The Celestial Pillar pulsed one last time before going dim, leaving the jungle shrouded in an eerie calm. The tome in Kei's hands flipped its pages furiously, revealing the location of the next Pillar. A map materialized in midair, depicting a vast desert wasteland under a crimson sky.

Ignis, wiping soot from her face, looked over Kei's shoulder. "Great, from a jungle to a desert. Do these Pillars ever end up somewhere pleasant?"

Flash, stretching his arms, quipped, "I wouldn't mind a beach vacation Pillar. You know, fight some sea monsters, get a tan."

Lucifer, his tone sharp, cut through the banter. "This is no time for levity. The closer we get to Oblivion, the more desperate its agents will become. We can't afford distractions."

Wonder Woman, sheathing her blade, added, "Lucifer's right. We've seen only the beginning of what's to come. We need to move quickly."

A Rift Among the Allies

As the team prepared to leave the Veil of Whispers, Lucifer lingered near the now-dormant Pillar, his expression dark. Kei noticed and approached him cautiously.

Kei: "You've been distant. Is something wrong?"

Lucifer, his wings twitching slightly, replied, "The energy from these Pillars—it's... familiar. Too familiar. There's a power here that reminds me of my own fall."

Kei, her voice soft but firm, said, "We're all carrying burdens. But whatever you're feeling, we need you with us. You're a part of this team."

Lucifer met her gaze, his golden eyes flickering. "Just remember, Kei. Power always comes with a price. Be sure you're willing to pay it."

Desert of the Forgotten

The team emerged from the portal into the blistering heat of the Desert of the Forgotten. The sky was an unnatural crimson, and the air shimmered with an oppressive, magical energy. The sand beneath their feet seemed alive, shifting and writhing as if trying to consume them.

Flash, hopping onto a nearby rock, exclaimed, "Okay, this is officially the worst place we've been. What's with the creepy sand?"

Ignis, flames sparking at her fingertips, smirked. "It's not creepy; it's alive. Watch your step, or it'll swallow you whole."

Wonder Woman, scanning the horizon, pointed toward a distant, jagged structure. "There. That must be where the Pillar is hidden."

The team began their trek across the desert, the sand shifting ominously beneath them.

The Ambush

Halfway to the structure, the ground erupted, and monstrous creatures made of sand and bone emerged. Their hollow eyes glowed red, and their claws gleamed like obsidian.

Kei, summoning her frost, shouted, "We're surrounded!"

Lucifer, his wings spreading wide, drew his flaming blade. "They're constructs—bound to this desert. Destroy their cores!"

The battle was fierce. Kei froze entire waves of creatures, shattering them with blasts of light. Ignis unleashed torrents of flame, turning the sand to glass beneath her feet. Flash darted between enemies, dismantling their cores with surgical precision. Wonder Woman fought with unmatched ferocity, her lasso binding the strongest constructs and smashing them into the ground.

Lucifer hovered above, raining down divine energy to protect his teammates. Despite their efforts, the creatures kept coming, seemingly endless in number.

Kei's New Power

As the team began to falter, the tome in Kei's hands glowed fiercely. A voice echoed in her mind, urging her to act.

Voice: "Unleash the ice eternal. Bind them to the void."

Trusting her instincts, Kei raised the tome and channeled her energy. A wave of crystalline frost erupted, freezing the entire battlefield in an instant. The constructs shattered like fragile glass, leaving the desert eerily silent.

Ignis, catching her breath, grinned. "Remind me not to make you angry."

Kei, lowering the tome, replied, "Let's just hope I can control it."

The Second Pillar

Reaching the jagged structure, the team found the second Celestial Pillar, encased in a swirling vortex of sand and lightning. Standing before it was a colossal guardian—an amalgamation of stone and storm, its voice booming like thunder.

Guardian: "You dare disturb the balance of this world? Prove your worth or be annihilated!"

The ground shook as the guardian advanced, its every step radiating raw power.

Lucifer, gripping his blade, said, "We've faced worse. Let's show this guardian what we're made of."

Wonder Woman stepped forward, her lasso glowing. "Together."

With a united cry, the team charged into battle, ready to face the next trial.

To Be Continued...