Loma had seeded the new spores across two separate breeding grounds, keeping their energy signatures faint enough that the artifacts’ ambient aura masked them from the Isharas’ Life Vision.

Anaka’s death didn’t just thin their numbers—it drove the Isharas into a blind, reckless fury.

And in that fury, they missed it.

By the time they noticed Loma’s return, it was already too late.

The freshly matured spores needed only a single breath to draw in mana—then they struck, lashing out at the Isharas the moment the beasts turned their backs on their fallen.

“The other Horde is still alive?” Imosi, the Ishara Elder, struggled to keep up with Ygri alone.

His Spirit Barrier, reinforced by the Life Maelstrom, repelled most attacks. The silver lightning arcing from his pincers tore through the mist again and again.