Esa waited patiently at the mouth of Oracle Kora's cave. It had been two hours since Marcus had gone inside.

Earlier that morning, events had unfolded swiftly. After landing Ishtar's Veil in the valley, Esa wasted no time. He urgently declared, "I need to take him"—pointing to Marcus, recognizing him as the "powerful one"—"to see the oracle. It's why I brought the airship to this valley." Intrigued by Esa's urgency and the air of mystery, Marcus agreed immediately. Moments later, Esa departed with Marcus, leaving Yoshua behind to deal with a heavily intoxicated Ibris.

Now, all Esa could do was wait. He was ready to wait another day, if necessary—especially if Marcus was to play a crucial role in saving the people he loved and, possibly, the entire world.

Marcus finally emerged from the cave alongside Kora, his features pale and his expression quite unsettled, as though he had witnessed something beyond comprehension. In stark contrast, Kora wore a serene smile, her Bengal cat, Mimi, trotting at her heels.

She approached Esa and hugged him warmly. "It was very nice to meet you after all these years," she said softly, before turning to Marcus with a more serious look. "Good luck," she told him. Without another word, she turned and walked back into the cave, Mimi following close behind, her tail flicking playfully.

"How did it go?" Esa asked, unsure what to expect. His entire worldview had shifted during his time with the Kora, and he expected nothing less for Marcus.

Marcus flinched with unease. Clearing his throat, he avoided Esa's gaze. "The Oracle Kora is... very gifted," he said.

Esa wondered if the oracle had shared the looming end of the world with Marcus as well, but he hesitated to push Marcus for more. After all, Kora had specifically advised Esa not to share his visions with others. Perhaps she had given Marcus similar guidance.

"We should head back," Esa said, curtly. "The others are stranded in that valley."

"Yes, of course," Marcus said after a pause, clearly he was processing a lot of information.  "Well," he began cautiously, "Kora explained what's blocking the technology signals in the South... among other things."

"What is it?" Esa asked, struggling to mask his eager curiosity.

Marcus took a breath. "She said the object blocking all technology in the South is near where my airship landed. Her exact words were: 'It will rise like a shadow in the light, a black tower to mark the night. Its presence poisons the air and earth, unraveling life where it takes root.'" He recited from memory.

"Hm," Esa said aloud, frowning slightly. That sounded more like another confusing riddle than an actual answer, he mused silently.

Marcus studied Esa's silence for a moment before asking, uneasily, "Shall we head back?"

"You're very brave, Marcus Sumeri." Esa said, as he grinned and leapt into the air with effortless grace, his body rising as though the wind itself carried him. With a subtle motion of his hand, Marcus felt an invisible force tug at him, lifting him off the ground. His feet left the earth, and he floated after Esa, drawn forward as if by an unseen current, the sensation both disorienting and strangely smooth.

As they glided through the cool valley air, Esa swerved gracefully up and down, weaving around the trees with ease, while Marcus followed closely behind, the invisible pull keeping him aloft. Slowly, the Ishtar's Veil came into view, resting where they had left her in the valley. Yoshua stood beside Sheera, the two of them in deep conversation.

As they descended, Yoshua looked up, his sharp wolf-like eyes tracking their approach.

Marcus was visibly panicking. Every gust of wind and every slight sway amplified his discomfort. Esa could not help but find it amusing that Marcus, a sky god, appeared so uneasy being off the ground.

Esa landed slowly and gracefully, his movements precise and fluid. With a subtle gesture, he carefully eased Marcus to the ground. Marcus staggered, his usual composure gone, as he steadied himself.

"Good to see you back, master," he said, bowing slightly to Sheera, his fists pressed together in a gesture of reverence.

"Esa," Sheera nodded in return.

"I told you we'd be back before sundown," Esa said turning to Yoshua, with a confident smirk.

"You did indeed," Yoshua replied, with amusement as he took in Marcus' disheveled appearance.

"Ummanu Sheera," Marcus said, straightening his vest and suit jacket before bowing deeply in reverence. "The last time we met you still served in the Grand Citadel. That must have been eleventh years ago."

Sheera gave a small bow of his head. "Lord Marcus Sumeri, good to see you after all these years. I see the wisdom of gray hair has found you. How are Lord Marcellius and Lady Cilantra? I do miss having the counsel of High Priestess."

Marcus' face flashed with sadness for a moment at the mention of his family. "They are well, and the kids are well," he replied.

