But as they retreated, a strange phenomenon occurred. A butterfly with pale beige wings, almost sand-colored, fluttered in front of Godwin's eyes. It left behind a shimmering trail.
"Dust?" Godwin grumbled, annoyed. "No... sand?"
The butterfly landed, and where its wings touched the burning ground, the sand seemed to multiply, rise, and take shape. A massive silhouette made of fine, shifting sand appeared behind Olivia. Its form evoked a majestic and enigmatic creature.
"That figure..." Kaiser murmured, his vision blurring before pain and exhaustion finally overtook him. "...looks like a... Sphinx?"
As he completely collapsed, the last thing he perceived was Olivia's voice, no longer fearful but charged with royal authority.
"Resonance: Butterfly Effect!"
***
Kris, dazed, rose amid a dead silence broken only by the distant crackling of lava. His gaze wandered over the scattered remains, terror and incomprehension written on his face.
Then he saw it.
