Chapter 88 The Crystallized Silence

• The threat of the Oblivion Engine from the Shadowfell Expanse hung heavy in the air of Atheria, a chilling contrast to the vibrant hope that had followed Kaelen's rebirth. The fight had escalated from healing minds to safeguarding existence itself. Their next destination, The Luminous Spires of Xylos, was no longer just about rekindling life, but about establishing a powerful bastion against the encroaching void.
• The journey to Xylos was remarkably swift, a testament to Kael's mastery of Veilkeeper translocation. As they emerged from the shimmering portal, the realm unfolded before them in breathtaking, yet unsettling, beauty. Xylos was a world of colossal, intricate crystal formations, spires that pierced the skies, and sprawling caverns where raw energy pulsed through complex ley lines. But a subtle, unnerving dullness permeated the landscape. The usual vibrant, humming luminescence of the crystalline structures was muted, their edges less sharp, their colors less intense. A profound silence hung over everything, not peaceful, but… draining.
• "The ambient energy levels are significantly lower than historical records suggest," Dr. Reed observed, her scanners humming with new readings. "The Oblivion Engine's influence is already here, a slow, insidious drain. It's not destroying, but it's slowly pulling the life out of everything, leaving a husk."