The artifact, the key to everything wasn't what he thought it was. It wasn't a weapon to wield, it was a curse to be avoided. But could they afford to walk away from it now?
Dean was too powerful, and without the artifact, how could they ever hope to defeat him?
Selene broke the silence, her voice low. "What now?"
Vardy didn't have an answer. He had always believed that the artifact was their only hope, but now, everything had changed.
They were no longer just fighting for victory, they were fighting for their survival, against an ancient force that could tear them apart.
"We keep moving," Vardy said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "We keep moving, and we figure out what to do with the artifact. But we need to be careful. That spirit wasn't lying. We have to find a way to use it without letting it destroy us."
The group nodded, each gazing at each other.
They moved and as they got to the base of Dean's fortress, Selene went ahead but stopped abruptly.
