The cavern's air thrummed with tension as Kael and Liora prepared for the ritual, the rift's dark energy swirling around them. The task force formed a protective circle, their weapons drawn, while the shard pulsed in Liora's hands, its light casting shadows on the ancient carvings. The kiss lingered in their minds, a volatile spark beneath their resolve to close the rift.
Liora studied the runes, her voice steady. "It needs both our energies—Solaris strength and Lunari finesse. Together, or it fails." She glanced at Kael, her silver eyes searching his.
Kael nodded, gripping his sword. "Then we do it. No more arguing." But as they began, Liora secretly planned to take his place, her guilt over past failures driving her to sacrifice herself.
He sensed her intent, catching her arm as she moved toward the rift. "Don't you dare," he growled, his voice raw. "I see it in your eyes—you're not doing this alone." Their argument erupted, a clash of pride and care, voices rising over the rift's hum.
"You think I'd let you die for me?" Liora snapped, her hands trembling.
"And you think I'd let you?" Kael shot back, his grip tightening. The team watched, uneasy, as their leaders bared their fears.
Exhausted, they relented, agreeing to face the ritual together. They clasped the shard, its power surging through them, their hands linked in a desperate unity. The cavern shook, the rift resisting, but their combined resolve held. The ritual was set, their bond—forged in conflict and now sacrifice—tested by the void they sought to seal.