The final shard lay ahead, suspended in the center of the abyss. But between Kael and it stood the woman—the betrayer.
"You can take it," she said, her voice quiet now. "But know this: when you do, you will awaken the Hollow Gate. And when it wakes… so does the end of everything."
Kael gripped the shadowblade, feeling the weight of her words. He moved toward the shard, his heart heavy with the knowledge of what would come next.