Von tightened his grip on his mace, his jaw tightening as the gravity of the situation began to weigh on him. The atmosphere around him seemed to grow colder, charged with tension and the latent power radiating from the artifact in Aeloria's hands.
He wasn't sure if his defenses could hold against the combined strength of the Kingdom of Stars and their artifact. It wasn't just the raw power they now wielded—Von could sense their renewed determination, the kind that turned desperation into something dangerous. They weren't holding anything back this time.
Von had been playing the long game, relying on his strategy to wear down their weapons before they realized his plan. But now, with the artifact in play, that strategy was quickly unraveling. His calculations were falling apart, and for the first time since the battle began, a sliver of doubt crept into his mind.
