With the idol crumbling before them, Ryuto and his companions felt a surge of hope, a faint glimmer of victory amid the chaos. The cracks in the idol continued to spread, pulsing with eerie, flickering light as the cultists around them dissolved into shadowy wisps, screaming as they lost their connection to Xyldrin's power.
But the destruction of the idol brought only a brief respite. A dark, guttural roar echoed through the chamber, as if something deep within the recesses of the sanctum was stirring, enraged by their intrusion. The ground shook violently, and the air grew thick with the scent of decay and corruption.
Celeste's eyes widened as she stepped back from the crumbling idol. "This isn't over… destroying the idol must have triggered something."
Ryuto's heart raced as he watched the cracks in the idol continue to spread, small pieces of stone falling to the ground. "Everyone, get ready. Whatever we've woken up, it's coming."
