Every monster touched by the radiance screamed as its form disintegrated into ash, leaving behind faint, glittering motes that floated upward before fading into nothingness.
The entire chamber became a sea of golden light.
But the Anchor wasn't done yet.
From the deepest part of the pit, something stirred, massive, ancient, and furious.
The light dimmed as the ground split open once more.
An enormous claw emerged, followed by another, dragging forth a creature unlike anything Ling Yu had ever seen. It was ten stories tall, its body formed of molten crystal and blackened bone, its face half-human, half-dragon, with a crown of jagged horns.
Its chest glowed faintly, right where the Anchor's core had been.
"So that's your heart," Ling Yu murmured.
The beast let out a guttural roar that shattered nearby pillars. Its voice wasn't just sound; it was a psychic wave that rippled through her mind, making her vision blur for a split second.
