The spikes hurtled down from the ceiling of the pillar, the grating sound of earth protruding through rock marking the end. Unable to move due to the impaling implements throughout his body, Khazna was forced to await his end as the stalactites plummeted down into his body, piercing through his armour and rupturing his organs. Blood poured beneath his clothes and burst out his mouth, captured within the confines of the mask. He went limp and hung there, caught between the numerous impaling spikes of the pillar, a grisly end. 

Metz stood with his pistol raised at the rock for a good time, the obscuring sand whistling around him as he concentrated with everything he had. Blood dripped down his wounded leg and his hand ached from the fracture, but through force of will alone he remained standing. With one final spurt the mana circulating his system broke down, leaving him empty, his knees buckled and he went down. As the sandstorm disappeared the pillar remained, untouched by any within, Metz hand strayed to the belt at his side but he knew it was unlikely to be needed. He had won.

He lay there for a short while, and suddenly felt an energy suffusing him. In his clenched left hand an object made its presence felt, he opened the hand and looked down wearily. There on his dirt smeared palm was an unassuming key, but even without being a mage he could feel the power contained therein. The key held more power than he could fathom, its purpose was so great he felt overawed holding the simple implement in his palm. 

“It’s not much, but it might help.” Metz said to himself, clenching his hand over the key again and willing it to bend to his purpose. He had no intention of releasing the nightmare he knew now was responsible for the devastation of his planet, but he could turn the key the other way.

Blasted by sand and buffeted by the wind, Metz struggled towards the great gate before him, leaving his unfortunate foe behind. Each plodding step felt like an eternity, but he refused to imbibe mana for this final act of labour. Finally, he reached the gate and bled before it, twisting the key away from the act of unlocking, his action was to seal tight that which had been allowed to open, that which had allowed Ghourkas to drain his planet. He could not know if he had succeeded, but perhaps he managed to buy his homeland a little more time. With his energy spent he fell to his knees, and disappeared.