The moment Anaxia shattered her core, a ripple of energy surged through the Elemental realm like a scream from the soul of the earth itself. Walls trembled. Sigils carved into the dungeon walls flickered violently. Even the air cracked like splintering glass.
The Elders felt it. Every single one of them.
The High Elemental of Balance dropped his goblet mid-speech in the Hall of Verdicts, his body stiffening with shock. The Council erupted into chaos, murmuring, then shouting.
“She did it.”
“She removed her core—impossible!”
“She has severed herself from rebirth!”
“She’ll die!”
But she hadn’t died.
Not yet.
Though her core now glowed weakly in the palm of her hand, leaking essence like liquid starlight, Anaxia remained standing—barely. Her knees quivered beneath her weight, her bre
