Chapter 84: The Eye of the Storm

The storm raged with unrelenting fury, the specter at its heart thrashing as Akari's incantation began to sever its connection to the shard. The ground trembled beneath New Haven, and the wind howled like a chorus of tortured souls. George gritted his teeth, the shard in his hands burning with dark energy. It felt as though it was trying to consume him, pulling at his very soul.

"Almost there!" Akari shouted, her voice strained as she poured all her magic into the ritual. The light surrounding her glowed brighter, illuminating the battlefield with an otherworldly radiance.

The defenders held their ground against the onslaught. Lucy, Raven, and Jackie moved as one, their strikes perfectly timed to repel the shadowy entities that surged toward them. Stephanie unleashed bursts of holy energy, each wave pushing the creatures back and giving the defenders a precious few seconds to regroup.