Round 53

Seraphine slammed her staff into the ground, a burst of arcane power erupting from its tip and spreading outwards in a shimmering dome around her. The demon lunged again, its claws scraping against the invisible barrier with a high-pitched screech that made her teeth ache. She could feel the creature's malevolent energy pressing against her defenses, testing for weaknesses.

"Merrin! Varrika!" she shouted, her voice echoing off the stone walls. "Can you hear me? I'm here—both of you stay put and don't engage anything!"

The air was thick with magic now, the very stones seeming to vibrate with ancient power. Seraphine's sharp eyes darted around the chamber, taking in every detail—the ominous runes pulsing with dark energy, the scuttling sounds growing louder from somewhere below. She needed to find a way down to her trapped companions, and fast.

"Jeane!" she called out, her voice tight with urgency. "I need your eyes up here—any sign of more threats or weaknesses in this ward? I'm about to try descending, but I don't want to trigger something worse!"

The demon snarled at her from just beyond the barrier, its crimson eyes burning with hatred. Seraphine gritted her teeth and focused on maintaining the shield, her mind racing through potential spells and countermeasures. She could hear Merrin's voice responding faintly from below—at least they were alive—and that was all that mattered right now.

"Stay strong," she whispered, more to herself than to them. "I'm coming."