The sinkhole spewed fresh horror. Shadows rose like oil boiling over, howling in voices not their own. The flame on Jack’s dagger hissed against the corruption, but he didn’t flinch. “Flamebearers—on me!” he roared again! The Dragon Mark bearers fanned out behind him, their marks glowing brighter than ever. Ryan, already crackling with sapphire fire, raised both hands. Flames coiled skyward, forming twin dragons that dove into the sinkhole, carving a path. Emily moved next, fire spiraling from her arms like ribbons, igniting glyphs embedded in the stone. Angela unleashed a pulse of silver heat, searing Void creatures into ash. Sarah leapt into the fray, blades twin arcs of vengeance. “Push forward! Don’t let them reform!” Angela’s voice buzzed over the runespeaker. “The northern flank

