The group knew they had to act fast. They charged forward, determined to stop Mrs. Jenkins and the ancient deity she was hosting.
But as they attacked, they realized that Mrs. Jenkins was no longer human. Her body was twisted and distorted, her limbs elongating like snakes.
She laughed, a sound that was both human and yet utterly alien.
"You fools," she spat. "You think you can stop me? I am the vessel of Zha'thik, the eater of worlds."
Lena, Emily, and Jameson fought bravely, but they were no match for Mrs. Jenkins' newfound powers.
Just when it seemed like all was lost, Lena remembered the silver gauntlets she had used to defeat The Devourer.
She put them on, feeling a surge of energy and determination.
With renewed strength, Lena launched a fierce attack on Mrs. Jenkins, determined to stop her and banish Zha'thik back to whatever depths of hell it came from.
Lena's gauntlets shone brightly as she clashed with Mrs. Jenkins. The old woman's eyes gleamed with an otherworldly energy, and her twisted limbs flailed wildly.
Despite her valiant efforts, Lena stumbled backward under the onslaught. Mrs. Jenkins' powers were growing stronger by the minute.
Just when it seemed like Lena would be overwhelmed, Emily and Jameson intervened. Emily used her knowledge of the occult to create a magical barrier, while Jameson used his athleticism to dodge Mrs. Jenkins' attacks and strike from unexpected angles.
Together, the trio managed to drive Mrs. Jenkins back. But they knew they couldn't keep this up for much longer.
"We need to end this," Lena panted. "We can't keep fighting her."
"I think I know how," Emily said, her eyes shining with determination. "We need to use the same ritual that summoned Zha'thik to banish it back to hell."
"But we don't have the ritual," Jameson objected.
Emily smiled grimly. "I think I can remember it. We just need to trust me."
Emily closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and began to recite the words of the ritual. Her voice was steady and clear, and the words seemed to hang in the air like a challenge.
Lena and Jameson watched in awe as Emily spoke the words of the ritual. They could feel the power of the words, the weight of the ancient magic that they invoked.
As Emily finished the ritual, the air around them seemed to shimmer and distort. A faint glow appeared on the horizon, growing brighter and brighter until it was like a small sun.
The glow enveloped Mrs. Jenkins, and she let out a scream of rage and frustration. Her body began to contort and twist, her limbs elongating and merging with the shadows.
And then, in an instant, she was gone.
The glow faded, and the air returned to normal. Lena, Emily, and Jameson stood there, panting and trembling with exhaustion.
They had done it. They had banished Zha'thik back to hell.
But as they turned to each other, smiling and relieved, they heard a faint whispering in their ears.
"It will return," the voice whispered. "And next time, you will not be so lucky."