Juno's hands froze over the console as the figure's voice reverberated through the air. Her reflection in the screen shimmered, distorting into faces that weren't hers but felt familiar. Her heart raced as fragmented memories flooded her mind—images of herself in different timelines, making different choices, leading to the same outcome.
"I've been here before," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Raith turned sharply, his attention snapping away from the figure. "What do you mean?"
Her hands trembled as she backed away from the console, her eyes wide with panic. "This isn't the first time. This moment, this fight—it's happened before. I've... I've seen it."
Raith frowned. "Are you saying we're caught in a loop?"
Juno nodded slowly. "Yes. And every time, we've failed. The rift resets everything, and we start over. It's learning from us, Raith. Every failure makes it stronger."
The armored figure stepped closer, its presence radiating an unnatural energy. "You are anomalies in the Nexus's design. But no matter how many times you try, the outcome is inevitable."
Raith raised his weapon, his voice steady despite the chaos. "We'll see about that."
The figure tilted its head, almost amused. "Your defiance is meaningless. The rift's purpose is absolute. It will unify all realities, erasing the chaos of separation. You cannot stop it."
Juno's voice broke through the tension. "Raith, we need to act now. The Nexus is destabilizing, and if we don't close the rift, it'll collapse everything."
Raith glanced at Nia, who was standing eerily still, her eyes glowing faintly. "Nia, are you with us?"
She hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. But there's something you need to know first."