The golden glow pulsed softly ahead, like a beacon cutting through the dark. Dust still hung thick in the air, and every step echoed against the cracked stone walls.
BOOM.
Another shockwave.
But this time, it wasn't an attack. It was a voice.
"You have come far."
The golden glow ahead expanded, swirling like mist. Then—
A figure stepped forward.
Not Chaosgod.
Not a player.
An NPC.
An important one.
His robes shimmered with gold and black embroidery, ancient symbols glowing faintly across the fabric. His face was lined with age, but his eyes—piercing and sharp—held the weight of someone who knew things.
Jack's playful grin returned. "Huh. Fancy NPC."
The old man ignored him, eyes scanning the group. Then, he spoke again.
"The Guardian has fallen, yet no spoils remain. This was no victory—only a shift in fate."
Arianna crossed her arms. "You expected someone else."
The NPC nodded slowly.
"The one who erased the Guardian was not meant to exist here."
