The moment Emily's fingers brushed the surface of the glowing core—
The world shattered.
A violent surge of golden energy exploded outward, filling the entire chamber with blinding light. It wasn't just bright—it was overwhelming, consuming everything in its path like a storm that had been waiting for centuries to be unleashed.
Alexander was thrown backward instantly, his body slamming hard against the metallic floor as the force of the blast ripped through the air.
"Emily!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the roaring energy.
Daniel barely managed to shield himself behind a fallen panel.
"THIS IS BAD—THIS IS VERY BAD!"
But Emily couldn't hear them.
She couldn't hear anything.
Because the moment the energy touched her—
Everything changed.
Her body froze.
Then lifted.
Slowly.
Unnaturally.
Her feet left the ground as invisible currents wrapped around her, pulling her upward into the center of the storm.
