The warlock monster charged, its massive form tearing through the battlefield with the force of an earthquake. Callista, glowing with magic, remained steady within the circle, the runes around her blazing with energy.
Elira's voice echoed across the field as she chanted the ancient incantation, pulling magic from the air, the ground, and even the dying stars above. Callista's body lifted slightly off the ground, her eyes shining with an otherworldly light—one gold, one crimson. The ritual had begun.
The spirits of ancient witches and werewolves formed a barrier around her, holding the beast at bay.
But then—
A scream cut through the ritual. Dark energy shot like a lance from the cliffside.
Sabrina.
"No!" she roared, her hands crackling with corrupted power as she hurled a blast of magic directly into the circle.
The barrier shattered. Runes exploded in blinding flashes, sending Elira flying and knocking Callista out of the air. She crashed to the ground, the breath ripped from her lungs. The spirits vanished into the wind, the balance broken.
Lucien charged toward Callista, but a wall of black flame erupted between them.
Sabrina descended like a vengeful goddess, her robes flowing, her face twisted with fury. "You really thought you could end this without paying the price?" she spat.
Callista coughed, trying to rise, but Sabrina pressed her palm to her chest, sending a jolt of paralyzing pain through her.
"You are the key, Callista. You were never meant to stop it. You were born to open the gate completely."
Lucien howled from the other side of the fire, unable to reach her.
Elira struggled to her feet, blood dripping from her brow. "Sabrina, if you finish this, the realms will collapse. Even you won't survive that kind of madness."
"I don't need to survive," Sabrina hissed. "I just need her to break."
With another flick of her wrist, Sabrina unleashed a binding curse on Callista's core magic, wrapping her powers in chains of bloodlight.
Callista screamed as her essence was shackled.
"I'll drain the ancient blood from you myself," Sabrina said coldly, "and use it to awaken the monster fully."
As the sky cracked with crimson lightning and the warlock beast drew closer, the battlefield trembled under the weight of unfinished fate.
And Callista, pinned in darkness, could only whisper one word as her vision blurred—
"Lucien…"