Despite the enormous obstacles that lay ahead, the team persisted in their resolve as the wind howled across the desolate terrain. They were reminded of the tremendous power they were going to face by the unearthly brightness that illuminated the horizon. This quest was now about bringing a broken planet back into balance, not merely about surviving.
Rhea took the lead, walking with poise and assurance. Her final conversation with their enigmatic benefactor, the Oracle, was replayed in her thoughts. The Oracle's words, which rang with a weight of truth Rhea couldn't deny, had been, "To restore harmony, you must sacrifice what you value most." Although the statement's ambiguity bothered her, there was no going back now.
Adrian held the ancient artefact behind her, its surface pulsing softly in time with his own heartbeat. It had a sense of aliveness, as though it realised its mission was almost complete. Adrian reflected about his departed family and hoped that his acts would do tribut
