can feel its power, wild and chaotic, but it's there. And it's waiting for her.

"Elorin!" Rhylen's voice cuts through the darkness, strained but strong. "You can do this! Control it!"

She grits her teeth, focusing harder. The pain in her arm intensifies, but she refuses to let go. The relic's light pulses in time with her heartbeat, and slowly, slowly, she feels the power begin to shift—begin to respond to her will.

The darkness tightens around her, but she pushes back, channeling the relic's energy. The warmth spreads through her, stronger now, more controlled. The symbols on the relic glow brighter, casting a golden light through the shadows.

The creature recoils, its grip loosening as the relic flares to life, its power surging through Elorin like a tidal wave. The shadows around her dissolve, the oppressive darkness retreating as the light grows brighter, more intense.

With a final, desperate push, Elorin releases the relic's power in a burst of golden light that floods the clearing. The creature lets out a piercing scream as the light washes over it, its form flickering and twisting as it's torn apart by the force of the relic's magic.

And then, in an instant, it's gone.

The shadows vanish, the air stilling in the aftermath of the blast. Elorin collapses to her knees, gasping for breath, the relic's light dimming once more. Her body trembles with exhaustion, but the weight of the darkness is gone.

Rhylen stumbles over to her, clutching his side where the creature had thrown him, but his eyes are full of concern. "Elorin, are you alright?"

She nods weakly, her voice barely a whisper. "I… I did it."

Rhylen kneels beside her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "You controlled the relic. You saved us."

Elorin swallows hard, her heart still racing. "I don't know how I did it. It just… happened."

Rhylen glances around the clearing, his expression still tense. "Whatever that thing was, it's gone for now. But Varkos will be back. And we need to be ready."

Elorin looks down at the relic in her hand, the symbols glowing faintly in the dim light. She's unlocked some of its power, but there's still so much she doesn't understand. So much they still need to figure out.

And with the third key still out there, time is running out.