The cave was silent, save for the low hum of the artifact in the end. Its glow pulsed faintly, casting eerie shadows on the damp walls. Water dripped from the ceiling, the sound echoing like a ticking clock in the tense atmosphere. It was as though the entire cave was holding its breath, waiting for the chaos to erupt.
Braun stood in front of me, his chopper resting at his side, chains coiled loosely around his muscular body. On the other side, Hina faced Yuri, both of them holding their swords with determination etched across their faces. For a moment, none of us moved. Our eyes locked, tension crackling in the air like a storm about to break.
A single droplet of water fell from above, hitting the ground with a sharp *plink*.
That was the signal.