"Good, good," Sheera responded to Marcus with pleasantries, his tone notably different from what Esa was accustomed to—perhaps a remnant of his time on the floating islands.

After wrapping up the formalities, Sheera turned back to Yoshua, warmly. "As I was saying, your older brother was a remarkable man of honor. The world lost one of its greatest warriors when he passed."

Esa listened intently; he knew little about Yoshua's family. Meanwhile, Marcus shifted uncomfortably, recalling how Dariq had saved his life by taking the fatal blow meant for him.

A tear slid down Yoshua's cheek. "That is true," he said, quietly.

Sheera folded his great wings and stepped closer. "Dariq would be proud of you."

"Thank you," Yoshua sighed, inclining his head gratefully toward Sheera.

Sheera then turned to Esa and Marcus. "Our friend Ibris still appears to be unwell," he remarked, shaking his head with quiet disapproval. "Ambrosia," he sighed, casting a pointed look at Marcus, "is a fleeting indulgence that clouds judgment and weakens the spirit."

Marcus shifted uncomfortably, but remained silent.

Yoshua sighed, frustration evident. "Ibris overdid it again. He's been ill all day."

In his hands, Sheera clenched a branch adorned with vibrant red berries. "These berries are going to help his... condition." He pushed them towards Esa.  "Please, give them to Ibris."

Esa nodded, taking the branch, and leapt into the air, soaring toward the Ishtar's Veil. The hatch door hissed open as Esa disappeared inside.

A few moments later, Esa reappeared, descending gracefully and extending a hand toward the hatch, his expression sharp and focused. Ibris, as if guided by an unseen force, began to descend from the hatch, floating awkwardly in mid-air like a child being carefully lowered.

The sight of Ibris—usually so commanding and imposing—hovering helplessly made Esa chuckle softly. Sheera, however, shot him a serious look, silencing the humor immediately.

Ibris squinted against the noon sun, his hand pressed to his forehead. His expression both that of discomfort and lingering intoxication.

"Good morning, sunshine," Yoshua quipped, smirking.

"You should have told me to stop drinking last night," Ibris grunted, his voice raspy and thick with regret.

Yoshua snorted, shaking his head. "As if you would have listened," he replied, exasperated.

"Well, actually, it's really Marcus' fault," Ibris said, shooting Marcus a dark look.

Marcus gasped in mock indignation. "That's not fair! One of us can hold their ambrosia, and the other can't."

Ibris groaned, rubbing the spot where his right horn met his head, clearly paying the price for his excesses. But upon noticing Sheera, he straightened and bowed deeply. "Ummanu, an honor to be in your presence."

"Ibris, good to see you up and awake." Sheera bowed to his old acolyte. Then, he turned to the others.

"While flying east today, a great heaviness came over me—a throbbing ache in my stomach unlike anything I've ever felt. The land below was eerily quiet, unnaturally so. I saw fallen birds, lifeless trees... the stillness carried a profound sense of imbalance." He paused, sweeping over the group. "We should investigate—"

Marcus began murmuring the prophecy under his breath. "'It will rise like a shadow in the light, a black tower to mark the night. Its presence poisons the air and earth, unraveling life where it takes root.'"

Yoshua overheard and turned sharply. "What did you say?"

Marcus remained silent, lost in deep thought.

Esa began piecing things together. "Was there a tower nearby, master?"

"No," Sheera replied, calmly. Then, asked Marcus: "Did Kora share that prophecy with you?"

Marcus nodded weakly.

"She always had a strange way of sending help," Sheera said, thoughtfully.

Esa, undeterred, spoke with great conviction. "I'm sure the tower is there."

Yoshua glanced around the group, perhaps gauging next steps.

Marcus stood silently for a moment, his eyes closed as if in a meditative trance. Finally, he opened his eyes and nodded. "An obsedian obelisk. That's what's jamming the technology."

"That's good enough for me," Esa said, already preparing to take off.

Ibris reached out, stopping Esa with a firm hand. "Hold on there, Flyboy," he said in confusion. "What are you all talking about?"

Yoshua sighed, exasperated. "Just shut up and come with us."

Ibris hesitated, glancing back at the airship. "Are we going to walk there?"

"It's no more than a ten minute walk," said Sheera, "but I can carry at least one person."

Without missing a beat, Ibris raised his hand. "Please take me, Ummanu. I am in no shape to walk that far."

Sheera nodded. With a single powerful beat of his wings, he took off, effortlessly scooping up Ibris. The groaning halfbreed hung limply as Sheera vanished into the sky.

