Chapter 9 : Shattered Balance

Hina's eyes snapped open, her mind reeling from the shock. The Guardian's body was gone, vanished into thin air. Irfan still lay motionless on the floor, his chest rising and falling with slow, steady breaths.

Aria's voice cut through the silence, laced with urgency. "Hina, we need to act fast. The artifact's fragment is gone, and the balance is shifting."

Hina's gaze darted around the chamber, as if searching for answers. "What do we do now?"

Aria's expression was grim. "We need to find another way to stabilize the artifact. If we don't, the consequences will be catastrophic."

"We can't stabilize the artifact without the Guardian," Aria said, her voice laced with desperation. "We have to get out of here, now."

Hina's eyes locked onto Aria's, a fierce determination burning within them. "You're the Guardian of this chamber, Aria. You can maintain the balance."

Aria's expression faltered, uncertainty creeping in. "I... I don't know if I can. The Guardian's power was tied to the artifact's fragment."

Hina grasped Aria's arm, her grip tight. "You have to try. We can't stay here."

With a deep breath, Aria nodded. Together, they turned to leave, but Hina's gaze fell upon Irfan's motionless form. "We can't leave him behind," she whispered.

Aria's face twisted in anguish. "We have to, Hina. We can't risk being trapped here."

Hina's jaw set in determination. "I'll carry him."

With a Herculean effort, Hina lifted Irfan's body into her arms, his weight straining her muscles. Aria supported her, and together they stumbled toward the exit.

As they reached the threshold, a blinding light enveloped them, the air thickening with an otherworldly energy. The chamber was collapsing, the balance shattered.

"Run!" Aria screamed, dragging Hina forward.

They burst through the entrance, the door slamming shut behind them with a deafening crash. Hina stumbled, Irfan's body slipping from her grasp.

In a desperate bid to save him, Hina reached out, but it was too late. The door sealed shut, trapping Irfan's body inside.

Hina's scream echoed through the corridor, her heart shattered into a million pieces.