The night deepened, and the fortress was bathed in an eerie stillness, broken only by the distant howls and roars of the Abyssal forces. The defenders, their faces illuminated by the dim glow of lanterns and torches, moved with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. Every creak and groan of the ancient structure seemed magnified in the silence, heightening the tension that hung thick in the air.
Elara stood atop the fortress wall, her gaze scanning the darkened horizon. The Abyssal forces were closing in, their presence a growing, pulsating wave of darkness. The flickering lights from the fortress created a stark contrast to the encroaching shadow, a beacon of defiance against the overwhelming gloom.
Morgana approached, her face etched with concentration as she adjusted the wards that surrounded the fortress. "The wards are holding for now, but the Abyssal energy is intensifying. We'll need to keep our focus sharp."