The battlefield crackled with raw, chaotic energy as the rift continued its relentless pull, the luminous tendrils constricting the Herald’s grotesque frame. It thrashed and roared, defiance burning in its cluster of crimson eyes. But as the pull of the rift strengthened, a sinister gleam flickered within its gaze. The Herald was not finished.

Jack felt the change before he saw it. The air thickened with malice, and a low, guttural sound rumbled from the creature’s throat. Its barbed claws flexed, its segmented tail coiled tightly, and then its torso swelled unnaturally as holes opened up along its length. The faint shimmer across its exoskeleton intensified, a sickly green glow emanating from within.

The Herald’s body convulsed violently, and with a piercing shriek, it unleashed a volley of green spines from its newly opened orifices. The projectiles streaked through the air like jagged arrows, glinting with an oily sheen. They fanned out in a deadly arc, each one tipped with venom potent enough to melt stone.

“Scatter!” Jack roared, diving to the side as the projectiles tore through the space he’d just occupied. Monsoon and Goldeyes reacted instantly, their fluid movements carrying them clear of the danger. Lyla raised her staff, a veritable dome of vines springing up around her to intercept the spines. The barrier quivered under the impact but held firm, though the vines practically melted wherever struck.

Cael, however, wasn’t as fortunate. The goblin had been mid-leap, daggers poised to strike at the Herald’s weakening joints, when the spines erupted. Most bounced off his armor but two found gaps in the armor. One caught him in the shoulder, another grazing his thigh. He hit the ground hard, a cry of pain escaping his lips as the venom began to work its way through his system.

“Cael!” Jack yelled, scrambling to his feet and racing toward his fallen comrade. The Herald’s screeches grew more frantic as the rift’s tendrils tightened, but Jack couldn’t afford to look. He skidded to a stop beside Cael, who was pale and trembling, the area around the wounds already darkening ominously.

“Stay with me,” Jack urged, pressing his hands over the wounds in a futile attempt to stem the venom’s spread. Lyla was at his side moments later, her staff glowing with a soft, golden light.

“I’ll do what I can,” she said, her voice steady despite the chaos around them. She quickly cast Health Surge. Cael’s breathing steadied slightly, but his face was still taut with pain.

The Herald wasn’t done. Even as the rift dragged it backward, it lashed out one final time. Its barbed tail whipped through the air, severing one of the luminous tendrils in a shower of sparks. The rift’s energy faltered for a moment, the pull weakening.

“It’s trying to break free!” Lyla cried.

Jack’s gaze snapped to the rift. The Herald’s malevolent intelligence burned brighter than ever, its thrashing taking on a terrifying purpose. It dug its claws into the ground, anchoring itself as it fought against the rift’s pull. For a heart-stopping moment, it looked as though the creature might succeed.

“No,” Jack growled, determination flaring within him. He looked to Goldeyes, who stood poised and growling low in his throat. “Goldeyes, hit it with everything you’ve got. We’re ending this now.”

Goldeyes’ golden eyes gleamed with understanding. He stepped forward, his massive form radiating an aura of primal power. His howl pierced the air, resonating deep within the ether. The spectral wolves surged forward at his call, their ghostly forms converging on the Herald. Their fangs and claws bypassed its armor entirely, sinking into the vulnerable ether beneath and anchoring it in place.

“Monsoon, now!” Jack commanded.

The Wavewolf didn’t hesitate. Water surged around its form, coalescing into a massive wave that crashed down on the Herald. The force of the water drove the creature back toward the rift, its claws losing purchase on the ground. Monsoon darted in and out of the fray, its icy claws raking across the Herald’s joints and further weakening its resistance.

Jack watched, his breath caught in his throat, as the Herald’s form was consumed by the rift. The luminous tendrils wrapped around it like chains, pulling it into the swirling depths. The creature’s crimson eyes flickered and dimmed, its final roar of defiance echoing across the battlefield.

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The rift pulsed one last time, then collapsed in on itself with a blinding flash of light. The battlefield fell silent, the oppressive weight of the Herald’s presence finally lifting.

For a moment, Jack allowed himself to exhale in relief, but the sharp cry of pain from Cael snapped his attention back to the immediate danger.

Jack turned to see Cael sprawled on the ground, clutching at his side where several venomous spines jutted out from his armor. The poison coursing through them was already spreading, black veins spidering across his skin. Lyla was at his side, her hands glowing with healing light, but her expression was grim.

