Ugh…
A faint groan slipped from Lucas's lips as he forced himself to move, every muscle screaming in protest.
His body slid off the broken wall, stone dust falling from his hair and shoulders as he staggered forward.
'What… happened?'
The question throbbed at the back of his skull as his hazy vision tried to settle.
His lungs burned, each breath dragging in the acrid stench of black smoke that still clung to the altar, heavy and unnatural.
Crack!
The wall behind him gave way, collapsing into rubble, its surface carved with the deep impression of his body.
He stumbled, knees almost buckling before he rammed his holy sword into the ground to steady himself.
The blade quivered, light flickering weakly along its edge.
"This place… the altar…"
He blinked, disoriented, until memory returned in a flash.
The masked demon…!
His senses screamed in warning, adrenaline cutting through the fog. Ignoring the pain tearing through his body, Lucas scanned the ruins.
