The Hunter staggered back, the shard's radiant beam burning through its shadowy form. Yet even in retreat, its voice echoed with unnerving calm.
"You wield stolen power, bearer. But you do not understand the cost."
Aloysius steadied himself, breathing hard. "Then teach me. What do you want?"
The Hunter's glowing eyes dimmed, shifting from menace to something almost… weary.
"The Fragments were never meant to be reunited. They are pieces of an ancient balance, shattered to prevent catastrophe. Your binding your union threatens to unravel the very fabric of existence."
Elyon stepped forward, voice sharp. "So why hunt us? Why not stop this before it started?"
"Because balance demands sacrifice. And the cost of your defiance will be paid in blood yours, and the world's."
Kaelis's sword gleamed as she poised for another strike, but Aloysius raised a hand. "Wait. If this is true, then destroying the Fragments isn't the answer. We need a new path."
The Hunter's form flickered, as if considering. "Then you must choose wisely, bearer. For the next step will decide if eternity is preserved… or shattered forever."
A heavy silence settled over the chamber, broken only by the distant rumble of shifting stone.