Chapter

141noveldrama

while the others kept their weapons ready.

Cassian led his team deeper into the fortress, the oppressive darkness pressing in from every side. The air was thick with the acrid scent of shadow magic, and every step felt like a march into the maw of a beast. Anica moved ahead, her sharp eyes scanning for traps, "Stay close," Cassian whispered. "This place is a death trap."

As if on cue, a section of the floor ahead crumbled, revealing a pit of jagged spikes. Anica halted abruptly, motioning for the group to stop. "They've fortified every inch of this place. We'll need to rely on speed and precision."

They edged past the pit, only to trigger an ambush further down the corridor. Shadow beasts emerged from hidden alcoves, their guttural growls echoing off the stone walls. The team fought fiercely, their coordinated attacks keeping the beasts at bay. Cassian's blade glinted as he dispatched a creature lunging for Anica, his movements precise and deadly. "We don't have time for this," he growled, kicking a beast aside.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield outside, Aurora felt her strength waning. The Pact's energy coursed through her like wildfire, burning her from within. Every pulse of light she unleashed came at a greater cost, and her vision blurred as exhaustion crept in.

The construct stumbled under the combined attacks of Erya's moon wolves and the pack's warriors. Anica's earlier strategy was bearing fruit, but it wasn't enough. The Lycan King himself entered the fray, his towering form exuding raw power that turned the tide of battle. With a single sweep of his arm, he sent wolves scattering like leaves in a storm.

Aurora gritted her teeth, summoning a shield of light to protect the retreating wolves. The strain made her knees buckle, but she forced herself to stand. In her mind, Solara's voice whispered urgently, the words indistinct but filled with urgency.

Inside the fortress, Cassian and his team finally reached a grand chamber, its walls etched with ancient runes glowing faintly. At the center, the Heart of Solara floated within a cage of dark energy, its once-radiant light flickering erratically. Surrounding it were armored guards, their eyes glowing with the Lycan King's corruption.

Cassian raised his hand to signal the team to halt. "This is it," he said grimly. "We end it here."