The air was thick, humming with power. The shapeshifter writhed in the center of the seal, its form pulsing like a living wound. Every breath the team took felt heavy, strained—like the warehouse itself was holding them hostage.
Mira stood still, eyes locked on Lucien. One hand rested on her dagger, the other flexed at her side, ready. She wasn't just watching the creature—she was watching the moment.
Lucien's voice was steady, fingers gliding over the parchment. "The sigil must be activated at the exact moment. If we miss it… we don't get another chance."
Elias adjusted his grip on his revolver. "Then we make the moment."
The shapeshifter's limbs twisted unnaturally, tearing at the edges of reality like claws ripping canvas. Its voice—a corrupted, layered echo—rumbled in their ears, "You're too late…"
Elias turned to Mira. "You've faced this kind of thing before?"
She didn't look at him. "Not this exact breed. But I know one thing—whatever it is, we don't let it leave this room."
Lucien inhaled, her hand hovering over the center of the sigil now. "On my mark, we seal it."
The shapeshifter's eyes glowed—deep, venomous red. Lucien hesitated. Just for a breath. And Elias saw it.
"What's wrong?" he asked, voice low but sharp.
Lucien didn't look up. "It's… not just a creature from the Codex. There's something else in there. Something older."
Before she could say more, the thing lunged.
Time shattered.
Darkness blurred forward.
And everything exploded into motion.