Eli's twisted smile deepened as the Nexus Core pulsed with dark energy. Shadows erupted from the ground, swirling around him like a storm. The air in the Nexus grew heavier, thick with the oppressive presence of corruption.
"You were one of us!" Justin shouted, his fiery blade igniting in defiance. "How could you fall so far?"
Eli's corrupted voice echoed, layered with an unnatural resonance. "You don't understand, Justin. Vaylin showed me the truth. The network's light is weak—it's dying. The Forgotten Order offers strength, unity… survival."
The protagonist stepped forward, his sword glowing with pure energy. "By enslaving others and corrupting everything in your path? That's not survival—that's destruction."
Eli raised his blade, black energy radiating from its edge. "You're too blind to see it. I'll make you understand."
---
The Battle Begins
Eli moved like a phantom, his corrupted form flickering in and out of sight as he struck. His blade clashed against the protagonist's, sending shockwaves through the Nexus.
Justin lunged to Eli's flank, his fiery sword slashing through the swirling shadows, but Eli blocked with unnatural precision, countering with a burst of dark energy that sent him sprawling.
"Justin!" Tyler shouted, conjuring a barrier just in time to deflect another attack aimed at his friend.
"Stay focused!" the protagonist called, narrowly dodging a wave of shadow tendrils. "He's feeding off the Nexus Core's energy. We need to cut him off from it!"
Tyler's eyes darted to the massive crystal structure. "I can destabilize the Core, but I'll need time!"
"Then we'll buy you that time," the protagonist said, his voice firm.
---
A Desperate Struggle
Eli's attacks grew more ferocious, his movements fueled by the Nexus's chaotic magic. Shadows erupted from the ground, forming jagged spikes and clawed hands that lashed out at the team.
Justin recovered, his sword blazing brighter than ever. "You're not the only one with power, Eli!" He charged, his blade slicing through the dark constructs as he engaged the corrupted Guardian in a furious duel.
Meanwhile, the protagonist kept Eli's focus divided, striking with calculated precision. Every clash of their blades sent arcs of light and shadow scattering across the battlefield.
"Tyler, hurry!" the protagonist shouted as a tendril of shadow narrowly missed him.
"I'm working on it!" Tyler replied, sweat streaming down his face as he chanted a complex incantation. His staff glowed brighter with each word, the air around him crackling with raw magic.
---
Eli's Resolve
"You think you can stop me?" Eli growled, his voice distorted. "I've become more than a Guardian—I'm a vessel of the Nexus's power!"
He unleashed a devastating attack, a wave of black energy that tore through the floating platforms. The team barely managed to evade it, the ground beneath them crumbling away into the void.
"You've become a pawn!" the protagonist countered, his blade glowing brighter. "And we're here to end this madness!"
Justin struck from above, his fiery sword cutting through Eli's defenses and landing a solid hit. The corrupted Guardian staggered, but his wounds seemed to heal almost instantly as the Nexus Core pulsed again.
"He's regenerating from the Core!" Tyler shouted. "We need to sever his connection!"
---
The Turning Point
As Tyler's incantation reached its climax, the Nexus Core began to flicker. Its dark energy faltered, and Eli's movements became more erratic.
"No!" Eli roared, his voice filled with desperation. "I won't let you destroy this!"
The protagonist seized the opportunity, launching a flurry of strikes that pushed Eli back. Justin joined in, their combined assault overwhelming the corrupted.