The flames vanished, swallowed without a trace.
Asher clicked his tongue and retreated, creating more distance from the spreading darkness on the ground.
He tapped his fingers together, cycling through different elemental spells. Lightning, ice, wind—each one vanished the moment it touched the shadow.
Nothing worked.
Below, the black matter moved like thick oil, creeping in tendrils toward buildings, light posts, and signs.
One by one, they vanished into it.
Suddenly—slash!
strike came from his left. He turned, raising his barrier—
Crack!
The impact shattered his barrier and sent him flying through the air.
Asher stabilized mid-flight. Though he came out mostly unharmed thanks to his robe, it proved just how deadly those attacks really were.
Casting another spell, he released waves of energy that pulsed through the air like sonar.
Still no sign of Raven.
Not even a hint of movement in the dark ground below.
