When the dust finally settled, only one figure was seen standing.
And it wasn't Aren.
At that moment, the hearts of Aiden, Kira, and Zero froze.
They watched in horror.
Where Aren had been, there was nothing.
The only being still standing was the giant, covered in its own blood, hammer dripping, its body visibly weakened from the impact it had taken.
Fear gripped them.
Aren might have lost his life in that clash.
He might be gone.
Kira burst into tears and collapsed to her knees. Aiden and Zero couldn't even move to help her, they were too stunned, too broken to care about anything else.
They could only watch as the last embers of hope in their hearts flickered and began to die out.
It was over.
Rumble.
Suddenly, stones shifted.
A hand burst out of the rubble, gripping the Ancient Devourer tightly.
The moment they saw the sword, they realized.
He wasn't dead.
Joy, hope, and overwhelming relief flooded their hearts as Aren pushed himself out of the debris.
