The walls of the temple began to crumble, piece by piece, under the force of the Soul Relic's explosion. Zara stood firm, her breathing heavy. Around her, the blue light of the Relic blazed brighter, as if it too could sense the danger drawing near. Ayla quickly pulled her back, giving her space to recover and defend.
But Kael… Kael didn't move.
He stood in the middle of the ruins, his hair whipping in the wind of darkness. His eyes—once calm and full of feeling—were now a deep crimson, burning like embers of vengeance.
"Zara…" his voice was soft, but laced with rage. "You chose to leave me. You chose their path—not mine."
Zara tried to speak, but Kael was already looking toward the sky. He raised his hand—and the heavens cracked open. From those fractures, dark spirits that had been imprisoned for thousands of years began pouring out like a black rain.
Ayla gasped. "He… he broke the dimensional barrier!"
Kael let out a quiet laugh—one that was bitter and full of heartbreak. "Have you ever seen love turn into poison, Zara? You just did."
The dark spirits began attacking the other guardians. The dimension that had once been in balance was now quaking. Darkness was no longer a hidden threat—it had become the master.
Zara tightened her grip on the Relic, but something inside her cracked. A part of her still loved Kael. But this Kael… wasn't the one she knew.
"If I have to choose between you and the world…" Zara whispered, "then I choose to fight you."
Kael turned to her, and a smile appeared on his face. But this time, there was no love in it. Only a quiet, bitter rage.
"If you fight me… I'll make sure you feel what I felt—empty, lost, worthless."
He dropped his hand—and the ground split open. From beneath, rose a creature of darkness, towering as high as the temple itself. Its red eyes glowed as they locked onto Zara.
"This is it, Zara," Kael said, his voice trembling with dark power. "Tonight, the last star of this world will fall. And I'll make sure… you witness it."
Zara lifted the Relic to the sky. "If this is the last night… then let the light be the witness. I won't let this world drown in the pain you've created."
And once more, the sky roared.