The Last Defense
The temple trembled, its ancient stones groaning under the pressure of unraveling magic. The golden light pulsing from the altar flickered, struggling against the encroaching darkness.
The first shadow lunged.
Tranquility barely had time to react before fire flared from his hands, incinerating the twisted form mid-air. But more came—too many to count, pouring from the cracks in the temple floor like a living tide.
Endymion’s Golden Crystal flashed, releasing a golden wave of energy that repelled the creatures, but they only recoiled momentarily before surging forward again.
Syaoran and Reiko moved in unison, their connection to Terra guiding their steps. The Earth Gem pulsed as the ground beneath them responded—roots bursting from the floor to entangle the creatures, stone pillars rising to block their advance.
Yue’s voice was calm, but firm. “We must stabilize the seal before it fully breaks.”
Clow’s eyes narrowed as he analyzed the flickering altar. “We can channel our magic into it, but we need time.”
Time they didn’t have.
Tranquility’s hands burned with golden fire as he struck down another wave of shadows. “Then we hold them off.”
Endymion stood beside him, his grip tightening on his crystal. “Together.”
The battle erupted in full force.
Blades of light clashed against clawed darkness. Waves of golden fire carved through the horde, but still, the creatures came, relentless and unyielding. Syaoran and Reiko reinforced the walls, stone sealing cracks only for new fractures to appear elsewhere.
Clow and Yue worked in tandem, weaving intricate spells around the altar, golden glyphs forming in the air. The seal flickered, struggling to reform, but it wasn’t enough.
A deafening boom shook the temple.
From the deepest crack in the floor, something enormous began to rise.
Not just shadows—a presence.
Ancient. Waiting.
Watching.
Tranquility’s breath hitched. “What… is that?”
Clow’s expression darkened. “Something that was never meant to wake.”
The seal was failing.
And now, something far worse than mere shadows was stirring.