Pierre felt the amber heart's pulse synchronize with his own heartbeat as he limped toward it, each step sending fire through his broken ribs. Raven and Alyssa flanked him, their grip steady despite their own wounds. The artifact's glow intensified with his approach, casting dancing shadows across the ancient symbols carved into the chamber walls.
"That's it," Moreau breathed, her golden eyes wide with desperate hunger. She stepped closer, her scaled hand trembling as it reached toward the pulsing light. "Take it, Pierre. It's your destiny. You've proven yourself worthy—stronger than Jack, cleverer than me. The power belongs to you now."
