Kaelen gritted his teeth, struggling to steady his racing heart. The Godshard pulsed fiercely in his palm, its ancient energy coursing through his veins like wildfire. Around him, the remnants of the battlefield lay silent, the storm's fury spent but the threat far from over.
He reached deep within himself, summoning the shard's power once more. This time, he directed it with purpose—a blazing wave of fire and wind that swept toward the advancing soldiers who had ambushed them moments before. The soldiers were thrown back, their armor singed and spirits shaken.
Lira's eyes widened in surprise and relief. "You're learning to control it."
Kaelen nodded, sweat dripping down his brow. "I have to. If I don't master this power, it will consume me—and the realms will fall."
Erynn stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "The relic's power is a double-edged sword. It can save or destroy. You must find balance, or risk becoming what you fight against."
Kaelen looked down at the glowing shard, feeling its warmth and weight. The gods' return loomed closer, and with it, the fate of all realms. He faced a terrifying choice: wield the relic's power to save the world or let it consume him and bring about its ruin.
The path ahead was uncertain, but Kaelen knew one thing for sure—there was no turning back.