The situation was dire, and Emery knew it.
He would've done the job himself—diving into the chaotic heart of the rift into the Eternal Void—but this version of him wasn't his darker self. He lacked the specialized affinity, the hardened will, and the constitution required to survive such a volatile dimensional plane. One wrong step inside that unbound space, and even a Cosmos Grand Magus could be shredded into oblivion.
Above, the fortress groaned and shook beneath another wave of distant impacts. Explosions rumbled like thunder, dislodging bits of dust and stone from the ceiling. Muffled roars, the clash of steel, and shrill screams echoed from far beyond the chamber.
Time was running out.
"I can do it… I'll do it," said Veyarel suddenly, his voice taut but resolute.
