The Guard Captain drives his blade point into the cracked seam, trying to pin the violet surge. The rune circle answers with a wet hiss, then tears wider, bleeding shadow across the stone.
A spectral hound hauls itself free, all too many limbs striking the plaza in a blur. It ignores the guards and snaps its glowing gaze onto Red.
The Guard Captain
Hold the line! Do not let it reach her!
Guard One stumbles back, raising his spear too late. Guard Two shifts sideways, trying to keep the thing between them and the breach, but his feet slide on the shining stone.
Guard One
What in the Nine Hells is that?
The hound lunges past the guards, shadow trailing from its jaws, and Red feels the pressure of its attention like a hook in her ribs. Her grimoire hangs ready at her side while the plaza reels around the widening rift.
Bind the spectral hound