The moment Aurora vanished with the Eye of Ra, the entire temple began to tremble, as if the relic’s theft had ruptured the ancient balance holding the structure together. The ground buckled, walls groaned under unseen pressure, and the glyphs that had once glowed with divine light now shattered into lifeless stone.

"Move!" Alastor shouted, grabbing Selene’s arm as the floor beneath them cracked, splitting apart to reveal a bottomless chasm.

They sprinted toward the exit, their boots slamming against the stone floor as it crumbled beneath their feet. Pillars crashed around them, throwing clouds of dust into the air, and the once-sacred walls twisted violently, bending into grotesque shapes as the ancient magic collapsed into chaos.

Selene shot a glance over her shoulder, her voice sharp and urgent. "She’s already destabilized the temple! If it comes down on us—"

"I know!" Alastor cut her off, dodging a falling slab of rock that shattered just inches from where he had stood. The temple wasn’t just falling apart—it was imploding. The power that had kept it intact for centuries was unraveling, and every step they took pulled them deeper into the collapsing vortex.

The heat from Ra’s judgment still lingered in the air, burning against their skin as if the god’s fury hadn’t fully left. The gods were angry—angry that the Eye had been stolen, angry that mortals dared meddle with forces beyond their understanding.

A deafening roar filled the chamber as the massive doors that had led them into the temple began to collapse inward, grinding shut under the weight of stone and sand. They only had seconds before the entire structure caved in.

"Alastor!" Selene shouted, sprinting ahead and throwing herself toward the narrowing gap. The doors groaned as they slammed closer together, and she barely made it through, tumbling into the outer hall just as the threshold began to close.

Alastor surged forward, his muscles burning with exertion, and dove through the gap just as the heavy doors crashed shut behind him. For a moment, the world was nothing but dust, darkness, and the thunderous noise of stone grinding against stone.

They hit the ground hard, rolling across the rough stone floor as more of the temple’s walls collapsed around them. Chunks of debris rained down like deadly missiles, forcing them to scramble to their feet and keep running.

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The entrance to the temple—their only way out—loomed ahead, but it was rapidly filling with falling rubble. If they didn’t make it out now, they never would.

"Go!" Alastor shouted, shoving Selene forward as another section of the ceiling gave way. Sand poured in from the collapsing roof, turning the air heavy and suffocating.

Selene sprinted toward the light of the entrance, her breath ragged as she pushed herself harder than she thought possible. Her boots pounded against the cracked stone, every muscle in her body screaming for her to stop—but she didn’t. Alastor was right behind her, his scarab buzzing in panic as the temple’s walls groaned under the strain of collapse.

With a final burst of speed, they threw themselves through the crumbling entrance, just as the last section of the temple gave way behind them.

They tumbled out onto the burning sands of the Sahara, rolling to a halt as the temple imploded with a deafening roar. A cloud of dust and ancient debris billowed outward, swallowing the ruins whole. What had once been the Temple of the Sun was now nothing more than a pile of rubble, buried beneath the dunes once again.

Alastor lay flat on his back, his chest heaving as he fought to catch his breath. Every muscle in his body ached, and the dry, scorching air stung his throat. For a moment, the world was silent, save for the faint wind that stirred the dunes.

Selene sat up beside him, brushing dust and sand from her clothes. Her violet eyes blazed with frustration, though it was clear she was as exhausted as he was.

"That was too close," she muttered, glancing back at the ruins of the temple. "If we were a second slower..."

Alastor pushed himself up on his elbows, glaring at the rubble with grim resolve. They had escaped the temple—but they had lost something far more dangerous.

"Aurora has the Eye," he said, his voice low and bitter. "She knows how to use it."

Selene wiped the sweat from her brow, her expression hardening. Aurora’s betrayal had been unexpected, but not entirely surprising. They both knew she had always walked a dangerous line between loyalty and ambition. Now, with the Eye in her hands, the balance of power was shattered—and time itself was in jeopardy.

"She’s not just playing with the loop anymore," Selene said, her tone grim. "If she merges the digital and real worlds... there’ll be no rules left. No reality left."

Alastor stared out at the horizon, his mind racing. Aurora wasn’t just dangerous—she was unpredictable. With the Eye of Ra, she could reshape time, rewrite history, and bend the entire world to her will.

"We can’t let her keep it," Alastor muttered, his fists clenching at his sides. "If she controls the Eye, we’ll never stop her."

Selene rose to her feet, brushing the last of the sand from her coat. "Then we find her," she said coldly. "Before she tears the world apart."