The cult leader revealed his plan.
He had built a machine that would tear the Veil open permanently.
To power it, he needed Kael.
Kael's race had once guarded the Veil.
His blood could unlock it.
Ariya faced a terrible choice.
Rescue Kael.
Or destroy the machine before it activated.
If she tried both…
She would fail.
Kael met her eyes across the battlefield.
"Stop the machine," he said quietly.
Her heart shattered.
But she made the hunter's choice.
She turned away.
And fired the arrow that destroyed the machine.
The explosion destroyed the cult base.
But the leader escaped.
And Kael disappeared with him.
Days passed.
Weeks.
No sign of him.
Ariya searched endlessly, blaming herself.
Then one night…
The sky tore open again.
A massive crack spread across the heavens.
Someone had rebuilt the machine.
The Veil was breaking completely.