Chapter 172: Burn.

As the troll's monstrous swing propelled the bat towards the defenseless Ethan, his heart pounded in his chest, his limbs frozen in mid-air, a chilling sense of helplessness seeping through him. The cloaked girl, a whirlwind of determination, emerged from the shadows. 

Her lithe form glided effortlessly across the uneven terrain, each step purposeful and agile. Her intense gaze remained fixed on the malevolent trolls, her eyes gleaming with an otherworldly determination.

With a command that carried the weight of ancient incantations, her voice echoed through the air, resonating with power, "Execute! Shadow magic!" The syllables of the spell seemed to reverberate through the very fabric of reality, weaving a tapestry of impending mystic might.

Time seemed to slow as her wrist became a focal point of dark energy, a swirling vortex of shadows coalescing around her.