The city's core loomed ahead, an ominous maze of twisted steel and shattered buildings, suffocating in its silence. The path was perilous, with rubble blocking their way at every turn and the oppressive weight of unseen threats bearing down on them. Every step took them deeper into the heart of the devastation.
Yeon-ah's heart was still heavy with Calen's sacrifice, the image of him running headlong toward the Juggernaut seared into her mind. She wanted to believe he'd survive, that he would rejoin them soon—but she knew better than to cling to hope in a world like this.
The woman led the way, her sharp gaze scanning the ruins with relentless precision. Juna trailed behind, her silence more unsettling than ever. She hadn't said a word since Calen left, the trauma of the decision weighing her down. Her small frame seemed even smaller now, shoulders hunched under the pressure of fear and fatigue.
"It should be just ahead," the woman said, her voice breaking the tense silence. She pointed to a half-collapsed building in the distance, its jagged silhouette barely visible through the thick layer of dust that clung to the air. "That's where the scholar's supposed to be."
Yeon-ah nodded, her muscles aching from the hours of walking. Her yellow eyes narrowed as they approached the building. She didn't like how quiet it was. Not a sound, not even the distant growls of Devourers, only the eerie stillness of a dead city.
As they neared the entrance, Yeon-ah instinctively reached for her sword. The building looked abandoned, but she knew better than to trust appearances. She signaled for Juna to stay back as she and the woman moved ahead, creeping through the rubble-strewn doorway.
The interior was dark, the air thick with dust and decay. Broken furniture littered the floor, and long-forgotten papers fluttered faintly in the draft that blew through the cracked walls. It was clear that no one had been here in a long time.
"Are you sure this is the place?" Yeon-ah asked quietly, her voice barely a whisper.
The woman didn't answer right away, her gaze sweeping across the room with practiced precision. Then, she nodded. "This is it. If the scholar's here, they're hiding deep within."
Yeon-ah's fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword as they moved deeper into the building, each step echoing softly through the empty halls. Her instincts screamed at her that something was wrong, but there was no turning back now.
They came upon a narrow staircase, its steps cracked and uneven, leading down into what looked like an underground bunker. The air grew colder as they descended, the musty scent of old stone and stagnant air growing stronger with every step.
At the bottom of the stairs, they were met with a heavy, reinforced door. It was slightly ajar, a thin line of light seeping through the crack.
"Stay ready," the woman muttered as she pushed the door open with a soft creak.
The room beyond was small and dimly lit, cluttered with books, maps, and strange devices that hummed faintly with power. At the center of the room, seated behind a cluttered desk, was an older woman. Her face was gaunt, her hair a tangled mess of silver strands, and her eyes, sharp and calculating, locked onto them the moment they entered.
"So," the scholar said, her voice dry and raspy, as if she hadn't spoken in days. "You've come for answers."
Yeon-ah exchanged a quick glance with the woman beside her before stepping forward. "You know about the Devourers. You know about the ancient force controlling them."
The scholar leaned back in her chair, her bony fingers steepling as she studied them. "I know many things," she said cryptically. "But knowledge comes at a cost. Are you prepared to pay it?"
Juna, still standing near the doorway, took a hesitant step forward. "We need to know what's coming. There was… a voice. After we destroyed the orb, something spoke to us. It said this wasn't the end."
The scholar's expression darkened, her eyes narrowing. "Ah, the voice… Yes, I know it well. You've angered it."
Yeon-ah's chest tightened at the words. "What is it?"
"It is not a thing you can fight," the scholar replied, her voice taking on a somber tone. "Not like the Devourers. The Devourers are its tools, its playthings. It is… something older, something that has been waiting in the shadows for a very long time."
The woman frowned. "Then how do we stop it?"
The scholar laughed softly, though there was no humor in the sound. "Stop it? You cannot stop it. It's been set in motion for far longer than you realize." She leaned forward, her eyes locking onto Yeon-ah's with a chilling intensity. "But perhaps… you can slow it down. Long enough to survive."
Yeon-ah felt a cold knot form in her stomach. "How?"
The scholar's gaze shifted to a large, ancient map pinned to the wall, covered in faded lines and strange symbols. "There is a place, deep within the city. A sanctuary, of sorts. Long ago, it was a place of power—a nexus. If you can reach it, there may be something there that can weaken the force controlling the Devourers. But it is dangerous, and you will be hunted every step of the way."
Juna's voice trembled as she spoke. "Is it our only option?"
The scholar nodded solemnly. "It is your only hope. But be warned, once you enter the nexus, there will be no turning back."
The weight of her words settled over them like a heavy fog, and Yeon-ah's mind raced with the enormity of what they were facing. A place of power? A nexus? It sounded like the stuff of legends, but in this world, legends were often rooted in something far darker.
The woman's voice was steady as she spoke. "We'll do it. Tell us where it is."
The scholar's bony finger traced a path on the ancient map, her voice low and deliberate as she explained the route. "Follow this path. It will lead you through the heart of the city. But be careful—there are things in the city now that even the Devourers fear."
Yeon-ah felt a chill run down her spine. The scholar's warnings only added to the mounting dread that had been building since they entered the city's core.
As they prepared to leave, the scholar called out one final warning. "Remember—once you enter the nexus, you cannot leave until it is done. Whatever that means for you."
Yeon-ah nodded, her heart heavy with uncertainty. They had no choice but to move forward. But as they stepped out into the cold, desolate streets once more, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into something far worse than they could ever imagine.