Their relief lasted only moments.
A deep horn shook the ruins, followed by the clash of steel and the hiss of serpents. From every shattered archway poured the Serpent's army: cultists in crimson, shadow-born beasts with fanged maws, and at their head—the hooded man.
"The Crown awakens," he called, voice echoing like a thousand whispers. "And it shall be ours!"
Mira drew her blade, Edran raised his staff, and Aric felt the fire rise inside him like a storm.
The battle for the Crown had begun.