0336 -

"It's working!" Mara yelled, summoning a burst of energy to hold her clone at bay. "Keep going!"

Wei Lin and Darian followed suit, attacking the runes while fending off their doppelgängers. With each shattered symbol, the clones weakened, their forms flickering like dying flames.

Finally, only one symbol remained, glowing brighter than the rest. Wei Lin sprinted toward it, her clone blocking her path. She dropped into a low stance, using the Codex as a shield to deflect the clone's strike. In one fluid motion, she spun and slashed through the final rune.

The moment the last symbol shattered, the clones let out a deafening scream. Their bodies dissolved into tendrils of black mist, which swirled upward and disappeared into the sky. The oppressive weight lifted, and the distorted landscape began to stabilize.

The group stood in silence, catching their breath. Darian wiped sweat from his brow, his sword still at the ready. "What the hell was that?"