The immediate aftermath of the confrontation.

A heavy silence, thick and suffocating, descended upon the cavern, replacing the cacophony of shouts, clanging metal, and the frantic thrum of their own heartbeats. The air still tasted of dust and ozone, a metallic tang that clung to Anya's tongue, but the immediate threat had vanished, leaving behind only the echoing quiet. Her muscles screamed in protest, every fiber burning with the effort of the past few minutes, yet a strange, almost disorienting calm began to settle over her. She gripped the ancient artifact tighter, its cool surface a grounding presence in the bewildering aftermath.

Anya’s eyes darted through the dim light, scanning the debris-strewn floor for any sign of movement, any lingering shadow. Her breath hitched as she spotted Kai, slumped against a crumbling pillar, his face streaked with grime and a deep cut bleeding sluggishly on his arm. A wave of fear, quickly followed by immense relief, washed over her. She pushed herself upright, her legs wobbly beneath her, and stumbled towards him, her priority shifting instantly from the Serpent's Eye to her companion.