The broken, shattered remains of the obelisk glimmered faintly in the rising dawn, like remnants of a malevolent dream which clung to the world of waking. The silence was heavy now, weighted with the presence of the Abyss, like a shadow that refused to lift its head.
Ryu stood over the broken monolith, Voidfang still humming faintly with the aftershock of power. His breathing was ragged, but his resolve remained steady. Destroying the obelisk had felt like ripping a thread from a tapestry, yet the tapestry itself was still intact.
Kaelith approached him, her staff now resting lightly at her side. Her silver hair gleamed faintly, though her sharp blue eyes betrayed her fatigue. "We bought ourselves some time, but the Abyss won't take this lightly."
"Will it retaliate?" Aris asked, brushing dirt from her tunic. Her daggers were still in her hands, her knuckles white from how tightly she gripped them.
