The leviathan's final roar tore through the sky, a sound that rattled the clouds and shook the very air around them. Its immense body began to plummet, each heavy beat of its fall sending tremors across the battlefield like miniature earthquakes.
Rafael, still gathering himself after his final strike, felt the ground or rather, the air beneath him, give way. His grip faltered, panic flashing in his eyes as he nearly tumbled into the void.
"Hang on!" Julian shouted, his voice cutting through the roaring wind. Shadows stretched and twisted beneath his hands, forming sinewy, inky tendrils that shot toward Rafael. They wrapped around him with precision and strength, catching him before he could fall further.
Rafael's legs kicked frantically, searching for footing, but Julian's shadows held firm, suspending him in midair. Dust, sparks, and the residual energy from the leviathan's core swirled around them, painting the scene in chaos and storm-lit brilliance.
