The chamber grew still, the Hammer of Technology glowing faintly in its cradle. Its hum, once overwhelming, had softened into a steady rhythm, like a heartbeat echoing through stone. Vile's hands trembled slightly as he adjusted the supports, his eyes glued to the weapon as though it might vanish if he dared to look away.
"It's secure," Alex said at last, his calm voice cutting through the silence. His eyes lingered on the hammer, but his attention seemed to stretch beyond the walls, as though he was already preparing for what lay ahead.
"Secured," Kira echoed softly. She folded her arms, her calm composure steadying the room. "But power like this never goes unnoticed. The world has felt it awaken."
Vile pushed his glasses higher, excitement mingling with unease. "It's more than energy. It's… awareness. The hammer responds like it knows us. Like it's watching." His voice trailed off, caught between awe and fear.
Before anyone could answer, Ethan shifted uneasily. The trinkets on his belt rattled faintly. "Then let it watch. Because this " he gestured to the cradle, then toward the dark passage beyond the chamber "is just the beginning. I don't know what else waits for us, but I do know something's out there."
Liam swallowed hard, clutching the strap of his pack. "We… we're not going after another weapon already, are we?"
Mya placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. "We don't choose the timing. These journeys find us whether we're ready or not."
Lyra's voice drifted like a soft breeze. "And sometimes the path ahead is hidden until you take the first step. The hammer was never the end it was the opening."
Alex turned toward the chamber's exit, the dim light casting long shadows across his face. "Then we move forward. Slowly. Cautiously. But we don't stop here."
The group filed out of the chamber, the hammer's pulse fading behind them. Beyond the ruins, the night was quiet, save for a faint wind that carried with it an unsettling sound. It was like metal striking stone distant, rhythmic, almost like chains dragging across the earth.
Ethan stopped, his eyes narrowing at the sound. He said nothing, but the weight of it settled in his chest. His jaw tightened.
Vile glanced at him nervously. "You hear it too, don't you?"
"No," Ethan said firmly, shaking his head. "Not hear. Not yet. But wherever it's coming from… we'll find it."
The group pressed onward, their silhouettes swallowed by the night. Behind them, the Hammer of Technology pulsed once, as if in farewell. Ahead of them, beyond the silent hills and broken stone, a new presence waited.
Hidden deep within an abandoned grave of ancient warriors, wrapped in rusted links and shadows, the Scythe of Chains stirred silent, patient, and ready for the hand destined to wield it.
The next journey had already begun.