Chapter 115 – The Price of a Hero

The silence in the Oracle's chamber was suffocating. Rusted gears still trembled in the wake of its final words, and a faint hum of dying energy filled the air.

Mallory stood at the center, gripping the key like a lifeline.

"We're opening the gate," she repeated.

Greg threw up his hands. "Oh, sure! Let's go ahead and ignore the creepy robot's very clear warning!"

Elara crossed her arms. "You want to just leave it and hope the problem solves itself?"

Greg scowled. "Yes! That is exactly what I want to do! Or at least let someone else handle it!"

Quinn smirked. "Who, exactly? The underground mushroom cultists? The ones who worship Blinky?"

Greg groaned and slumped against the wall. "Fine. But if we all die, I will haunt you."

Mallory turned back to the Oracle's inert form. It had shut down entirely, its eyes dim, its body locked in place as if waiting for time itself to finish corroding it. There were no more answers here.