The massive arm froze mid-air.
Just as the elder golem's burning strike was about to crash down on Shen Hao, a voice called out.
"No… Brother, wait!"
The elder golem stopped instantly. The blazing energy around his arm faded. His hollow, glowing eyes turned toward the voice — and saw the smaller golem stepping forward across the chamber.
His stance relaxed.
"…You've come, little brother," the elder golem said, his deep voice calm but strong. "After all this time."
"I have," the younger golem replied. "And you're still trying to solve problems by smashing them."
The elder golem tilted his head. "It worked before."
"I'm sure it didn't always."
Shen Hao stepped back slightly, his hand still gripping Lingfeng, just in case.
"You guys ever heard of a handshake?" Lingfeng whispered. "Because this welcome is seriously lacking manners."
The elder golem's eyes narrowed at Shen Hao. "And you brought guests."
The younger golem stood beside Shen Hao. "Not just guests. This is Shen Hao — the second disciple of Lord Mo Han."
The elder's glowing gaze turned sharper. His eyes scanned Shen Hao like reading an old scroll. "So this is the new one."
"Still alive, by the way," Shen Hao said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Even though I almost wasn't."
"Yeah, almost got turned into golem-flavored jelly," Lingfeng added. "Thanks for that, big guy."
The elder didn't respond to Lingfeng but turned his attention to a new presence.
Mo Han's spirit stepped forward, his figure calm and clear. "You are as sharp as ever."
The elder bowed his head. "My lord. You still exist."
Mo Han nodded. "Only a sliver of me, but yes. Long enough to guide one more."
The elder golem took a moment before replying. "If he carries your will, then I have no quarrel with him."
The younger golem added, "He passed every trial above, and the flame accepted him."
"Also, he's got great hair," Lingfeng said, floating closer to Mo Han. "You ever notice that, master? Even under pressure, his hair never moves."
Mo Han gave the faintest smile. "He has more than good hair, Lingfeng. He has heart."
Shen Hao scratched the back of his head. "Can we… not talk about my hair right now?"
"You're just embarrassed," Lingfeng said. "That means I win."
The elder golem didn't move for a moment. Then he let out a deep, rumbling hum — not laughter exactly, but something close.
"Your companions are unusual," he said.
"I'd be offended if that wasn't true," Lingfeng replied proudly.
The elder turned his gaze toward the younger golem. "You led him well."
"I did only what we were meant to do," the younger answered. "And I was not alone."
They both looked at Shen Hao.
"You've come far," the elder said to him. "Not many would make it this deep."
"I didn't come for power," Shen Hao replied. "I came because I believe in what my master stood for. And because someone needs to carry that forward."
Mo Han looked at him and nodded. "You're learning what true strength is."
"Great," Lingfeng muttered. "Now can true strength please involve a nap sometime soon?"
The elder golem looked toward the back of the chamber. A wall shimmered with a faint, pulsing light.
"It waits behind there," he said simply.
He turned, taking a few slow steps toward it.
"Come," he said. "You've earned the right to see it. Whatever comes next… you'll face it together."
The younger golem moved beside his brother, both standing tall like ancient warriors once again reunited.
"Thousands of years apart," the younger said, "but one duty, still shared."
"And one path left to finish," the elder replied.
As the wall began to shift and glow, Shen Hao stepped forward. Lingfeng floated beside him, now quiet — for once.
And so they walked toward the final chamber — toward the end of one era… and the beginning of another.