Chaos erupted at the northern gate as a massive undead beast, taller and grotesque beyond comprehension, tore through defenses. Its movements shattered walls, scattering the living in terror. Kael's Sight flared, revealing threads of souls twisted in rage and destruction. Hunger screamed, promising power enough to crush the creature instantly, but at what cost?
Kael acted with deliberate precision. He extended the Sight, threading control through nearby lesser undead, compelling them to immobilize the beast without destroying it. It was a battle of wills, each movement draining him physically and mentally. The beast roared, shaking the walls and rattling bones, yet Kael maintained his focus, countering the hunger's pull and threading fragments of power carefully.
The clash lasted hours. Defenders regained composure, encouraged by Kael's control, while he continued to guide, stabilize, and manipulate the dead. When the dust settled, the gate remained intact, the horde partially restrained, and the enclave had survived. Exhaustion weighed on Kael like a physical force, but he understood something vital: mastery was not merely about defeating the enemy, it was about surviving oneself.