Just as they reached the surface, the sky split again.
But this time—
It didn't close.
A tear stretched across the heavens.
From it descended something enormous.
A serpent of shadow and lightning, coiling around skyscrapers.
The Leviathan.
People screamed.
The Wardens retreated.
Even Kael went pale.
"If that fully crosses," he said, "this world dies."
Ariya stepped forward.
"This is my fault."
"No," Kael said. "It's bigger than you."
The Leviathan struck, smashing buildings like toys.
Ariya ran toward it.
She scaled collapsing structures.
Jumped across falling debris.
Dodged lightning strikes.
Kael followed, cutting a path through smaller creatures spilling from the tear.
At the highest tower, Ariya fired a rope-arrow into the Leviathan's scaled hide.
It roared.
She climbed onto its back as it twisted through the sky.
Wind tore at her.
Below, the city burned.
She saw it then—a glowing core pulsing at the base of its skull.
"The anchor!" Kael shouted from another rooftop. "Destroy it!"
The Leviathan bucked violently.
Ariya lost her bow.
Lost her footing—
But not her grip.
She drove Kael's silver blade into the glowing core.
The beast screamed so loud the sky fractured.
Light exploded outward.
Everything went white.
Ariya floated in nothingness again.
The Veil.
Countless worlds shimmered around her.
She could return home.
She could choose another world.
Or—
She could close the Veil forever.
If she closed it, she would never see her forest again.
But no more monsters would fall through.
No more suffering.
She thought of the arena.
Of the burning city.
Of Kael.
Hunters protect balance.
She made her choice.