Chapter Ninety-Four

As dawn broke over the battle-scarred landscape, the world seemed eerily still. The weight of their victory over the abyss was heavy in the air, but the sense of finality was missing. Marcus, Clara, Ethan, and Mariam stood at the edge of the ravine where the final confrontation had taken place, gazing out over the ruins of what had once been a thriving forest. The shadows were gone, and the dark armies obliterated, but something lingered, a presence, barely detectable but undeniable.

Clara turned to Marcus, her eyes reflecting the weariness they all felt. "It's too quiet. After everything, this doesn’t feel... finished."

Marcus, his keen senses alert, frowned as he surveyed their surroundings. "I know. The abyss is gone, but the air feels wrong, like it’s holding its breath."

Mariam, her energy drained from the prolonged battles, nodded in agreement. "There's an old saying in the ancient texts. 'Where the abyss falls, the void awakens.' I thought it was just a legend, but now..."

Etha