Marinetta's heart pounded as the last remnants of the dark energy faded. Aislinn, pale and exhausted, slumped to the ground, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The artifact now lay unprotected, its ominous glow dimmed but not extinguished.
"We need to destroy it, now," Harley said, his voice firm but tinged with urgency. He approached the artifact cautiously, aware that it might still have some final trick up its sleeve.
Zack stepped forward, his eyes narrowed in concentration. "I can sense a core of energy still active within it. If we strike at the wrong angle, we could trigger a backlash. We have to be precise."
Marinetta clenched her fists, her gaze locked on the twisted metal. It seemed almost alive, pulsating with a faint rhythm like a heartbeat. "What if we use a counterspell? Something to neutralize the energy before we strike."
Aislinn, still catching her breath, nodded weakly. "I can try, but I'm drained from breaking the ward. It won't be as powerful as it should be."
