The island defenses continued humming.
Light flowed through the ancient mechanisms carved into the mountain. Across the terraces, the construct guardians remained perfectly still, their crystal armor channeling energy toward the ocean barrier.
The crack in the shield still glowed faintly.
Not widening.
Not healing.
Just waiting.
Shunya stood beside the elders on the observation terrace, watching the distant silhouette beyond the barrier.
"So that is the host who nearly rewrote the world," he said.
"Yes," the first elder replied.
"And he has been waiting four centuries."
"Yes."
Shunya exhaled slowly.
"That is a long time to think about improvement."
Feng Xia stood beside him, golden fire faintly flickering around her shoulders.
"He had time to evolve."
"And now I showed up," Shunya muttered.
The system pulsed softly.
[Symbiotic resonance acknowledged.]
Before anyone could say more—
The sky changed.
A deep vibration spread across the air above the island.
