The dust was still settling, and the heat of the battle clung to the air. For a few long seconds, no one spoke and just breathing hard.
Then Shoji let out a breathless laugh and dropped to one knee. "Phew… we actually did it."
Axel exhaled hard and gave a short, satisfied nod.
"That thing was tougher than the rest combined," Axel said.
Rama pulled Cinderfall from the stone rubble and rested the tip on the floor. He wasn't smiling, but his burning eyes had dimmed. He looked at them and gave a silent nod only. Then he felt that the needle in his skin had retracted back into the armor.
Larsen rolled his shoulder, glancing back at the path behind them.
"No more waiting. Let's move. We can catch our breath once we're out of here," Larsen said.
The others agreed with faint nods and started walking toward the open door where Milen and Kira were waiting.
Milen's eyes lit up the moment she saw them emerge.
"You all looks alright," she breathed. "That thing, what was it?"
