The blinding flash disrupted the serpentine woman's hold, creating a momentary opening. Isla, seizing the opportunity, channeled Elara's energy, directing it towards the cracked obsidian shard in the woman's chest.
The shard, already weakened, couldn't withstand the concentrated light. It shattered, sending shards of dark energy scattering across the clearing.
The woman screamed, a sound of pure, agonizing fury. Her serpentine form writhed, the oily black scales flickering and dissolving. The dark energy that had fueled her power began to dissipate, leaving behind a weakened, human form.
Kai, seizing the moment, lunged, his sword striking true. The woman, now vulnerable, cried out, her eyes filled with a mixture of rage and fear. She stumbled backward, her form flickering, threatening to dissolve entirely.
"You cannot destroy me!" she hissed, her voice weak but venomous. "The darkness will return!"
With a final, desperate surge of energy, she vanished, leaving behind a lingering scent of sulfur and a chilling silence. The clearing, once shrouded in darkness, was now bathed in the soft, golden light of the amulet.
The immediate threat was gone, but the woman's words echoed in the air, a chilling reminder of the darkness that still lurked.