As the team advanced toward the heart of the structure, a sudden, blinding flash of light erupted from the core. Everyone shielded their eyes, but the intensity of the pulse left them momentarily disoriented.

"Status!" Darling barked, forcing himself to focus despite the pain coursing through his side.

"Stabilizers holding, but barely," Underhill reported. "Energy output is spiking beyond expected parameters."

Ashton scanned the surroundings, her weapon at the ready. "Something's happening. The whole place feels... off."

Before anyone could react further, a low rumble echoed through the Plane. The ground beneath them cracked, revealing fissures of glowing light that pulsed in rhythm with the core.

"We don't have much time," Underhill said urgently. "If we're going to interface with the core, it has to be now."

Darling took a shaky breath, steadying himself. "Set up the interface. Ashton, cover us."

Underhill moved quickly, deploying a portable console linked to the stabilizers. As she worked, the pulsing light grew stronger, casting eerie shadows across the team.

"I'm in," Underhill announced. "Attempting to stabilize the core's output."

Darling approached the console, his expression tense. "Be ready for anything. If this goes sideways, we'll need an immediate extraction."

A sudden, piercing tone filled the air, causing everyone to wince. The core flared brightly, and for a brief moment, it felt as if the entire Plane was holding its breath.

Underhill's hands flew over the console. "I'm detecting a feedback loop in the core's energy matrix. If I can isolate the loop, it might neutralize the destabilization."

"Do it," Darling said, clutching his side. "We can't let it spiral out of control."

As Underhill worked, the fissures around them began to close, and the pulsing light dimmed slightly. But before anyone could breathe a sigh of relief, a new presence made itself known—a towering, ethereal figure materialized near the core, its form shifting and flickering like a living shadow.

"What the hell is that?" Ashton whispered, her grip tightening on her weapon.

Darling stared at the figure, a mixture of awe and dread in his eyes. "I think... it's the entity responsible for placing the core."

The figure moved closer, radiating an overwhelming sense of power. Its voice echoed in their minds, a chorus of whispers and commands: "You should not be here."

Darling swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. "We're here to stop this disturbance. If you have control over the core, help us stabilize it."

The entity paused, its form flickering. "Stabilization... comes at a cost."

Before Darling could ask what it meant, the ground shook violently once more, and the fissures reopened, glowing brighter than before.

"Darling, we need a decision!" Underhill shouted. "We can't hold this much longer!"

Darling met the entity's gaze—or what passed for a gaze in its shifting form. He knew the cost might be more than they were willing to pay, but without action, the entire Plane—and possibly their reality—could collapse.

"Do it," Darling said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. "Stabilize the core."

The entity raised a hand, and a wave of energy surged outward, enveloping the core. The light dimmed, and the fissures slowly began to close. The tremors subsided, and the air grew still.

Underhill checked her console, her expression one of cautious relief. "Core output is stabilizing. We did it."

Darling exhaled slowly, the tension in his body finally easing. But he knew this wasn't over. The entity's presence lingered, its form still flickering.

"You have delayed the inevitable," it said. "But the balance remains fragile. Beware what lies beyond."

Before anyone could respond, the entity vanished, leaving only the faint hum of the stabilized core behind.

"Mission accomplished," Ashton said, lowering her weapon. "But something tells me this isn't the last we'll see of that thing."

Darling nodded, exhaustion weighing heavily on him. "Let's get out of here. We have a lot to report."

As the team prepared for extraction, Darling couldn't shake the feeling that their encounter had only scratched the surface of a far greater mystery. Whatever lay beyond the Plane was watching—and waiting.

And next time, they might not be so lucky.