When the blinding light from the vortex's closure faded, the chamber was left in ruins. The walls were charred, and debris was scattered across the floor. Leo Rivers was nowhere to be found, leaving the rest of the team to deal with the aftermath. The Reclaimers who had been evacuated began to cautiously return, searching for survivors and signs of Leo.
Evelyn was the first to re-enter the chamber, her heart sinking as she saw the destruction. "Leo!" she called, her voice echoing off the broken pillars. But there was no response. Sofia and Rachel followed, their expressions grim as they surveyed the damage.
Owen, struggling to contain his emotions, began using his tech to scan for any signs of life. "There's a faint energy signature," he said, pointing towards a pile of rubble near the center of the chamber. "It's weak, but it's there."
The team worked quickly, clearing debris and uncovering a small sphere of light. Inside the sphere lay a small artifact, glowing with the same energy that Leo had used to seal the vortex. Sofia picked it up carefully, feeling the warmth radiating from within.
"It's Leo," she said, her voice heavy with emotion. "He's become part of the ancient artifact. This is all that's left of him."
The realization that Leo had sacrificed himself to save their world was a heavy burden to bear. Evelyn clutched the artifact, tears streaming down her cheeks. "He did it to protect us," she said, her voice breaking. "He saved everyone."
Sofia placed a comforting hand on Evelyn's shoulder. "He knew what he had to do," she said. "But his sacrifice won't be in vain. We need to make sure this never happens again."