---
The sanctum trembled faintly as the last Rift Gate closed, its energy sealing with a final pulse of light.
The Aetherial Core, now dim and inert, rested on the pedestal, its immense power spent. Calvin collapsed to his knees, the exhaustion of channeling the Core's energy evident in his labored breaths.
Loira leaned heavily on her staff, her hands trembling from the strain. Her voice was hoarse, but it carried a sense of triumph. "It's done. All the gates… they're closed."
Despite their victory in closing the main gate, half of the Voidlords' vanguard and harbinger army had already crossed through before the final collapse.
The capital city, once a beacon of hope and prosperity, was now at the risk of becoming the battlefield.
The sanctum's glowing runes flickered briefly before fading, the room settling into an almost eerie silence. Raghnall approached the pedestal, his expression grim but resolute.
