The abyss grew darker as Kael and Liora emerged from the altar, the crystalline shard tucked safely away. The task force reunited with them at the ravine's edge, their faces etched with relief but tinged with suspicion after Jorin's betrayal. The air pulsed with the rift's energy, urging them forward, but the fragile unity they'd built was about to fracture.
As they prepared to move, a sudden commotion erupted—Jorin, still bound, had wriggled free and snatched the shard from Liora's pack. With a wild grin, he bolted toward the rift, his radical faction's insignia glinting on his torn sleeve. "This ends the Lunari!" he shouted, disappearing into the shadows.
Kael cursed, drawing his sword. "After him!" he roared, leading the chase, Liora at his side, her daggers flashing. Their coordination was instinctive, but the betrayal fueled Kael's anger. "Your people's weakness let this happen!" he snapped, blaming her for the oversight.
Liora's eyes blazed. "And your arrogance missed the signs! This is on you too!" Her voice cut deep, their argument reigniting as they pursued Jorin. The team struggled to keep up, their trust shaken by the traitor's escape.
They cornered him near the rift's edge, its dark energy swirling violently. Jorin raised the shard, its light intensifying, but before he could act, Liora lunged, disarming him with a deft strike. Kael followed, knocking him to the ground, the shard skittering away. The team secured Jorin, but the damage was done—the artifact's power had destabilized the rift, sending tremors through the ground.
Breathing hard, Kael and Liora faced each other, their argument cut short by a team member's plea. "Enough! We need you both!" The words hung heavy, forcing them to swallow their pride. They retrieved the shard, its glow dimmer but still potent, and turned to the rift, their alliance strained but unbroken, the cost of betrayal a bitter lesson etched into their resolve.