Mira took a deep breath; the creeping darkness pressed in from all sides, suffocating and relentless. She swung her scythe again, but it was like slashing through water. The shadows dispersed momentarily, only to reassemble, darker and more formidable than before.
From the ever-shifting mass, sharp tendrils emerged, lunging at her. Mira twisted and dodged, her movements a blur, but one tendril caught her ankle, yanking her off balance. She crashed onto the cold stone floor, her scythe skidding away.
Rolling to her feet, she summoned her Qi, wrapping it around her like a protective cocoon. The cavern resonated with an ominous hum, and the shadowy beast seemed to pulsate with anticipation.
A cold realization hit her. Her usual attacks were futile. She needed a new strategy.
