Checkmate: Flash Cut

The old mage screamed as the golden flames consumed him, purifying the dark energy that surrounded him. Lyle stood there, watching as the corrupted mage disintegrated into nothingness. The underground area began to shake, and Lyle could sense that something was happening with the altar in front of him.

The dark energy gathered around it before a face appeared.

It was barely a face even as there were no features, only three holes in the dark energy that had become so dense it was now tangible.

The mouth opened, but instead of words, what came out was a sound so horrifying, so otherworldly, that the golden light covering Lyle immediately disappeared while he fell on his knees, his ears and eyes bleeding.

He closed his eyes right away as he remembered something.

The dark energy and everything else that was going on in the capital was only because the Emperor was worshipping an evil god.