"Watch out!"

Cyran's face went pale as he swung his staff wildly. The arcane sigil flared to its full size in an instant, straining to block the claw.

Terraen shouted and slammed both palms to the ground. A wall of earth, several yards thick and shimmering with ochre crystal light, erupted between the sigil and the attack.

Dustin poured every ounce of his strength into the strike. His mystical pure energy surged through his sword without restraint, forming a condensed cyan sword aura that seemed sharp enough to split light from darkness. He aimed it directly at the center of the claw.

The three unleashed their full defenses, but Malthor's claws smashed through them with unstoppable force. There was no stalemate, only the sound of everything collapsing.

The crystal-light barrier that Terraen had conjured shattered like paper. Cyran's arcane sigil twisted violently, the swirling energies spinning madly in a desperate attempt to contain the dark energy. However, it could only last fo