The towering stone pillars at each corner of the dueling ground still buzzed faintly with leftover mana, like echoes from the battle just fought. Above them, the red sky of the Abyss shimmered as black lightning flashed in the distance, jagged like cracks tearing through the clouds.
Then, cutting through the wind with a loud screech, a Stormclaw demon suddenly landed hard on the blackstone floor. His wide eagle-like wings folded behind his tall body, feathers glossy with magic, and as he landed, he dropped to one knee before Malara, his head slightly bowed.
Malara stepped forward, serious, her long black wings rustling softly. "Stand up," she commanded with calm strength, "What's the cause?"
The Stormclaw stood and raised his sharp golden eyes, his voice rough like scraping metal. "Malara," he began, "this is urgent. News came from the Shadow Basin and three other outer zones. Several Calamities… were found dead."
