The air was heavy with anticipation as Lilith stepped forward, her eyes locked onto the Shadow King. The twisted realm seemed to hold its breath, the shadows quivering like living things. The Echo Blade pulsed with power in Snow's hand, its energy coursing through her veins like a challenge.
Lilith's gaze never wavered from the Shadow King. "You think you can win, brother?" she said, her voice low and husky. "The Shadow Realm's power isn't yours to claim."
The Shadow King's laughter was a cold, mirthless sound, echoing through the realm like a winter's wind. "Lilith, always playing the hero," he sneered. "But you're too late. The Echo Blade's power is mine."
The realm around them seemed to darken, the shadows deepening into pools of black ink. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, the only light coming from the faint glow of the Echo Blade. Snow could feel the weight of the realm's power pressing down on her, the Shadow King's influence like a physical force.
