The Moonlit Hollow was unraveling. The cracks spreading across the icy terrain deepened, the ground trembling beneath Aria's paws. The artifact's glow pulsed violently now, its hum a chaotic roar that reverberated through the frozen landscape.
"Move!" Aria growled, her sharp blue eyes blazing as she darted toward the edge of the hollow.
Behind her, the Frost Mink clung tightly to her back, its tiny claws digging into her fur. Its companions followed in frantic bounds, their chirps lost beneath the rumble of collapsing ice.
The jagged formations surrounding the artifact groaned and splintered, shards of ice falling in deadly cascades.
---
Xuan Hao stood near the artifact, his dark robes whipping in the biting wind. His blade glinted faintly in the erratic light, but his focus remained fixed on the glowing orb.
"We can't just leave it," he said, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Aria skidded to a halt, her claws scraping against the icy ground. "If you want to die with it, be my guest!"
His dark eyes narrowed, but he didn't move. "This thing is dangerous. If we leave it here, who knows what could happen?"
She growled, her tail lashing. "And if you stay, you'll be crushed under fifty tons of ice. Pick your poison!"
---
The Frost Mink and its companions chirped nervously, their tiny bodies trembling as they huddled near Aria's legs.
"For once, listen to me," she muttered, nudging them forward. "Run. Now."
The smallest mink squeaked in protest, pressing closer to her side.
Aria sighed, her sharp blue eyes softening briefly. "I'll be right behind you."
---
The ground gave a sudden, violent lurch, throwing Xuan Hao off balance. He caught himself with his blade, driving it into the ice to steady himself.
"System," Aria thought, her claws digging into the snow. "How much time do we have?"
"Environmental collapse imminent. Probability of survival within current location: 15%."
Her fur bristled. "Fifteen percent? That's the best you've got?"
"Evacuation recommended immediately."
She growled, her sharp blue eyes flicking to Xuan Hao. "You heard it. Let's go!"
---
The artifact's glow intensified, blinding and furious. The air around it crackled with energy, rippling waves that distorted the space around it.
Xuan Hao gritted his teeth, his blade glowing faintly with crimson energy. "If we're leaving, I'm not leaving it intact."
Aria's sharp blue eyes widened. "You're insane."
He smirked faintly, his tone light. "Wouldn't be the first time."
---
Xuan Hao charged toward the artifact, his blade trailing streaks of crimson light. The energy around the orb flared violently, lashing out like tendrils of lightning.
"System," Aria thought, her claws flexing. "Can he even damage it?"
"Probability of successful disruption: 30%. Hostile energy feedback risk: High."
Her fur bristled. "You're kidding me."
"Negative."
---
The artifact's energy lashed out, striking Xuan Hao as he brought his blade down in a powerful arc. The crimson energy collided with the orb, a deafening crack splitting the air as the barrier shattered.
The resulting shockwave sent Xuan Hao flying backward, his body skidding across the frozen ground.
"Xuan Hao!" Aria barked, darting toward him.
He groaned, pushing himself up with visible effort. "That... hurt."
"No kidding," she growled, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "You're lucky you didn't get vaporized."
---
The artifact's glow dimmed briefly, its energy stabilizing for a moment before surging back with renewed intensity. The cracks across its surface spread rapidly, golden light spilling out like molten fire.
Aria growled, her claws scraping against the ground. "System, what happens if that thing blows?"
"Localized explosion likely to cause catastrophic collapse. Probability of survival: 5%."
Her sharp blue eyes blazed. "Not helpful!"
---
The Frost Mink chirped frantically, its companions bounding toward the edge of the hollow as the ground continued to fracture.
"Aria!" Xuan Hao called, his voice sharp. "We're out of time!"
She glanced at the artifact one last time, its chaotic energy flaring wildly.
"For now," she thought, her sharp blue eyes hardening, "we survive."
---
Aria turned and sprinted toward the edge of the hollow, her claws digging into the unstable ground. The Frost Mink clung tightly to her back, its tiny body trembling with each jarring step.
Xuan Hao followed closely, his blade glowing faintly as he slashed through falling ice shards.
The ground behind them began to cave, massive chunks of ice and snow collapsing into an abyss. The deafening roar of destruction filled the air, drowning out everything else.
---
The hollow's edge was within sight, but the ground beneath Aria's paws gave a sudden, violent tremor. A massive crack split the ice directly ahead of her, a gaping chasm opening in her path.
"Spirit Step!" she thought, activating the skill without hesitation.
Her form shimmered briefly before reappearing on the other side of the chasm, her claws scraping against the icy surface as she landed.
"Lunar Veil progress detected: Skill nearing next mastery level."
Aria growled, her sharp blue eyes flicking back to Xuan Hao. "Hurry up!"
---
Xuan Hao leaped across the chasm with a burst of crimson energy, his blade flashing as he cut through falling debris mid-air. He landed beside her, his breathing heavy but steady.
"Not bad," he said, his tone faintly amused.
"Save it," Aria growled, nudging the Frost Mink forward. "We're not out yet."
---
The final stretch was chaos. The hollow's edge crumbled behind them, the jagged ice formations collapsing into the abyss. The artifact's light flared one last time, a deafening explosion shaking the air as the remaining ground gave way.
Aria and Xuan Hao barely made it to solid ground, their bodies hitting the snow just as the hollow disappeared into a cloud of ice and dust.
The Frost Mink chirped nervously, pressing against Aria's side as she struggled to catch her breath.
"We made it," Xuan Hao said, his voice faint but steady.
Aria growled softly, her tail flicking. "Barely."
---
The Moonlit Hollow was gone, replaced by a desolate expanse of jagged ice and darkness. The artifact's glow was no more, its chaotic energy reduced to faint, flickering remnants in the air.
"For now," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing, "we've survived. But this isn't over."