Chapter 1557: The Eclipsing Truth

The southern mountains, now quieter after the battle, seemed almost serene in the early light of morning. The group stood at the stabilized node, catching their breath and trying to decipher the implications of what they had just accomplished. The faint glow from the shard reflected the renewed energy within the node, a subtle but undeniable sign that their intervention had made a difference.

Morgana studied the jagged stone pillar at the center, its previously corrupted surface now smooth and emitting a soft, azure light. The change was unmistakable. Yet, she felt a strange dissonance, as though stabilizing the node had only scratched the surface of a larger truth.

"This node was more corrupted than the last," she murmured, her voice tinged with unease. "The shadows are adapting faster than we anticipated."

Kade sheathed his sword, his brow furrowed. "What does that mean for us? Are we running out of time?"