Chapter 30. End of the Raid.
Alastor felt the familiar tug, the same sensation he'd experienced when they'd entered the seed. A moment later, a rush of fresh air caressed his face, signaling their return. He opened his eyes, taking in their surroundings. The crystalline object that had transported them in remained. Alastor sat down on the ground, anticipating the next phase. The rest of the group followed suit, including Craig, who seemed to have recovered somewhat.
After about thirty seconds, fine cracks began to spiderweb across the surface of the crystal seed. The cracks multiplied, spreading rapidly until the entire surface was covered in a delicate network of fissures. Then, with a resounding crack, the crystal seed burst apart. The explosion wasn't a destructive force, but rather a radiant eruption of pure energy that flooded the surrounding space.