The air grew heavy, as if the world itself was holding its breath.Lyra stood with Darren, Maeve, and Seraphina at the edge of a ruined corridor. Before them, a figure cloaked in black with a skull mask stood motionless, flanked by two massive stone pillars etched with ancient glowing carvings—symbols of sacrifice, suffering, and power. Behind him, Kael stood atop the corpse of a frozen dragon, purple blood dripping from the dagger in his hand. His eyes blazed deep crimson, like embers of an unquenchable grudge.“The Final Gate,” Seraphina whispered. “The center of all darkness. The birthplace of destruction itself.”Maeve clutched Lyra’s hand. “That’s Kael… isn’t it? But why... he looks like—”“Not just looks like,” Lyra murmured, her voice hoarse. “He has become part of the darkness.”Kael looked up. “You’re too late. The sacrifice is done.” He kicked the dragon’s body, which began to crack into shards of black crystal. “And the key is in my hands.”The masked figure stepped forward

“LYRAAAAA!!”Seraphina’s scream echoed through the crumbling stones and raging storm of energy. Darren shielded Maeve from the flying debris of the collapsing dimension, while from the cliff’s edge, only a faint light remained—Lyra’s body, soaring into the void with a sliver of hope to save Kael.The corridor between worlds wasn’t a place that could be explained. Air couldn't be breathed, time didn’t flow, and sound came only as strange tremors in the mind. But still, Lyra pressed on. Her cloak shredded by phantom winds, but the Orb of the First Light on her chest pulsed steadily, shielding her from the void.With each passing second, visions flashed before her—memories of childhood with Kael: playing by the lake, Kael defending her from bullies, their solemn vow to protect each other, no matter what.“Kael... I’m not giving up. I know you’re still there.”Suddenly, from the side of the corridor, thick fog-like shapes emerged. They whispered, calling Lyra’s name with voices that sound