“It’s not working,” Lyla said through gritted teeth. Sweat dripped from her brow as she poured her energy into Cael. “This poison is too strong. It’s fighting back against my magic. I tried using the health potions but something about this toxin neutralizes their effect.”

Jack knelt beside Cael, his heart pounding. The younger man’s breathing was shallow, his skin clammy. Jack reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Stay with me, Cael,” he urged. “We’ll find a way to fix this.”

“Jack,” Cael rasped, his voice barely audible. “Don’t waste… your time. I’m done for.”

“Shut up,” Jack snapped, his voice harsher than he intended. “You’re not going anywhere.”

As Jack scanned the cavern, his eyes caught a faint glimmer in the shadows. At the back of the chamber, partially obscured by debris, stood a structure he hadn’t noticed before. Because it hadn’t been there when they entered the chamber. It was a pedestal, ornate and ancient, its surface etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly with an otherworldly light. Recognition dawned on him like a bolt of lightning.

“The Pedestal of Sacrifice,” Jack muttered, his mind racing. It must have emerged when the Sovereign-the Boss of the Floor-had died. They had the power to merge items, transforming them into something new. But this wasn’t just about creating something useful. Jack’s gut told him it could do more.

“What are you thinking?” Lyla asked, her voice tinged with desperation.

Jack rose to his feet, determination hardening his features. “That pedestal. It’s our only chance.”

“The Pedestal of Sacrifice?” Lyla’s eyes widened. “You’re not serious. We don’t even know how it works.”

“We don’t have time to figure it out,” Jack said, already moving toward the pedestal. “If it can merge items, maybe it can do more. Maybe it can draw the poison out of Cael and bind it to something else.”

Lyla hesitated for a heartbeat, then nodded. “What do you need?”

Jack knelt beside Cael again. “I’m going to need one of your daggers,” he said softly as he reached for the blade clutched in the goblins spasming right hand.

Cael managed a weak smile. “Figures… you’d take my favorite one…”

Jack forced a smile in return, though his heart ached. He gently removed the finely crafted dagger. The blade was sleek and deadly, its edge gleaming even in the dim light.

With Lyla’s help, Jack lifted Cael and carried him to the pedestal. The ancient artifact seemed to hum with anticipation as they approached. Jack laid Cael gently on its surface, positioning him so that the venomous spines were visible. Then he placed the dagger beside him.

“I hope this works,” Jack muttered under his breath. He placed his hands on the pedestal, feeling its cold, smooth surface. The runes flared brighter, their light casting eerie shadows across the cavern. A low thrumming sound filled the air, resonating deep in Jack’s chest.

“What now?” Lyla asked, her voice barely audible over the growing hum.

Jack closed his eyes, focusing his thoughts. He had used these before and he knew the pedestal should respond to his intent. He had no idea if it would work on a substance like this toxin especially if it was inside a living being. But he had to try. He visualized the poison being drawn out of Cael’s body, siphoned into the dagger. The runes on the pedestal began to shift and rearrange.

The process began with a sudden jolt. Cael arched his back, a pained cry escaping his lips as the pedestal’s magic took hold. The venomous spines embedded in his flesh began to dissolve, their noxious energy flowing into the dagger. The blade absorbed the poison like a sponge, its surface darkening as it took on a sinister sheen.

“It’s working,” Lyla whispered, awe and relief mingling in her voice.

Jack watched, his heart pounding, as the black veins receded from Cael’s skin. His breathing grew steadier, the tension in his body easing. But the dagger… it was no longer the same weapon. It pulsed with a dark energy, the poison infusing its essence and transforming it into something new and dangerous.

When the light of the pedestal dimmed and the hum faded, Jack carefully removed the dagger. It felt warm in his hand, almost alive. He turned to Lyla. “Help me move him. We need to get him somewhere safe.”

Together, they carried Cael to a nearby outcropping, away from the pedestal. Lyla immediately began tending to him again, her healing magic now free to work without the poison’s interference.

Cael’s eyes fluttered open, and he looked up at Jack with a weak smile. “Guess you didn’t… let me go after all.”

Jack chuckled softly, though his voice was thick with emotion. “Not a chance. You’re stuck with us, Cael.”

“What about the dagger?” Cael asked, his gaze shifting to the weapon in Jack’s hand.

Jack held it up, studying the blade. It seemed to radiate a malevolent energy, the poison’s power contained within its form. “It’s different,” he said. “Stronger. But dangerous. We’ll have to be careful with it.”

“You always are,” Cael said, his voice growing fainter as exhaustion overtook him.