With Naurah's command them, 
Jian’s shadows erupted from the walls, swirling around the creatures, binding them in a web of dark energy. They screeched as the shadows wrapped around them, pulling them off balance and dragging them to the ground. But it wasn’t enough to hold them for long.
Zariel stepped forward, his hand glowing with flames, but before he could strike, one of the creatures tore itself free from the shadows with an unnerving speed. It hissed, its body distorting as it reached for Danial, its fingers elongating into claws.
Danial reacted instinctively. He ducked and rolled out of the creature’s reach, his heart hammering in his chest. His senses were on high alert now, every muscle coiled and ready. He wasn’t about to let them get the better of him.
The creature that had missed him turned its attention to the others, its distorted body flickering in and out of existence. Its jagged mouth opened wide, revealing rows of sharp, twisted teeth. It lunged at Alex, who barely managed to evade the attack, her voice cutting through the air as she screamed a high-pitched note that sent the creature staggering back.
But the second creature wasn’t far behind. It moved with lightning speed, lunging at Jian, who quickly reacted by melting into his shadows and evading the strike. The creature crashed into the wall instead, its body convulsing with an unsettling jerky motion.
"Watch out!" Jian called, his voice sharp as the shadows began to twist and spin, forming barriers to block the creatures’ next attacks.
Danial’s focus was entirely on the first creature, which had now locked eyes with him again, its glowing eyes burning with an unnatural intensity. The thing opened its mouth, and the world seemed to go still for a moment. Danial could hear the distant echo of his heartbeat, the cold air around him charged with something dark.
He could feel the creature’s presence inside his mind, trying to reach into his thoughts, to twist them. The creature whispered to him, a voice that sent a shiver down his spine. “You don’t belong here, little wolf. You’re just as much a monster as we are.”
Danial’s mind flinched at the words, but he held onto his resolve. He wasn’t going to let it get to him. He couldn’t.
Instead, he let his instincts take over. His body shifted, muscles rippling under his skin, the air thick with the electric crackle of transformation. His eyes glowed a faint gold as his senses heightened to a terrifying degree. His claws lengthened, and his fangs elongated, sharp and deadly. The moment of restraint had passed. He could feel his wolf form pushing at the edges of his control.
“Danial, don’t lose control!” Naurah shouted from behind him.
“I’ve got this!” he growled, though his voice was deeper now, rougher.
With a roar, he lunged at the creature, his claws outstretched, aiming for its neck. The creature hissed in response, twisting its body to avoid the strike, but Danial was faster. He slashed across its chest, the force of his attack sending it flying back, crashing into a nearby pillar.
It staggered to its feet, its body flickering even more violently, but Danial wasn’t done. He charged forward again, this time managing to grab the creature by the throat, lifting it off the ground as its limbs flailed helplessly. His claws dug into its flesh, and he squeezed, feeling the life drain out of it.
Behind him, the sounds of battle continued—shouts from Jian and Alex, Zariel’s flames crackling in the distance. But Danial focused only on the creature before him. He wouldn’t let it escape.
With a final, forceful thrust, he drove his claws deep into the creature’s throat. It let out one final, guttural scream before its body collapsed into a heap of dust and ash.
Danial stepped back, his breath heavy, his eyes still glowing with the remnants of his wolf form. His body shook with the adrenaline of the fight, but he knew the battle wasn’t over yet. There were still more out there.
But when he turned to look, he saw his team—each of them still standing, though clearly exhausted from the fight.
"We’re not done yet," Zariel called from across the room, flames still swirling around his hands as he approached. "More are coming. We need to finish this now."
Naurah stepped forward, her face a mask of determination. "We need to destroy them before they can escape again."
"We’ll finish this together," Jian said, his voice calm but firm.
Danial nodded, his heart still pounding in his chest. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep this up, but one thing was clear—this battle was just beginning.