As Maya, Lira, and Sylva headed back through the tunnel, Ash turned to the statue, its glowing eyes seeming to watch him.
Jagu settled beside it, his massive form a silent sentinel. Koren paced the chamber's perimeter, checking for hidden passages, while Tor sat on a broken pillar, sharpening his hammer's edge with a whetstone.
Ash opened his Administrator Panel, scanning the chamber for magical signatures. The statue's energy was overwhelming, a pulsing beacon that drowned out smaller signals.
But faint traces lingered near the tunnel's entrance—residual magic from the cloaked man's allies. They'd been prepared, organized. This wasn't a random attack.
"Find anything?" Koren asked, his tone edged with impatience.
"Just echoes," Ash said, closing the panel. "They knew the statue's power. They'll try again, and they'll bring more."
Tor snorted. "Let 'em. More skulls to crack."
