[Meghnad's POV]
The air around me grew still as the remnants of the Archaic Sentinel faded into shimmering motes of light, drifting upward like fireflies. My chest heaved as I fought to catch my breath, the sharp ache in my muscles a reminder of the intensity of the trial. My claws retracted slowly, the black scales receding into my skin, leaving my arms tingling with residual energy.
Silence enveloped the valley for a moment, save for the faint rustling of the wind through the trees. I stood there, staring at the space where the Sentinel had been, my mind replaying every movement, every decision I had made. It wasn't perfect—far from it—but I had endured. I had faced the test and emerged standing.
