Dawn of Guardians

The Balinese safehouse nestled in a rice-terraced valley, its wooden walls draped in frangipani, the air heavy with monsoon warmth and the hum of cicadas. Ruoxi sat on a bamboo mat, the phoenix blood book open before her, its golden script pulsing softly, a beacon of the pact—"choice, sacrifice, heart to bind". Her shoulder scar from Victor's blade ached faintly, healed by rest, but her heart carried Antarctica's weight—Shen's exile, Xingxing's fall, Wei's sacrifice. The phoenix tattoo glowed steadily—heart-driven, balanced—its fire renewed by Mei's spark and the hunters' defeat, though a new purpose stirred, sparked by global Keeper signals.