Avery's hand clashed with her father's just as his hands touched the Keystone. A blinding flash occurred, and the very fabric of reality appeared to scream around them. Avery felt as if she had been anywhere and nowhere simultaneously, witnessing the birth and death of endless universes.
The commotion eventually faded, just as unexpectedly as it began. Avery found herself back in Aethoria, gasping for air. Lucas appeared at her side in an instant, stabilizing her.
"What happened?" he questioned, his eyes filled with terror. "You disappeared, after which—"
However, Avery's attention became fixed on the stranger who appeared before them. It was not her father. Alternatively, a being of pure strength gathered, taking on a shape that alternated between male and female, young and elderly, familiar and unfamiliar.
"Nicely done, Avery Chen," the entity said, its voice reverberating to various degrees. "you've got handed the very last take a look at."
