Echo Shui froze. Her liquid form solidified. She was trapped, a statue of blue ice caught in a scream of defiance.
[Target Immobilized.]
Alvian floated in the silence of the frozen world.
"Inefficient to fight the tide," Alvian whispered. "Better to stop it."
He walked over to the frozen Queen. He reached up and plucked the [Water Anchor] from the air above her head.
[Shard Conquered: Water.]
[Reality Anchor: 5/5 Acquired.]
His inventory hummed. The five Anchors—Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, Lightning (from the previous loot)—resonated with each other.
"Alvian," Valeria's voice came over the comms. "We got the Fire Anchor. The shard is collapsing."
"I have the Water Anchor," Alvian replied. "Get ready. We're leaving."
He looked at the frozen world one last time. He crushed the [Water Anchor] in his hand, activating the recall protocol.
The ice shattered. The world dissolved into white light.
They were going home. And they had the keys to the universe.
