Ren descended back into the subterranean vault, accompanied by the girls, his closest friends, and whichever Vanguard leaders could afford to step away from the surface.
Arturo was absent. Someone had to manage the intricate logistics of the recovering capital, and the brilliant strategist simply could not spare the half hour required to fly down, stand idly in front of a metal wall while Ren worked, and fly back. However, Selphira made the trip, alongside the girls, Julius, Taro, Wei, and Finch, who carried Theodore perched dutifully on his shoulder. They were joined by a small detachment of civilian mushroom hosts that Wei had recruited to test his theories on mushroom networking.
Standing before the massive structure, Ren briefly asked Liora to hand back the Fire Ring.
