The thing began to rise, slowly unfolded from the darkness, rising from the floor as black mist poured from its body. The moment it stood upright, the entire team reacted almost simultaneously.
Weapons were gripped tightly.
Samuel lowered his stance and held his spear ready. Don raised his shield and sword. Maira's curved blades were already in her hands. Leyan drew his bow and aimed directly at the creature, his arrow already nocked and ready to be released.
Clyde remained still. He stared at the creature from a distance. His eyes trembled. Because he felt something was coming from that creature, an overwhelming presence that he knew.
Clyde could feel an immense amount of energy radiating from its body. But that was not what disturbed him.
It was the nature of that energy. The blackness, the endless darkness, the feeling of something ancient hiding beneath layers of darkness.
Clyde's heart suddenly tightened, because he knew this feeling, he had felt it before.
