"I'm going to shroud myself so that its attacks can't harm me. Don't worry about how I fare. Focus on your summoning, and I'll keep it distracted."

Trahearne stepped forward towards the advancing creature, a cloud of darkness erupting around his body. It covered his bark and leaves in unnatural shadows, more of them radiating around his form in wispy shapes. When he raised his scepter and pointed it at the creature, a couple of bolts of a dull green light burst fourth, battering at one of its arms. In response, the creature hissed and ran at him, swiping claws at him that passed sluggishly through the dense shadows.

His death shroud wouldn't last for very long, but with luck, it would be long enough to buy Judai the time he needed.