The fallen beast lay motionless, its glowing eyes dimming as the corruption retreated. But the victory was fleeting—around them, the forest seemed to pulse with a malevolent heartbeat, warning that darker trials awaited.
Lior wiped sweat from his brow, the Celestial Code humming faintly beneath his skin. The fragments here were close, their light flickering like distant stars in a storm. He glanced at his companions—each weary but unbroken.
"We can't stop now," Elyra urged, her voice sharp despite the exhaustion lining her features. "The heart of this corruption lies ahead."
Mira's playful smirk was gone, replaced by a focused intensity. "I'm ready for whatever this forest throws at us next."
Kaelen moved silently to the front, bow drawn, eyes piercing the shadows. "Stay alert. These woods hide more than just beasts."
Sylvi clutched her satchel tightly, murmuring a prayer as she readied her healing herbs. "I'll keep us alive as long as I can."
The group advanced, each step deeper into the forest feeling heavier, as if the trees themselves resisted their presence. Strange whispers curled around them—half-remembered memories twisted by the corruption's touch.
Suddenly, the ground trembled. From the gnarled roots of a towering tree, a monstrous form began to emerge—a towering, corrupted guardian with limbs like shattered wood and eyes glowing with ancient fury.
The forest held its breath. The battle for the fragments was far from over.
Lior steadied himself, wind swirling at his command. This was more than a fight for survival—it was a fight for the soul of their world.