Chapter 40

• I stood there, breathing heavily, taking in the chaos around me. Bodies lay scattered, some still twitching, others lifeless, as Alaric’s men and Craven’s men fought on. My heart pounded, the power rushing through me in dark surges. I hadn’t felt this kind of strength before, and it was terrifying.
• Serena stayed close, her spear dripping with blood, eyes darting to every corner, keeping guard. "Stay focused," she said sharply. "They'll try to exploit any distraction."
• I nodded, wiping sweat from my forehead, though it was mixed with blood, mine or someone else’s, I couldn’t tell. Just then, I spotted another man rushing toward us, his eyes filled with rage. Without hesitation, I raised my hand, and a bolt of black lightning shot out, piercing his chest. He let out a gut-wrenching scream as his body convulsed violently. Purple veins spread across his skin, causing him to steam before his body turned to solid iron and crumbled to the ground.