The forest parted to reveal the ancient ruins—a sprawling complex of weathered stone, half-swallowed by the encroaching wilds. Vines wrapped around broken columns, and patches of glowing moss clung to the cracked walls. The air here was heavier, charged with an energy that made Seris's skin prickle. The Nexus Flame flared within her, brighter now, as if urging her forward.
Kael raised a hand to halt the group, his sharp eyes scanning the ruins. "Careful. This place... it feels alive."
Dain nodded, his sword at the ready. "Or it could be a trap."
The dragon's voice rumbled low. "Both. The Nexus often hides its truths behind trials. Tread lightly."
They stepped into the ruins, their footsteps echoing in the silence. The stillness was oppressive, broken only by the faint hum of the Flame within Seris and the distant sound of their breathing. As they moved deeper into the complex, the architecture grew stranger. Symbols etched into the walls glowed faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat.
"These markings," Kael muttered, tracing a finger along one of the glyphs. "They're ancient, but they're not just decoration. They're... wards."
"Wards against what?" Seris asked, though the dread in her voice hinted that she already knew.
Before Kael could answer, a low, guttural growl echoed through the ruins. The group froze. From the shadows ahead emerged a creature unlike any they'd seen—a hulking mass of sinew and bone, with jagged spines protruding from its back. Its eyes were hollow pits, glowing with the same unnatural red light as the Riftspawn.
"What in the gods' names is that?" Dain hissed, stepping in front of Seris.
"A Nexus Guardian," the dragon growled. "But corrupted by the Shadow. It's here to test you, Flamebearer. And it won't hold back."
The creature lunged, faster than its size suggested, slamming into Dain and sending him sprawling. Kael loosed an arrow, striking the beast in the shoulder, but it barely flinched.
"Keep moving!" the dragon roared. "This thing will not tire, and more will come if we linger!"
Seris hesitated, the Flame within her pulsing erratically. "We can't just run! If this thing is guarding the Nexus, it might have answers!"
Dain staggered to his feet, wiping blood from his lip. "Then make it quick, Seris, because this thing is about to eat us alive!"
Closing her eyes, Seris focused on the Flame, letting its energy flow through her. Her hands glowed with a fiery light, and she raised them toward the creature. "Enough!" she shouted, her voice carrying an authority she didn't fully understand.
The light burst forth, striking the creature and forcing it back. It howled in pain, its spines retracting as the light burned away the Shadow's corruption. For a moment, the beast seemed to shrink, its grotesque form melting into something smaller, more human-like.
"Stop," it rasped, its voice thick with pain. "You... bear the Flame. You are worthy. But beware—the Nexus tests more than strength. It tests the heart."
Before Seris could ask what it meant, the creature dissolved into ash, leaving behind a faint, shimmering glow.
"What was that thing?" Kael asked, his bow still raised.
"A warning," the dragon said grimly. "The deeper we go, the more the Nexus will test you, Seris. You must be ready."
The group pressed on, the ruins growing darker and more foreboding. The air seemed to hum with energy, and the symbols on the walls grew brighter, casting eerie shadows.
As they reached a massive stone door, it swung open with a grinding groan, revealing a circular chamber bathed in an ethereal blue light. At its center was an ornate pedestal, atop which rested a crystal pulsing faintly with light.
"The Nexus Core," the dragon said, its voice reverent. "It holds the knowledge you seek."
But as Seris stepped forward, the chamber began to tremble. The light from the crystal flickered, and the air grew cold.
"Not so fast," a familiar voice said, chilling her to the bone.
Malrik stepped from the shadows, his dark armor gleaming in the flickering light. He held his massive sword casually, but his presence was anything but relaxed.
"You didn't think I'd let you reach the Core unopposed, did you?" he sneered.
Dain and Kael moved to flank Seris, but Malrik raised his free hand, and black chains erupted from the ground, binding them in place. The dragon lunged at him, but he swatted it away with a wave of dark energy, slamming it into the chamber wall.
"You can't fight me, girl," Malrik said, his voice almost mocking. "The Nexus Flame is powerful, yes, but you don't even understand it. You're a child wielding a god's weapon."
Seris's heart pounded, but she refused to back down. "Maybe I don't understand it yet," she said, her voice steady. "But I will. And you won't stop me."
Malrik laughed. "Bold words. Let's see if you can back them up."
He raised his sword, and the chamber erupted into chaos. The light from the Core flared, and the Nexus Flame within Seris surged, filling her with a power she'd never felt before.
"Seris!" the dragon roared. "This is your trial! Trust the Flame!"
As Malrik charged, Seris closed her eyes, surrendering to the Flame's guidance. Her hands glowed brighter than ever, and when she opened her eyes, they burned with fiery determination.
This wasn't just a fight for survival. It was a fight for the future. And Seris would not falter.
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