The encounter with Valerius had left Akira, Kael, and Maya on edge. They knew they were up against an ancient and powerful enemy, and every moment counted. As they regrouped in the palace's main hall, they discussed their next steps.
"We need to figure out his next move," Akira said, his voice tense. "Valerius won't stop until he's unleashed all the Phantoms. We can't let that happen."
Kael nodded, his expression grim. "Our best chance is to find and destroy each Nexus before he can summon more Phantoms. Rylan found some valuable information in the library. Let's see what he discovered."
They made their way to the library, where Rylan was still buried in books and scrolls. He looked up as they entered, his face a mixture of excitement and concern.