The Frozen Wastes were eerily silent after Erick's departure, the oppressive tension finally lifting as the shadows that had surrounded them dissolved into the frigid air. Lumi stood at the heart of the battlefield, Glaciel still pulsing in her hands, her breath coming in ragged puffs in the cold. Around her, the ground was littered with shards of ice and remnants of Erick's dark magic, but the final relic stood firm, shimmering with a soft, calming light.
They had won—at least for now.
Cyana, Heath, June, and Kite gathered around Lumi, their faces a mixture of relief and exhaustion. The battle had been long and grueling, but the final relic was in their possession, and Erick had been forced to retreat. But even with their victory, Lumi couldn't shake the lingering dread in her chest. Erick had escaped, and his parting words echoed in her mind: I will return, and when I do, I will tear this world apart.