Kai and Meriel burst out of the collapsing tunnel into the bright afternoon daylight.
They sailed through the open air just as the Temple of Forgotten Stars finally imploded behind them.
A cataclysmic explosion of black starlight and swirling void energy tore the ancient architecture to pieces.
The mountain sitting right above the ruins groaned loudly and sank straight into the ground, burying the horrors forever under thousands of tons of stone.
Both men hit the grassy slope hard and rolled down the hill.
Kai stopped near a broken log and clutched the rough burlap sack securely against his chest. His ribs screamed in agony, and every breath felt like inhaling broken glass.
Meriel pushed himself up onto his hands and knees a few yards away.
Blood dripped steadily from his ruined mouth onto the green grass.
