The turmoil that had just broken forth was a sharp contrast to the stifling calm of the walled fissure. Standing at its edge, Maraak's muscles were tense from the strain of combat, and his breathing was labored. With its runes shimmering weakly, as if recuperating from the power it had unleashed, Nyxbrand hung loosely at his side. Asraya stood a few steps away, their masked face angled toward the distant mountains, which were defined by a dim red glow.
There was a strange silence in the air, as though the world itself was holding its breath. However, Maraak sensed it—the subtle, sneaky pull of something more profound, something invisible. Even if the crack was sealed, the lingering shadows were still audible.
"Don't you feel it too?" Asraya spoke in a gentle tone, her words tinged with caution. "The emptiness that persists. the wounds that smolder beneath the skin.
Maraak turned to face them, his face glum. "This galaxy has a stain from the Abyss, but it is no longer there. This was meant to be resolved by sealing the crack, but the darkness has persisted. It's simply shifted.
Asraya gave a slow nod. "There was more than one force in the Abyss. It was a combination of numerous things, including unfathomable powers, memories, and hungers. Its influence was cut off by destruction, but its ruins are still there, dispersed and looking for meaning. Even though they are pieces, they can still be harmful.
With a short exhale, Maraak's palm tightened around Nyxbrand's hilt. He felt a familiar mixture of dread and resolve at the prospect of further conflicts and adversaries created by the Abyss's persistent presence. He had fought for so long that he scarcely knew what lay beyond the fight. Every victory was another step forward, yet the path never seemed to end.
"What's next, then?" he asked, his voice edged with weariness. "Do we chase down every fragment? Battle every shadow?
Asraya's measured tone and eyes seemed to slice right through him. Maybe. Or maybe the cycle can be completely broken.
Maraak's forehead wrinkled. "What are you discussing?"
Asraya clarified, "The galaxy's suffering was not caused by the Abyss." It was an indication of more serious rifts in the fabric of life. The galaxy itself, with its never-ending conflicts, unbridled greed, and unrelenting quest for dominance, was the source of the hunger it symbolized. There will be another Abyss if we don't deal with the root cause. Maybe not now, but eventually.
Maraak snorted, clearly skeptical. And how would you suggest we address that? Rewrite the galaxy? Destroy all the empires? Put an end to all wars?
Asraya moved in closer, their demeanor composed yet authoritative. Not all at once, perhaps. However, Maraak, choices are where change starts. with deeds that have an external impact. You have the ability to create as well as destroy in order to change the galaxy. You might not only be a reaver.
Maraak's grasp on Nyxbrand tightened as his eyes narrowed. "You act like I'm solely to blame for this. As if I'm the only one capable of cleaning up this mess.
With a forceful voice, Asraya stated, "You are not the only one." However, you are in a unique position. You have survived and seen the depths of the Abyss. You have taken its strength and broken its chains. Few people could even begin to understand the extent of your actions. That provides you with an option—a chance to determine the next course of action.
Maraak felt the weight of Asraya's words pressing down on him. He had been a destructive instrument for ages, with the Abyss and the Blood Eternal controlling every move he made. It was both strange and horrifying to consider paving a new course—creating something outside of the never-ending cycle of violence.
The ground shook beneath them before he could answer. The air was filled with a low, resonant hum that was initially faint but gradually became stronger. Maraak drew Nyxbrand out of instinct, the runes on the blade flashing. With a stiff posture, Asraya glanced toward the horizon.
"An additional fracture?" Maraak's voice was stern as he questioned.
Asraya gave a headshake. "No. This is not the same thing.
The hum intensified, echoing like a heartbeat through the atmosphere. On the horizon, a dim glow emerged, its light fluctuating and throbbing in an odd rhythm. As the glow intensified and filled the rocky terrain with scarlet and gold hues, Maraak's eyes narrowed.
He tightened his hold on Nyxbrand and murmured, "What is that?"
Asraya's voice was low, almost reverent. "A nexus of power. A place where the remnants of the Abyss converge."
Maraak frowned. We just sealed the crack, didn't we? How does the nexus still exist?
Asraya stressed that the Abyss was enormous. Its impact was felt in innumerable dimensions and realms. The crack you closed was only one example. Others—areas of its strength that are nonetheless bound by this fact. They have the potential to destroy the cosmos if unchecked.
