As the culmination of the ritual neared, Gabriel opened himself up, offering his very essence to the arcane forces at play. A blinding light enveloped him, turning his pristine white wings into a swirl of ominous shadows. His body flickered, a stark contrast of both pure light and malevolence.
When the light finally subsided, Gabriel stood, seemingly unharmed, but the marks of darkness marred his once radiant presence. His eyes glowed with an eerie, otherworldly taint, betraying the lingering influences of Azazel's evil.
Eric could sense the distinct change in Gabriel's aura. Doubt gnawed at his heart, unsure whether their sacrifice had truly achieved its intended purpose. He hesitated, observing Gabriel's transformed form, uncertain of the consequences they were yet to face.
Gabriel, his voice laced with an unfamiliar resonance, spoke with an unearthly calmness, "The shadows have embraced me, Eric. I am now tainted, forever balancing on a precipice between light and darkness."