Esa turned his attention to Marcus and Yoshua, who had begun walking toward the foliage. He studied the two men for a moment, considering his options. Finally, he said, "I'll walk with you both."

As they started their trek, Esa broke the silence. "So, is everyone in your family part wolf?" He asked Yoshua, his tone forcefully casual.

He could not shake thoughts of Kaya. In just a few days, she had stirred something in him deeper than anyone ever had—not even the mysterious woman from his healing visions. Then again, he remembered, the woman in his visions might not even be real. She could just be another oracle metaphor, nothing more.

Yoshua made an incredulous expression, a knowing smirk played at the corner of his lips. He was well aware of why Esa seemed so interested in his lineage. "My brother and I are both halfbreeds," he replied casually. "Kaya, as you know, is a part breed."

"Hm," Esa said thoughtfully. "It's rare to see two halfbreed siblings."

"It is rare," Yoshua agreed, his voice quieter now, as if lost in thought. "Where I come from, mothers do not die giving birth to their halfbreed children."

"Where is that, exactly?" Marcus asked, curiously.

Yoshua said nothing, the silence stretching uncomfortably between them.

Esa, unfazed, pressed on. "But Kaya doesn't look wolf, does she?"

Yoshua shook his head, growing more incredulous. 

"Whose Kaya?" Marcus asked, confused.

"My niece," Yoshua said to Marcus, the two exchanging a knowing look, before Yoshua turned back to Esa. "Her mother was fully human, so I imagine Kaya's more human than halfbreed." Yoshua said, glancing down at his fur-covered arms and hands.

"She's very beautiful," Esa said, the words slipping out before he could stop himself.

Yoshua shook his head in disbelief, staring at Esa.

"I think the boy's asking if he can take your niece out for dinner," Marcus teased, with a sly grin.

Esa cleared his throat uncomfortably, shifting his weight. "So, Marcus, does your entire family have the gift?" Esa asked, trying to sound casual and doing his best to mask his embarrassment.

Marcus swallowed, seemingly weighing his words. "Mostly, yes."

Esa furrowed his thick brows. "So why do you choose to walk?"

Marcus hesitated, the pause stretching uncomfortably.

Yoshua turned to him, his wolf gaze sharp, clearly wanting the answer as well.

"I have to walk because... I don't have the gift," Marcus admitted, quietly.

A profound silence fell over the group.

"Oh," Yoshua murmured, as if piecing together the many years he had known Marcus into a clearer picture.

Esa spoke with a quiet, contemplative tone. "All the sky gods I knew on the floating islands had the gift," he said, staring into the distance, as if recalling the past.

Marcus stopped in place. "When were you on the floating islands?" He asked, genuinely surprised.

Esa's expression darkened, the memory clearly unpleasant. "It was before the war began. I was a child," he said, bitterly. "I was kept in the Khoraz estate. They said they were teaching me to be more civilized, to become a nobleman." He paused, his tone sharpening. "What they really did was starve me, beat me, electrocute me, and make me sleep in a cage... until Mazi came and freed me."

Yoshua also stopped walking, visibly disturbed as he processed the horrors Esa had endured.

Esa felt Marcus' composure faltered at the mention of Khoraz. A flicker of rage surfaced, accompanied by a tear he quickly blinked away. Placing a steady, compassionate hand on Esa's shoulder. "Those damned nobles," he said, through clenched teeth, growing visibly angry. "They treat the rest of us like we're nothing... like we're trash."

In that moment, Esa understood why Marcus was the only sky god who had openly fought for the rebellion during the war. He recalled the stories—how Marcus had fled after being charged with treason by the Nori Queen, and how, after the war, the new royal family had made no effort to clear his name. The pieces were falling into place.

This time, Yoshua silently placed a hand on both men's shoulders, as if he truly understood them both.

Suddenly, Sheera appeared overhead, his powerful eagle form circling as he shouted, "They have Ibris! There's at least seven of them!"

Yoshua froze. Hearing his friend was in danger, he dropped into a low, wolf-like stance, his sharp instincts taking over. He sniffed the air, his senses straining for any trace of Ibris. After a moment, he growled in frustration, standing upright. "I can't smell or sense Ibris... or, well, anything nearby," he said, firmly. "I'm going to go find him." Before anyone could respond, Yoshua sprinted away, moving faster than a shadow through the woods.

Esa sighed, masking his disappointment at ending the conversation. "We'd better go too," he said, stepping forward. Effortlessly, he lifted off the ground, hovering above the treetops. "You ready?" He asked Marcus.

