I can see it. The dark hollow of the cannon’s barrel begins to glow as energy coalesces there. The humming gets louder as the cannon fills with pure energy, like a Mogadorian blaster overcharging. In seconds, the Sanctuary and the jungle around it are all bathed in the azure light. I want to shield my eyes, but Marina and Sarah are gripping my hands tight.

“This is bad,” Mark says. “Really bad.”

“Adam?” I shout to be heard over the charging weapon. “How powerful is that thing?”

As a group, we all shuffle backwards. I’m barely able to keep track of everyone and maintain our invisibility.

“We need to move,” Adam replies, the awe gone from his voice, replaced by terror. “We need to get back!”

Everyone’s already backing up, leaving only Phiri Dun-Ra hidden behind the overturned log. Marina tugs against my grip. She’s not moving.

“Marina!” I yell. “Come on!”

“We said we wouldn’t run!” she shouts back.

“But—!”

The hum reaches a crescendo and the energy built up in the warship’s cannon discharges with a deafening shriek. A solid arc of electricity the size of ten thousand lightning bolts shears directly into the Sanctuary and slices right through it, the ancient limestone glowing red-hot. The cannon’s blast cuts through the temple, top to bottom, like it was nothing. I have only a moment to consider the Sanctuary, still standing but cut down the middle. I can see light through the cracks in the once-solid wall.

A second later, the condensed energy from the cannon expands outwards in a bright surge of light.

The Sanctuary explodes.

“NO!” Marina screams.

We screwed up. Setrákus Ra didn’t come here to claim the Sanctuary. He came here to destroy it.

I don’t have time to think about what that means or what happens next. Adam yanks me backwards and we go staggering into the jungle, just as chunks of the temple begin to rain down around us. I lose my grip on Marina and she pops back into visibility. Mark’s hand falls off my shoulder and he reappears as well. Only Sarah and Adam keep holding on to me.

Marina actually goes running forward, like she’s going to be able to fight against that warship.

“Stop!” I yell. “Marina! Stop!”

Mark reacts quickly, his football reflexes coming naturally. He lunges towards her, wraps his arms around Marina’s waist and tackles her.

“Get off me!” Marina screams at Mark. She shoves him away, icy handprints forming on his chest.

Then, something else explodes. One of the Skimmers we wired with C-4. It must’ve taken a direct hit from a piece of the Sanctuary and triggered the bomb. Shrapnel whizzes by all around us, sizzling-hot pieces of bent metal tearing through the leaves of the trees.

Mark sucks in a breath and topples over. There’s a jagged piece of thick cockpit glass jutting out of his chest.