Jace's vision tunneled, his focus narrowing to the onslaught before him. The wave of shadow creatures surged, claws and fangs flashing with deadly intent, but his rage blazed hotter. His blue flames roared, a living inferno swirling around him. He was no longer a man fighting an enemy, he was an unrelenting storm, a force of nature hell-bent on destruction.The first creature lunged, jaws wide and dripping with oily darkness. Jace sidestepped, his movements swift and precise, and his flame-coated fist slammed into it's face. The beast's head dissolved into smoke, it's body collapsing into ash before it could hit the ground.More came, relentless and mindless. A hulking shadow-beast swung on massive clawed arm at him. Jace ducked low, fire streaking from his hands to his blade, reforged by sheer will. He drove the sword into the creature's abdomen, twisting it until the darkness split apart with a deafening shriek. The creature's essence disintegrated, the air thick with the scent of b

Pain shot through Jace's body as he drifted between consciousness and the cold abyss of darkness. His limbs felt like they were made of lead, and a sharp ache radiated from every joint. His chest heaved, desperate for air, each breath shallow and jagged. The last thing he remembered was Aila’s light exploding in a brilliant collision with the lieutenant’s darkness, and then everything had gone black.His eyes fluttered open, and the world came into focus in slow, agonizing fragments. The sky above him was a mottled canvas of storm clouds, roiling with an ominous gray hue. The scent of burnt earth and ash clung to the air. Around him, the ground was scorched and cracked, remnants of his unleashed fire still smoldering in fading blue embers.He forced his aching body to move, pushing himself onto his hands and knees. His vision swam, but one thought burned through the haze.Aila.“Aila!” he rasped, his throat raw and dry. He tried to stand, but his legs gave out, and he crashed back to

Jace's breathing finally began to slow as he pressed his forehead against Aila's, her touch anchoring him amidst the chaos. The cold, damp air of the cave settled around them like a suffocating blanket, but for this fragile moment, they were together, hearts beating in unison. Their fragile sanctuary felt like the eye of a storm, calm, but perilously temporary."We can't stay here long," Jace murmured, his voice low and ragged. "He'll find us if we don't move soon."Aila nodded, her green eyes reflecting the faint glow of her light. "We need time to regroup. To figure out a plan."Jace's jaw clenched. "We need more than that. We need help."He could feel his strength waning, the fire inside him barely a flicker. As much as he hated to admit it, they were running on borrowed time. The Phantom King’s power was unlike anything they'd faced before, a relentless force of nature that wouldn't stop until everything was reduced to darkness.Aila seemed to sense his turmoil. She squeezed his h

The rumbling grew louder, the cave walls splitting and sending jagged rocks crashing down around them. Dust choked the air, filling their lungs and stinging their eyes. Jace gripped Aila's hand tighter, his other arm raised in a protective arc of blue flame, fending off debris as they sprinted for their lives."Stay close!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the deafening collapse.Lorian was just ahead, his sword cutting through falling rocks as if he were slicing through air. Erynn staggered beside him, one hand clutching a wound at her side, but her eyes were fierce, her resolve unwavering.Aila’s golden light pulsed, forming a protective barrier around them as they ran. The glow mingled with Jace’s flames, creating a path through the chaos, a beacon of survival amidst impending destruction."We're almost there!" Lorian yelled, his voice hoarse.The tunnel ahead was narrowing, a jagged crack of daylight barely visible through the swirling dust. Jace’s heart pounded. The open

The forest’s shadows stretched long and cold as the night deepened. The fragile safety they’d carved out in the clearing felt tenuous, a thread pulled too tight, ready to snap. Jace’s eyes roved the darkness, the crackling fire doing little to dispel his unease. He knew better than to trust the calm.Lorian was by the fire, his back to a tree, his fingers lightly drumming against the hilt of his sword. Erynn crouched nearby, her eyes narrowed, scanning the surrounding woods. The tension in the air was palpable, as if the forest itself held it's breath.“Jace I think we should both get some rest,” Aila murmured, her hand brushing Jace’s arm. “We need our strength.”Jace nodded reluctantly, though his instincts screamed to stay on guard. He squeezed her hand. “You rest first. I’ll keep watch.”Aila’s eyes softened, but she didn’t argue. She understood his need to protect, even if it cost him. Leaning in close, she whispered, “Don’t wear yourself down to nothing, Jace. We need you.”He p