Marcus nodded, and drew his laser gun from his jacket pocket.

Reaching out, an unseen force gently raised Marcus into the air. "Hold on," Esa said calmly as he glided forward, carrying Marcus. Together, they shot across the forest, Esa scanning ahead as they followed Yoshua's path. Sheera following closely behind them.

Esa immediately caught sight of something in the distance—a strange structure tucked inside barren tree foliage. It was black, sleek, and obelisk-shaped, standing roughly twice the height of a man. The surface pulsed faintly, as if alive with an energy that made the surrounding air feel dense and electric.

"There," Esa said, quietly, pointing toward the structure. Marcus nodded in acknowledgement. 

"An obsidian obelisk," Marcus said, almost reverent. "I think there's a door at its base," he added loudly, so that both Esa and Sheera could hear him.

"Let's get closer," Esa said, as he flew them toward the tower, weaving through the air with precision. Sheera followed.

As they approached, they spotted two scaled ones near the tower, holding Ibris, their claws gripping his arms and shoulders like iron shackles. A third stood before him, a jagged, menacing weapon pressed to his throat. Ibris, visibly battered and drained, growled low.

"I told you," Ibris rasped. "I'm in no shape to fight."

"Where are your friends?" The scaled one snarled, his amber eyes narrowing as he leaned in closer to Ibris. His weapon did not waver, pressing just enough to draw a thin line of blood along Ibris' neck.

"I just want to see what's inside that tower," Ibris said with a hint of jest, swaying slightly. "We don't need to fight today."

The third-largest scaled one did not hesitate, slamming its weapon across Ibris' face. Ibris crumpled under the blow but quickly staggered back up, spitting blood onto the ground. Wiping the blood from his lips, he glanced at the dirt and crimson smear on his shirt before locking eyes with his opponent. "That was completely unnecessary. This was my favorite shirt."

Noticing the three men hovering above, the leader of the scaled ones hissed in frustration, his sharp teeth glinting in the dim light. "Summon the others!" He barked, gesturing at Esa and the others.

The other scaled ones released deep guttural cries, their voices carrying over the trees as more of their kind emerged from the shadows. Within moments, a dozen scaled ones surrounded the obelisk, their forms moving like dark, sinuous predators through the forest.

Esa scanned the chaotic scene. The door was in sight, but reaching it meant going straight through a swarm of scaled ones. "This is going to get messy," he muttered under his breath.

He glanced at Marcus, who looked pale but focused and alert, his gun aimed in the direction of the scaled ones. Then Esa turned to Sheera, and nodded at his old master. 

Sheera flew near them, his eyes locked on the scaled ones.

Yoshua suddenly burst from the trees, his figure low and feral, his wolf-like stance practically radiating tension. "Ibris!" He barked, his sharp gaze darting to his friend and the scaled ones restraining him.

Ibris managed a weak, bloody grin. "Took you long enough," he croaked.

Yoshua's eyes flicked to the obelisk tower and the scaled ones. "What in the name of the Mother is that thing?" He growled, feeling the nausea rise in his stomach.

"Can't explain," Ibris said, shifting his legs to take a fighting stance. "It's time to play."

Ibris, seizing the momentary distraction, let out a deafening roar, his powerful bull-like strength surging to life. With a violent twist of his broad frame, he threw off his captors, his muscles straining as his horns gouged into one of the scaled ones, hurling him flying into a nearby tree. Without hesitation, roundhouse kicked the leader in the face, sending him sprawling to the ground, dazed and winded.

The leader fell to the ground, his weapon landing by his side. He shook his head and then screamed at the others. "Kill them!"

The forest erupted into chaos. Scaled ones surged toward Ibris and Yoshua, claws slashing, weapons gleaming in the dim light. Yoshua lunged forward, his movements a blur of speed and precision as he tore into the first attacker.

Sheera soared diving down with terrifying force, his talons striking true against a second scaled one.

"Now this," Ibris growled, cracking his knuckles, "is my kind of party."

Esa and Marcus landed near the ominous structure, their movements growing sluggish as an overwhelming sense of nausea gripped them. The air around the obsidian obelisk tower was thick and oppressive, radiating an unnatural energy that seemed to sap their strength with every step.

"I feel sick," Esa said, clutching his stomach, as his face turned pale.

Marcus wiped the sweat from his brow, his unease evident. "This place feels... wrong," he muttered, steadying himself against a jagged rock.

