The sun had long since set, casting a dark, foreboding shadow over the mountain. Riven, Thane, and Zarek stood at the edge of the forest, their eyes scanning the trees for any sign of the serpent.
Riven's nine tails swished behind him, a restless, agitated motion. Thane stood tall, his eyes shining with a mix of excitement and fear. Zarek's gaze was calm, his hands clasped behind his back.
"What's the plan, Riven?" Thane asked, his voice low and steady.
Riven's eyes narrowed, his gaze sweeping the forest. "We need to be careful. The serpent is cunning, and it won't hesitate to strike."
Riven's eyes locked onto something in the distance, his gaze intensifying. "It's here," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Thane's head snapped up, his eyes scanning the trees. Zarek's hands slipped to his sides, his fingers brushing against the hilts of his daggers.
A rustling sound echoed through the forest, followed by the snapping of twigs. The serpent emerged from the shadows, its massive body undulating as it moved.
Riven's nine tails swished behind him, a fierce, battle-ready motion. Thane took a step forward, his eyes blazing with determination. Zarek's gaze remained calm, his fingers tightening around his daggers.
The serpent's eyes fixed onto Riven, its gaze burning with an unnatural hunger. Riven's eyes flashed with anger, his lips curling into a snarl.
The air was electric with tension as Riven, Thane, and Zarek faced off against the serpent. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath, the trees looming like sentinels as the battle began.
Riven's nine tails erupted into a frenzy of motion, each tail crackling with dark energy. Thane drew his sword, its blade shimmering with a faint, ethereal glow. Zarek's daggers seemed to whisper to each other, their blades vibrating with an otherworldly power.
The serpent lunged forward, its massive body undulating as it struck. Riven leapt to meet it, his tails flashing in a blur of motion. Thane and Zarek darted to the sides, their blades flashing in the dim light.
As the battle raged on, the forest around them began to transform. The trees seemed to twist and writhe, their branches like living serpents. The air was filled with an eerie, pulsating glow, as if the very fabric of reality was being warped and distorted.
Riven's tails seemed to be drawing energy from the forest itself, their power growing with each passing moment. Thane's sword shone brighter, its glow illuminating the darkening forest. Zarek's daggers whispered secrets to each other, their blades slicing through the air with deadly precision.
The serpent was a formidable foe, its body seemingly impervious to the trio's attacks. But Riven, Thane, and Zarek refused to yield, their determination and magical powers pushing the battle to its limits.
As the fight intensified, the forest grew darker, the shadows deepening into abyssal voids. The air was heavy with the scent of ozone and burning wood, the very essence of the forest seeming to be torn apart by the conflict.