Maraak growled in frustration. We are now once again putting out fires. Fantastic.
Asraya's eyes never left the luminous horizon. "This isn't just a fire. This is an opportunity. We could remodel what's left of the Abyss if we can harness the power of the nexus. Turn them around. Maybe even repair some of the harm it did.
Maraak gave them a doubtful glance. Furthermore, how precisely do we "harness" such a thing? Abyssal power isn't exactly stable, as of the last time I checked.
"It's risky," Asraya acknowledged. However, you are uniquely qualified for this duty because of Nyxbrand and your relationship to the Abyss. The blade's runes were infused with the essence of the Abyss, where it was fashioned deep within. You are the only person who can use this ability without giving in to it.
For a minute, Maraak remained silent, staring at the far-off radiance. He was excited and apprehensive at the prospect of using Abyssal power once more. He had been the Abyss's servant for so long, driven by its hunger, that it seemed nearly impossible to manage it, to bend it to his will. But he secretly couldn't resist the challenge's appeal.
Finally, he said in a stern voice, "All right." "Let's explore what this intersection has to offer."
It was a perilous voyage to the nexus, with the terrain becoming more unstable as they approached. Strange, shimmering distortions flooded the air as the ground moved and broke beneath their feet. Years of traversing harsh situations had sharpened Maraak's senses, allowing him to move with practiced ease. Asraya trailed behind, maintaining a steady presence in spite of the commotion.
The sight that met them when they arrived at the nexus was both amazing and scary. Above the earth hung a huge sphere of throbbing energy, its surface twirling in incomprehensible patterns and hues. Outward, it was anchored to the broken earth by tendrils of light. Maraak's skin crawled from the sense of sheer power that permeated the air surrounding the sphere.
Asraya took a step forward and spoke in a respectful tone. The center of the Abyss's power is the nexus, which is a gathering place for its leftovers. We could reroute its energy if we can stabilize it. However, it won't be simple.
Maraak gave a snort. "When will it ever happen?"
A pulse of energy flowed outward, and the sphere shuddered before Asraya could react. The ground shook severely beneath them, and Maraak braced himself. Figures started to appear from the sphere's edges, twisted, amorphous shapes that moved and writhed. Their forms were reminiscent of the echoes he had faced at the fissure, but these were larger, more powerful, their presence suffused with raw Abyssal energy.
Drawing Nyxbrand, Maraak whispered, "Looks like we've got company."
Asraya nodded, ethereal light illuminating their hands. "While I get the stabilizing ceremony ready, we have to keep them away. At all costs, keep them away from the nexus.
Maraak didn't require two reminders. He surged forward, Nyxbrand cutting through the first creature with a single, fluid strike. The blade's runes flared brightly, its power amplified by the nexus's proximity. The creature let out a shriek as it dissolved into ash, but more were already closing in.
The battle was relentless, the echoes attacking in waves. Maraak fought with brutal efficiency, his movements a seamless blend of strength and precision. Each strike of Nyxbrand sent ripples of energy through the air, the blade's power resonating with the nexus's chaotic pulse.
Asraya stood at the edge of the sphere, their hands weaving intricate patterns in the air. Threads of light extended from their fingers, intertwining with the nexus's tendrils in a delicate dance. Their motions grew slower as the combat continued, indicating that the effort was becoming increasingly tiring.
With his teeth clenched, Maraak rammed Nyxbrand into the chest of an especially large echo. Before it fell into a pile of smoldering ash, the beast gave a guttural growl. His voice was stern as he turned to Asraya. "Do whatever you're doing more quickly!"
Asraya remained silent, concentrating solely on the nexus. The light inside the sphere started to change, its erratic patterns settling into a more regular beat. As the energy of the nexus changed, the echoes around them wavered, their forms wavering.
Maraak killed the last of the echoes with a last desperate blow. His chest heaved with effort as he turned toward the nexus. Asraya's posture sagged with fatigue as they lowered their hands.
They said, hardly raising their voices above a whisper, "It is done." "There is stability in the nexus."
Maraak moved slowly toward the sphere, his eyes apprehensive. "What comes next?"
Unable to interpret their veiled face, Asraya turned to face him. "The real work starts now."