As we approached the heart of the mountain, we could feel the power of the forbidden magic growing stronger. We were determined to stop Arachne, no matter what it took.
Thane led the way, his sword at the ready. Zarek followed closely behind, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger. Lunaria and I brought up the rear, our magic at the ready.
As we turned a corner, we caught sight of Arachne. She was standing in front of a massive stone door, her hands raised in a dramatic gesture. The air around her seemed to be charged with energy, and we could feel the power of the forbidden magic emanating from her.
"Arachne," Thane growled, his sword flashing in the dim light. "You're not going to unlock the forbidden magic. Not while we're here to stop you."
Arachne turned to face us, a look of fury on her face. "You fools," she spat. "You think you can stop me? I have the power of the ancient ones on my side."
But before she could cast her spell, something went terribly wrong. A blinding flash of light illuminated the cavern, and a powerful spirit animal burst forth from the depths of the earth.
The spirit animal was a massive dragon, its scales as black as coal and its eyes glowing like embers. It roared with fury, its wings beating the air and causing the cavern to shake.
Arachne stumbled backward, her eyes wide with fear. "No," she whispered. "This can't be."
But to our surprise, the dragon didn't attack us. Instead, it turned its gaze to me, and I felt a strange sense of connection to the beast.
"Riven," the dragon spoke in a voice that echoed in my mind. "I have been bound for centuries, waiting for one worthy to set me free."
I stared at the dragon in awe, unsure of what to say. But to my surprise, I felt a surge of power and authority flow through me.
"I am Riven," I said, my voice firm and commanding. "And I claim you as my spirit animal."
The dragon bowed its head, its eyes gleaming with obedience. "I am yours to command, Riven," it said.
Arachne's face twisted with rage and envy. "No," she spat. "This can't be. The forbidden magic is mine to wield."
But it was too late. The dragon had already acknowledged me as its master, and I could feel its power coursing through my veins.
Arachne's face twisted with rage and envy as she glared at me and the dragon. "You think you've won," she spat, "but I'll show you true power."
With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a dark and twisted creature from the shadows. It was a twisted abomination, its body a mass of writhing tendrils and bulging eyes.
"My pet, Xorax," Arachne crooned, "will help me unlock the forbidden magic."
Xorax let out a deafening screech as it lunged at us, its tendrils snapping wildly. But the dragon was ready, breathing a stream of fire that sent Xorax reeling.
Arachne, undeterred, began to chant and weave a dark spell. The air around her seemed to distort and ripple, as if reality itself was bending to her will.
But as she reached the climax of her spell, the stone door behind her began to glow with an eerie, pulsing light. The door, sensing Arachne's repeated attempts to unlock the forbidden magic, had reached its limit.
With a deafening crack, the door slammed open, releasing a dark and malevolent energy that swept through the cavern. Arachne, Xorax, and even the dragon were caught up in the vortex, tumbling through the air as the magic raged out of control.
I grabbed Lunaria's hand, pulling her close as we stumbled backward, desperately trying to escape the chaos. Thane and Zarek were right behind us, their faces set with determination.
As we stumbled through the winding tunnels, the darkness seemed to close in around us. I could feel the weight of the forbidden magic bearing down on us, threatening to crush us beneath its power.