Kai pressed his palm against the barrier once more. The resistance was like pushing through thick stone coated in ice, but he could feel it weakening. Threads of life essence peeled away, unraveling the arcane weave that had held this prison together for countless warped years.
[192,457 / 250,000]
He gritted his teeth. The drain was slower now—like the barrier was aware of its demise and clinging to its final strength. The runes pulsed in irregular patterns, once neatly symmetrical, now fracturing like a dying heartbeat.
Across from him, Orlin sat cross-legged on the worn stone floor, skeletal hands resting atop his rotted robes, what remained of his flesh clinging to the bone like desiccated parchment. His once-proud crown had fused with his brow, and his eyes glowed faintly, like distant stars seen through a mist.
