As Alex stood before the towering Warden of Shadows, he felt the oppressive weight of its presence pressing down on him.
The four-meter-tall monstrosity loomed like a nightmare given form, jagged obsidian armor fused with liquid shadow, glowing crimson runes pulsating across its body.
Its hollow, glowing eyes stared him down, and elongated claws dripped with an inky, corrosive mist that hissed as it hit the ground.
And as for the others, they were doing the same thing as always.
Alice remained perched on a nearby tree, her bow drawn, while Aurelia crouched behind a crumbled rock formation.
Her hands trembled as she peeked out at the battle-ready Alex, her inferiority weighing heavily on her mind.
Compared to the strength and confidence of Alex and Alice, she felt like a burden.
The Warden's deep, guttural growl shattered the silence.
Alex gripped his dagger and staff tightly. "Let's see if you're as tough as you look."