The Moment of Realization

Dust whispered through the shattered remnants of the Aqua Astro Station, weaving between crumbled walls and broken steel like a silent mourner. Nyxander stood resolute beside Lumina, his right arm encircling her waist with protective certainty, while his left hand supporting her by gripping her left arm, steady and firm. The faint scent of scorched metal lingered in the air. Across them stood Karl, Bako, Bili, and the triplet sisters, their faces shadowed with worry. Farther to Nyxander's left, the Primordial Rhino bellowed, a guttural roar that trembled the ground, as its wounded eye pulsed, slowly knitting itself back together with an unsettling, fleshy glow.

"But... the Flame Astro team," Karl muttered, dread creeping into his voice. "They aren't here yet, are they?" The wind stirred again, swirling ash and dust between them, as though the air itself whispered uncertainties.