Chapter 17
A massive shadow beast erupted from the cavern's depths, guarding the shard. Its roar shook the walls, reverberating through the chamber, while eyes glimmered like burning coals in the dark. The ground trembled beneath its steps.
Mira's flames erupted, hissing as they met the beast's dark form, while Kaelen's traps sprang from the shadows, ensnaring its limbs and slowing its advance. Lyra's heart pounded. She drew strength from the shard, shaping it into a spear of white-hot light. With a deep breath, she lunged, striking with precision. The beast recoiled, letting out a deafening roar, and retreated into the cavern's shadowed depths.
The echoes of the battle faded, leaving only the soft drip of water and the lingering hum of magic. Slowly, the shard floated to Lyra's hand, warm and pulsating with life. Its energy coursed through her veins, and she felt a connection unlike anything she had known—a bond that bridged her to the very magic of the realms.
Lyra's breath steadied. She had faced the trial of the peak and survived, earning not just the shard, but a glimpse of the power she was destined to wield. The journey ahead would be even harder, but she knew, for the first time, she was ready.
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