"Kai!" Frode shouted, his voice strained with the effort of holding Kai's weight and maintaining the illusions. The net tightened, bringing Kai closer to the edge of the hole, but the ice beneath Frode's feet was fracturing rapidly.
Ingrid acted without hesitation, her sonic boom resonating through the cavern and freezing the ice in a split second, allowing Frode to pull Kai to safety. They exchanged a quick nod before turning their attention back to Erik, who was now standing over the artifact, his eyes locked on Kai's.
"Erik, please," Kai pleaded, his voice strained from the near-fall. "This isn't who you are."
Erik looked down at the artifact, then back at Kai, his expression a tumult of emotions—pride, anger, and fear all vying for dominance. He took a deep breath, his chest heaving with the effort to control his power. "You're right," he finally said, stepping aside. "We're in this together."
