As the Cancer's final roar echoed through the labyrinth, its massive form began to crumble. The twilight energy within it shimmered and sparked, breaking apart into fragments of glowing twilight and shadow. Its claws disintegrated mid-swipe, and the remains of its massive form splintered into jagged shards of its core, glowing faintly with an unearthly, iridescent light.
The labyrinth fell silent, save for Aiden's ragged breaths. Sylva turned to him, her expression stern but tinged with concern. "That shadow," she said, pointing to the Glaucus clinging to his neck. "It's been feeding on you."
"What?" Aiden asked, confused.
Sylva's roots moved to the back of his neck, pulling free the Blue Glaucus. The tiny creature squirmed before disintegrating in the air. Aiden gasped, his body immediately feeling lighter.
"You're reckless," Sylva said, placing her hand on his chest. Her roots glowed softly, their energy mending his wounds and restoring his strength. "But you wouldnt be the you we love if you weren't."
Aiden nodded, his strength slowly returning. "Thanks. Both of you."
Rowan ran to Aiden, throwing her arms around him. "You're alive!" she said, her voice cracking with relief.
Aiden hugged her back, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Ugh choking," he joked, his voice hoarse.
Lila stood a few feet away, her eyes darkening for a split second as she watched them. Her lips twisted into a faint sneer before the Core reasserted itself, her expression softening into something more familiar.
Sylva's sharp gaze didn't miss the shift. She stepped closer, her roots shifting subtly as she observed Lila. "Something's… off," she murmured.
Aiden stepped between them, his shoulders tense. "She's just an enforcer," he said defensively. "You know how that power can feel. It's overwhelming."
Sylva's eyes lingered on Lila for a moment longer before nodding. "Maybe you're right," she said, her tone careful
Rowan twirled her rope dart, letting it coil back into her hand, and glanced at the glowing remnants of the creature.
"What… is this?" Rowan murmured, crouching to inspect one of the fragments. She hesitated, her hand hovering over a jagged piece of the Cancer's core. The fragment pulsed faintly, almost as if alive. "I've never seen anything like this before. Is it... safe?"
Sylva hovered forward, her expression grim as her roots shifted beneath her feet, snaking toward the fragments. She tilted her head, her voice low and filled with quiet awe. "These fragments still hold a trace of its power. Left unchecked, they could twist reality further."
Aiden swayed, catching himself on his weapon as he eyed the remnants warily. "So, what do we do with them? Destroy them?"
Sylva shook her head. "Destroying them isn't an option. These fragments are infused with a power that goes beyond the light and shadow we know. They must be contained—or repurposed. Left here, they'll only draw more chaos."
Rowan picked up a tooth, its edges razor-sharp and humming faintly with energy. "Repurposed, huh?" she muttered. "These kinda remind me of our weapons?"
Sylva frowned but didn't immediately object. "I wont deny that," she admitted, her tone cautious. "Leaving such power comes with risks. These fragments don't obey natural laws until shaped. They will carry the Cancer's defiance of balance until I bestow my own power on to it."
Lila, under the Core's influence, moved forward, her eyes lingering on the shards as if drawn to them. "Knowledge like this could change everything," she said, her tone measured yet cryptic. "Whats your angle revealing this to them now."
Sylva turned to her sharply, her roots curling protectively around a larger piece of the core. "Because I trust them. They are good people"
Aiden's gaze flicked between the fragments and Lila. A faint unease stirred within him, but he pushed it aside. "We don't have time for this," he said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "Sylva, do something and quick".
Sylva nodded, her roots extending to encircle the fragments. The labyrinth trembled faintly as her energy flowed into the remains, creating a protective barrier around the pieces. "I can keep them contained, but we can't leave them unguarded. If these fall into the wrong hands…"
Her voice trailed off as Aiden staggered again, his legs giving out. Sylva's roots surged forward, catching him before he hit the ground. "Enough," she said firmly. "You're in no condition to keep moving like this."
Rowan stepped closer, the faint glow of the Cancer's claw still in her hand. "I've got it," she said, slipping the fragment into her pack. "We'll figure out what to do with these later. Right now, we need to make sure Aiden doesn't keel over."
As Sylva healed Aiden, she cast one last glance at the glowing fragments scattered across the floor. The Cancer was defeated, but its remnants still pulsed with power.
The air around them became suffocating, and in the distance, a menacing aura shook through the labyrinth. Sylva's gaze snapped to the direction of its presence. "The twin towers," she said. "We need to move."
Rowan gripped her spear, her expression resolute. "Let's go."
"I—" Aiden began, but Lila's voice cut him off.
"No," she said firmly. "We don't have time to waste. I know the way to the Core."
Rowan frowned. "We're not splitting up."
"We'll meet at the Core's sanctum," Lila insisted. "Trust me."
The labyrinth's roots trembled, cracks snaking through the bark as dust and debris rained down around them. Sylva stood tall, her voice calm but firm. "We need to head toward the explosion at the twin towers. I feel the Sentinels malice."
Rowan nodded, her rope dart coiled at her side, tension clear in her sharp movements. "I'm with Sylva. If that aura came from the Core's forces, we can't just ignore it. Keiran and Amara might need help."
Aiden shifted uncomfortably, his exhaustion visible in the slump of his shoulders. He glanced at Lila, her face tense but composed, before speaking. "Lila's right. The Core's sanctum is the priority. We dont even know they are there."
Lila's lips twitched, a faint smirk hidden beneath an air of conviction. "Exactly. Sylva's detour is just that—a waste of time. The Core is playing games, spreading us thin."
Sylva's eyes narrowed, the glow of her roots intensifying. "This isn't a game, and I don't trust your judgment, Enforcer." Her tone was sharp, cutting through the tension. "We have to protect our team. If they are there is goes against everything we've worked for."
Lila stepped forward, her shadowy blade gleaming faintly as she planted it into the ground for emphasis. "And you think you're the arbiter of what matters most, Sylva? Tell me, how many lives have you already sacrificed to this fight? How many people have died for our precious little tree?"
Sylva's expression didn't falter, but Aiden could sense the tension in her movements. "Every life I've taken has been to preserve countless others. The Cancer we just faced proves the Core isn't the only threat. If you want to talk about sacrifice, Lila, maybe ask yourself what your allegiance has cost."
Aiden stepped between them, raising his hands. "Enough!" His voice cracked with exhaustion but carried enough force to make them pause. He turned to Sylva first. "I know you're trying to protect people. I respect that, but we're running out of time."
Then he faced Lila. "And you—don't act like you're the only one who cares about ending this. Everyone here is risking everything."
Rowan crossed her arms, her fiery gaze bouncing between them. "So what's the plan? Because sitting here bickering isn't going to get us anywhere."
Aiden hesitated, his breathing labored as he looked at each of them. He finally locked eyes with Lila. "I'll go with her," he said, his voice quieter now but resolute. "She knows the way to the Core, and we can't afford to lose that advantage."
Sylva's roots tightened, a faint hum vibrating through the air. "If you're wrong, Aiden—"
"I won't be," he interrupted, his tone more confident than he felt. "Just… promise me you'll meet us at the sanctum."
Sylva's gaze softened slightly, and she nodded. "I will. But don't let your trust blind you."
Lila tilted her head, the faintest hint of amusement in her eyes. "Oh, don't worry, Sylva. We'll be fine."
As they parted ways, Sylva glanced back at Lila, suspicion flickering in her eyes. Rowan tightened her grip on her weapon. "Do you trust her?"
Sylva's voice was grim. "I trust Aiden."
And with that, they disappeared into the shadows of the labyrinth, their fates pulling them toward an uncertain end.