As they drew closer, two scaled ones emerged from the shadows, their clawed hands gripping laser weapons. Without hesitation, the pair lunged at them. Esa reacted first, his movements swift despite the heaviness in his limbs. He dodged a strike and struck one of the creatures with a clean, powerful blow, sending it crumpling to the ground. Marcus, breathing hard but determined, used his weapon to dispatch the second scaled one, its body collapsing in a heap.

Panting, they pressed forward toward the tower's base. The closer they got, the stronger the sense of unease and nausea became. Marcus stumbled but pushed onward, his eyes locked on the towering structure. Finally, they reached the door—a heavy, metallic slab that slid open with a groan, revealing a narrow staircase spiraling downward into darkness.

The two exchanged a brief glance before Esa said, "No turning back now," and descended the stairs, Marcus close behind.

The steps seemed endless, the air growing colder and heavier with each step. As they descended, Esa tried to shake the lingering nausea. "What is this place?" He asked.

"Something ancient and powerful," Marcus replied grimly.

Whatever it was, Esa didn't like it.

At the bottom of the stairs, they emerged into a long, dimly lit hallway. At the far end stood a door with a small, round window glowing an eerie green. The glow pulsed faintly, casting shifting shadows along the walls. They exchanged a wary look before moving cautiously toward it.

Esa pushed the door open, and they stepped into the room. In the center, hooked up to a strange machine, was a gaunt, almost skeletal figure. It was a crane halfbreed.

"Geshar," Esa said in disbelief.

Geshar's long, bird-like neck jutted forward, and his crane wings, though magnificent in form, were frail and battered. Tubes and wires extended from each limb and the back of his neck, glowing green as they siphoned energy into the machine surrounding him.

Esa's breath caught in his throat. "He's dying," he said softly, stepping closer to examine him. He stared at the machine as if trying to comprehend its purpose.

Marcus crouched by the console tablet with strange symbols. His fingers hovered over the controls as he studied the mechanism with growing alarm. "I think Geshar is fueling this thing," he said, his voice low and tense. "And maybe the entire structure." He leaned closer, his sharp eyes scanning every detail. "Wait... Geshar's fueling whatever's jamming the technology in this region."

Esa turned to Marcus. "Then we have to shut it down."

Marcus examined the intricate machinery. "Unhooking him could kill him," he said, with concern.

Esa hesitated, glancing between Marcus and Geshar's frail, motionless form. "Then we can't just—"

Before he could finish, the door burst open. Ibris staggered in, his clothes torn and his body smeared with dirt and blood—some his own, some green from the scaled ones. Esa instinctively stepped back, the sight of him triggering a fresh wave of nausea.

"Geshar!" Ibris cried out in horror, as he took in the pitiful sight of his friend, hooked up to the monstrous machine.

Yoshua followed close behind, his face pale and stricken. Moving slowly toward Geshar, he whispered, "Geshar," before falling to his knees, tears welling in his eyes. "What happened to you, old friend?"

Ibris, however, was consumed by fury. He stormed toward the machine, his hands trembling with rage. "Unhook him, now!" He demanded, glaring at Marcus.

Marcus stood firm, meeting Ibris' fiery gaze. "Listen to me, Ibris," he said, calmly. "Geshar is fueling this machine, and probably the entire tower. If we unhook him without understanding the system, we could kill him. Or worse—we might trigger something catastrophic."

The room fell silent, heavy with tension. Everyone stared at Geshar, his chest rising and falling faintly, his body barely clinging to life, then to Ibris who was struggling to restrain himself from taking action. 

Esa stepped cautiously toward Ibris. "We need to think this through. Geshar needs help, but we have to approach this calmly—"

But Ibris wasn't listening. His hands were shaking, his breathing heavy, filled with desperation. "He's dying, Esa!" He snapped, his voice raw. Before anyone could stop him, he lunged toward Geshar and ripped the wires and tubes from his body.

The machine screeched in protest, sparks flying as green energy spilled from the severed conduits. Geshar's frail, unconscious body slumped forward, his wings limp. Ibris caught him, throwing him over his shoulder. Without another word, he stormed out of the room, leaving the others behind.

Esa watched in shock as the machine began to hum ominously, its panels flickering. "Marcus, what's happening?"

Marcus was already moving, his sharp eyes darting across the machine's controls. He tapped at the glowing panels, muttering to himself as he tried to make sense of the rapidly cascading warnings. "It's destabilizing. Geshar wasn't just fueling the tower—he was acting as a stabilizer for the entire system. Without him, the energy buildup is going to overload."

