The temple's collapse seemed imminent. The once unyielding stone walls cracked and groaned, sending showers of dust and debris down into the chamber. Ji-ho clutched the orb tightly to her chest, its light pulsing faintly as if exhausted from their battle. Hwan and Elysia flanked her, their eyes scanning for a way out as the ground beneath them trembled.
— We need to move! Now! — Hwan yelled over the noise, his voice strained with urgency.
Ji-ho nodded, though her legs felt heavy, each step harder to make than the last. The power of the orb weighed on her—not just physically, but emotionally. The temple’s warning about the price still echoed in her mind, a constant reminder that nothing they’d gained here had come without a cost.
— Over there! — Elysia pointed toward a narrow passageway that had opened up to their left, its entrance bathed in flickering light. — It’s our only way out!
Without hesitation, the trio sprinted for the passage, dodging falling stone as the temple collapsed around them. The air grew thick with dust, making it harder to breathe, but they pushed on, driven by the knowledge that survival was their only option.
As they entered the passage, Ji-ho glanced over her shoulder, watching as the temple’s central chamber crumbled into ruin. The once-glowing carvings on the walls dimmed and faded, their ancient power spent. She felt a strange pang of sadness, as though a part of her was leaving something behind—something important.
— Keep moving! — Hwan urged, pulling her forward.
They ran through the narrow corridor, the walls pressing in around them. The vibrations from the temple’s destruction shook the ground beneath their feet, but the passage remained intact for the moment. Ji-ho’s mind raced as they moved. She couldn’t stop thinking about the temple’s cryptic message. The past holds many secrets. You carry the weight of the lost. Are you prepared to face what comes next?
What did it mean? What would the future hold for them now that they had taken the orb?
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the passage opened up into a clearing outside the temple. The fresh air hit them like a wave of relief, and they collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. The temple, now a crumbling ruin behind them, stood as a testament to their struggle.
— We made it, — Ji-ho said between gasps, her hands trembling as she clutched the orb.
— Barely, — Hwan added, wiping the sweat and dust from his brow. — That was too close.
Elysia remained silent, her sharp eyes focused on the orb. — The temple may be gone, but the fight isn’t over. Whatever that orb holds, it’s going to draw attention.
Ji-ho nodded. The weight of the orb in her hands seemed to grow heavier with each passing moment. It was more than just a relic—it was a beacon, a source of unimaginable power that countless beings would covet. The realization that they were now targets didn’t escape her.
— We need to figure out what this thing does, — Hwan said, standing up and offering Ji-ho his hand. — We can’t let it fall into the wrong hands.
— But where do we go from here? — Ji-ho asked, her voice heavy with uncertainty. — We’ve been through so much already… and I feel like we’re only scratching the surface of something bigger.
Elysia stood up, her gaze distant as she stared at the horizon. — The temple may have been a trial, but it was also a warning. This orb is connected to more than just power. It holds the key to something that goes beyond this world.
Hwan frowned, glancing between Ji-ho and Elysia. — You’re talking about the prophecy, aren’t you?
Elysia nodded slowly. — Yes. I think this orb is part of it. The prophecy spoke of an ancient power that could reshape the world, something that could either save it or destroy it. I didn’t believe it before, but now…
— And what about the price? — Ji-ho asked, her voice barely above a whisper. — The temple warned us. There’s always a cost. What if we’re not prepared for it?
Elysia’s eyes darkened, the weight of Ji-ho’s words settling over them. — We have no choice but to find out.
The wind picked up, rustling the leaves of the trees surrounding the clearing. The world felt eerily quiet after the chaos they had just escaped. But Ji-ho knew that this silence was only temporary. The temple’s collapse was just the beginning.
Suddenly, a faint sound echoed from the distance—a low, haunting hum that sent chills down their spines. It grew louder, closer, until it became unmistakable: the sound of wings, hundreds of them, beating against the air.
— We’re not alone, — Hwan said, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword.
Out of the shadows of the forest, dark figures began to emerge. Winged creatures with sharp claws and glowing eyes swooped down from the sky, their screeches filling the air. They circled above, watching, waiting.
— Get ready, — Elysia whispered, drawing her weapon.
Ji-ho stood, her heart racing as the creatures descended. The orb’s light flared in her hands, reacting to the presence of the enemies surrounding them. She could feel the power within it surging, begging to be unleashed.
— Whatever happens, — she said, her voice firm despite the fear gnawing at her, — we do this together.
Hwan nodded, stepping into position beside her. Elysia took the other side, her eyes never leaving the circling creatures.
— We’ve come this far, — Hwan muttered under his breath. — Let’s see what this thing can really do.
The creatures screeched louder, their wings slicing through the air as they dove toward the trio. Ji-ho’s heart pounded in her chest as the first wave descended upon them, their talons outstretched and ready to strike.
— Here they come! — Elysia shouted, swinging her weapon at the nearest creature.
Ji-ho’s grip tightened on the orb as the power within it swelled, the energy coursing through her body. In that moment, she understood what she needed to do. Without hesitation, she raised the orb high above her head, and its light exploded outward, bathing the entire clearing in a blinding radiance.
The creatures screamed as the light engulfed them, their forms disintegrating in the intense glow. The power of the orb surged through Ji-ho like a tidal wave, overwhelming her senses, but she held on, refusing to let go. She could feel the weight of the lost, the ancient souls connected to the orb, reaching out to her, guiding her.
And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, it was over.
The light faded, and the clearing was silent once more. The creatures were gone, nothing but ashes scattered on the wind.
Ji-ho lowered the orb, her hands trembling. She had barely scratched the surface of its power, and yet, she could feel its pull—its hunger for more.
— This is just the beginning, — she whispered.
And deep down, she knew she was right.