The final glyph gave a dull, echoing click, and then silence.
The towering obsidian gate trembled once before parting down the middle with a slow, grinding sound, ancient metal against stone. A rush of air burst outward, sharp and heavy, carrying with it the stench of iron and decay.
Zaria staggered a step back, her face paling as her knees nearly buckled. The golden hue in her eyes flickered, dimmed; her breathing came shallow, strained. A faint trickle of blood ran down from her nose as the aftershock of her forbidden art tore through her suppressed veins.
Ace was startled before he moved instinctively, catching her arm before she could collapse, his voice low and edged with concern, "Zaria, you…"
She shook her head sharply, pulling free, "Don't… talk. Just… open it. I didn't cast that technique so that you could worry about me."
