POV: Carl
The sound of metal striking stone echoed through the cavern, followed by a deep, resonant hum that vibrated through Carl's bones. His sword left a faint crack on the stone's glowing surface, but the veins pulsed brighter, as though mocking his effort.
Carl stepped back, his eyes narrowing. "It's reacting."
"No kidding," Jenna muttered, gripping her crowbar tightly. "I think it's angry."
The stone's glow intensified, filling the chamber with blinding light. The hum grew louder, almost deafening, as the air around them grew thick with heat and energy.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna squinted against the light, her heart pounding. "Okay, maybe stabbing the alien rock wasn't our best idea."
Her zombie gang snarled, their glowing eyes fixed on the stone. Jenna reached out, patting one of them on the head. "Relax, guys. We've got this. Probably."
The stone flared again, sending out a wave of energy that knocked everyone off their feet. Jenna hit the ground hard, her crowbar clattering away. "Ow! Seriously? It's a rock. How does a rock fight back?"
---
POV: Rick
Rick scrambled to his feet, his knife still in hand. The stone's glow pulsed erratically now, the crack Carl had made spreading slightly. But the energy it was releasing was growing stronger, more dangerous.
"It's defending itself," Rick said, his voice tight. "We need to find another way."
"Like what?" Sarah shouted, pressing her back against the wall as another wave of energy rippled through the chamber. "This thing is going nuclear!"
Rick's mind raced, his eyes darting to the crack. "We need to widen it. Break its core."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna groaned, pulling herself up with the help of one of her zombies. "Oh sure, just break the indestructible glowing rock. Why didn't I think of that?"
Her portal flickered weakly, and she glanced at it with a frown. "Alright, big guy," she muttered, glaring at the stone. "Let's see how you like a little chaos."
She activated her portal again, positioning it directly beneath the stone. The void pulsed faintly, its pull disrupting the energy around the stone. The veins on the stone flickered, dimming slightly.
"Yes!" Jenna shouted, pumping her fist. "Take that, glow stick!"
---
POV: Kane
The energy from the stone surged, its light flaring brighter as though resisting Jenna's portal. Kane's distorted voice echoed again, his tone laced with fury. "You cannot stop the inevitable. The stone is eternal."
---
POV: Carl
Carl steadied himself, his sword ready. The crack in the stone was wider now, the energy spilling from it chaotic and unstable. He glanced at Jenna, who was struggling to maintain her portal, her face pale with effort.
"Jenna, hold it steady!" Carl shouted, moving closer to the stone.
"Working on it!" Jenna yelled back, her voice strained. "Not exactly easy, you know!"
Carl raised his sword again, aiming for the center of the crack. He took a deep breath, then swung with all his strength.
---
POV: Jenna
The impact sent another shockwave through the chamber, and Jenna's portal flickered dangerously. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to hold it steady. "Come on," she muttered. "Just a little more."
The stone let out a deafening crack, its glow dimming further. Jenna's heart leapt. "It's working! Keep going!"
---
POV: Rick
Rick moved to Carl's side, his knife ready. "Together," he said, nodding at Carl.
Carl didn't hesitate. The two of them struck the stone simultaneously, their weapons sinking into the widening crack. The stone let out an ear-splitting roar, its glow flaring one last time before shattering into fragments.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna's portal snapped shut as the stone shattered, the sudden release of energy knocking her to the ground. She groaned, her head spinning. "Okay, that was… intense."
Her zombie gang gathered around her, their glowing eyes fixed on the fragments of the stone. Jenna blinked, trying to process what had just happened. "Did we… win?"
---
POV: Carl
Carl lowered his sword, his chest heaving. The stone was gone, its fragments scattered across the chamber floor. The oppressive heat was fading, replaced by an eerie stillness.
"It's over," Carl said quietly.
"Is it?" Rick asked, his voice cautious. "Or is this just the beginning?"
---
POV: Kane
Far below, the remnants of the stone pulsed faintly, their light fading but not extinguished. Kane's voice echoed one last time, a sinister promise carried on the energy. "You may have won this battle, but the war is far from over."