The shadowy figure loomed over us, its glowing red eyes fixed on the shard. It was the guardian of the Void, and it wasn't about to let us take its treasure.
"Skully, we need a plan," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
*"Plan? I've got a plan!"* Skully replied, his rune glowing brighter. *"You distract it, and I'll grab the shard!"*
"That's not a plan—that's a death wish!" I hissed.
But before I could argue, the guardian lunged at us, its claws slashing through the air. I barely managed to dodge, casting a barrier spell to protect myself. Skully, meanwhile, darted toward the pedestal, his tiny frame moving with surprising speed.
The guardian noticed him and let out a roar, turning its attention to the skeleton. Skully skidded to a stop, his eye sockets wide. *"Uh-oh."*
"Skully, look out!" I shouted, casting a fire spell at the guardian. The flames hit its smoky form, but they didn't seem to do much damage.
Skully dodged the guardian's claws, his agility saving him from certain doom. He reached the pedestal and grabbed the shard, but the moment he touched it, the cavern began to collapse.
*"Master, we need to go!"* Skully shouted, clutching the shard as he ran toward me.
The guardian roared in fury, its form dissolving into shadows as the cavern shook. I grabbed Skully and bolted for the exit, the ground crumbling beneath our feet. We barely made it out before the entrance collapsed, sealing the cavern behind us.
I collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. Skully sat beside me, the shard of the Void clutched in his bony hand.
*"Told you we'd be fine,"* he said, grinning.
I groaned, too exhausted to argue. "One ingredient down, two to go."