The sanctuary's defenses faltered under the relentless assault of corrupted Ascendants and eldritch creatures. Flames licked at the ancient stones, casting flickering shadows that danced like specters across the bloodied ground.
Aloysius stood at the heart of the chaos, his Ascendant aura blazing fiercely. Lightning arced from his fingertips, striking down foes with calculated precision, while shadows swirled to envelop enemies in suffocating darkness.
Beside him, Kaelis and Serin coordinated the remaining defenders, forming a desperate line to hold back the tide. "We cannot let them breach the inner sanctum!" Kaelis shouted, rallying the warriors.
The enemy pressed harder, their corrupted energy pulsing like a dark heartbeat, seeking to overwhelm both body and spirit. Aloysius could feel the Radiant Veil wavering, fragile and strained under the siege.
In a moment of clarity, Aloysius knew what must be done. Channeling every ounce of his strength, he unleashed a powerful burst of combined lightning and shadow energy, creating a protective barrier that momentarily stemmed the enemy's advance.
But it was a temporary reprieve.
The war for the Radiant Veil had reached a critical juncture their sanctuary was no longer safe, and the battle for the world's soul was about to enter its darkest hour.