Chapter 43: The Final Ambush

We stood in the chamber, the shattered artifact at our feet, the island’s energy humming softly around us. The peace was short-lived, a brief moment of calm before the storm.

"We need to regroup and get out of here," I said, turning to the team. "We’ve done what we came to do, but the cultists won’t give up easily."

Lena, Mara, Drake, and the real Harlan nodded, their faces set with determination. We retraced our steps through the narrow passage, emerging into the open air just as the island began to rumble again.

The moment we stepped outside, we were met with the harsh reality of our situation. The cultists, though momentarily disoriented by the loss of their leader’s power, were regrouping. The moment of triumph inside the chamber had given us a brief respite, but the battle was far from over.

As we made our way through the jungle, I quickly shared the findings from the diary. "The artifacts were never meant to be used for power. They’re connected to the island’s core, its lifebloo