Jona with strikes like swords . Despite the pain , he kept the incantation going . If he faltered now the magic would be spent .
“ I end my plea in the hopes of peace and an end to the conflict .” A classic ending , and perhaps a little generic , but to fight the creature ’ s violence with peace seemed the safest route to take .
The rod ’ s light flashed one last time , and the creature screamed in agony . To that point , it was the only human-like sound it had made . For one moment in the fading brightness , he could see the creature clearly , insectoid body curled up in something like a domed ceiling . It tried , in vain , to block the light with those pointed arms as the edges of its body of solidified shadow burned bright red like a dry leaf in flame . The light went out . The shadow persisted , and the creature was neither dead nor exorcised . All the purified magic was spent , and Jona could no longer ignore his bleeding wounds .
Hissing and the dry rustling sound suggested laughter undercut by pain . At least it was wounded , perhaps grievously . Not that any of the creature ’ s wounds would save Jona . He struggled against his own hurts to light the other rod and attempt to withdraw toward the doorway .
The creature cackled gleefully as it pricked him in those places of his body left in shadow cast by the hand that led the rune-rod .
Had he gone any further into the dark , Jona had no doubt he would have died in that place . As luck had it , though , he was not more than a few steps from the door . The first step brought him to the ground , and it was a long crawl with his wounds . The light was just the edge he
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