"What happens if it overloads?" Yoshua asked, clentching his fists.

Marcus turned, his expression grim. "If I'm right, it'll trigger an explosion—an energy collapse powerful enough to wipe out everything within a thirty-six mile radius."

"The monastery," Esa whispered, as the realization hit him.

"We need to shut it down—now." Marcus said, urgently moving.

The machine began to shake violently, the room filling with a high-pitched whine. Esa felt the ground trembling beneath his feet, and panic began to creep into his voice. "Tell us what to do!"

Marcus pointed to a cluster of symbols on a console. "There's a failsafe built in, but it's encrypted. I'll handle that. Esa, you need to reroute the energy—it's pooling into the core, and if it gets too dense, we're done. Look for anything that looks like an energy conduit."

Esa nodded, swallowing his fear as he scanned the machinery for anything resembling what Marcus had described. Yoshua stepped up next to him, steadying the panel as it shook under the strain. "Got it!" Esa called out, yanking a lever and redirecting the flow. The machine's vibrations lessened slightly, but the humming grew louder.

Marcus worked furiously, his hands flying over the console. "Ibris pulling Geshar out was like ripping the foundation out of a building," he muttered. "This system wasn't designed to operate without a living host. It's collapsing on itself."

Marcus' hands flew over the console with frustration. "I can't stabilize it," he said, overwhelmed. "The system's beyond saving. We need to leave—now."

Esa and Yoshua exchanged grim looks before Marcus snapped, "Move!" They bolted, racing out of the room and down the hallway, the green glow intensifying behind them. The walls trembled, dust and debris falling as they climbed the staircase.

Bursting out of the tower, Esa's heart sank at the carnage outside. The ground was littered with scaled bodies, their green blood pooling in unnatural streaks across the landscape.

He spotted Sheera flying off, carrying Ibris, who cradled Geshar's limp body in his arms.

Esa turned to Yoshua and Marcus with urgency. "We need to move—we don't have much time." 

Without waiting for a response, Esa leapt into the air, extending his unseen influence, he lifted Marcus and Yoshua alongside him, guiding them steadily toward the ship. Together, they flew through the foliage and landed in the valley near the Ishtar's Veil.

Esa noticed Ibris struggling to haul Geshar onto the airship. Without hesitation, he quickly helped Marcus and Yoshua aboard, then turned back to assist Ibris. With a motion of his hands, Esa lifted both Ibris and Geshar's frail form onto the airship platform.

From inside the ship, Marcus shouted, "I can't get the Ishtar's Veil back online—it's going to take time!"

"We don't have time!" Esa barked through clenched teeth, urgency flashing in his eyes.

Nearby, Sheera was flying, his great wings beating powerfully against the air.

A sudden, booming sound shattered the tense silence.

"I'm afraid we're out of time!" Esa shouted, his voice sharp with alarm. He pointed at Sheera, guiding him onto the Ishtar's Veil, positioning the eagle half-breed securely above the ship.

In the distance, a green explosion erupted, rapidly expanding and consuming everything in its path. The ground shook violently as the glowing wave barreled toward them, the intensity of its approach sending tremors through the air.

"Everyone, hold on!" Esa yelled. He darted beneath the Ishtar's Veil, his focus razor-sharp, and with an extraordinary surge of power, lifted both the airship and Sheera above it. With every ounce of strength he could muster, Esa propelled them into the air, ascending at breakneck speed.

The green explosion surged closer, its destructive energy nearly grazing the ship. But at the last moment, the Ishtar's Veil rocketed forward, narrowly escaping the wave of annihilation by mere feet.

Esa looked down in horror as the explosion rippled outward, a sickly green wave consuming everything in its path. The valley below was swallowed in an instant, the trees and rocks disintegrating into nothingness. His breath caught as the hill under which the Oracle Kora lived vanished into the churning energy, leaving no trace behind.

Then came the monastery—his sanctuary, his home, the place where he had found purpose. He watched helplessly as the sweeping wave of destruction devoured it, the spires and walls collapsing into the roiling green abyss. Hundreds of souls—people he loved—were lost in an instant.

Esa's heart sank. Despite bring outside of the Ishtar's Veil, his scream tore through the cabin, raw and filled with anguish, echoing off the ship's metallic walls. The sound carried all the pain, all the helplessness, as Esa watched the green inferno consume the valley below, erasing everything in its path in one merciless sweep. Only one thought lingered: Perhaps Ava has turned her back on the world.