The spire loomed larger now, its jagged surface rippling with streams of violent, chaotic energy. The closer Alex drew, the more oppressive its presence became, as though the very ground were bending beneath its weight. The shard in his hand grew warmer with every step, its glow steady yet brighter than ever before.
Raze walked silently at his side, her glowing fur streaked with dirt and blood. Even she seemed uneasy, her ears flicking at the faint hum that filled the air, a sound like whispers just out of reach.
Alex paused at the base of a narrow ridge, his breath hitching. Below, a chasm stretched wide, its depths consumed by swirling Enerion currents. On the far side, the land rose sharply toward the spire, the final stretch of his journey now within sight.
"This thing," Alex said, gripping the shard tightly, "it's not just a tower. It's alive. It's calling everything here—every creature, every person, every piece of Enerion. Why?"
Raze let out a low growl, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
"You're right," Alex said, his voice firm. "We'll find out soon enough."
As Alex moved along the ridge, he focused on the shard, feeling its pulse echo in his chest. He'd already learned to draw energy from it in bursts—enough to enhance his strikes, protect himself, or disrupt his enemies. But it wasn't enough.
He could sense more power locked within, waiting. The trick was learning how to harness it without losing control.
His mind flashed back to the Ravager camp. The leader's energy had been monstrous, barely contained by his body. The markings on his skin hadn't just shown strength—they were evidence of how much Enerion one could wield without being consumed.
Alex glanced at his own markings, faint and jagged compared to the intricate patterns of the higher-ranked creatures and Ravagers he'd encountered. His veins glowed softly along his forearms and shoulders, but they were growing.
"I need to push further," he murmured.
He stopped near a glowing cluster of Enerion crystals embedded in the rock. Dropping to one knee, he placed the shard into the cluster, letting its energy resonate with the larger formation.
The light around him intensified, surging in waves that made the air crackle. He closed his eyes, focusing inward as the energy flowed into his body.
Pain flared across his chest, sharp and unrelenting, as though the Enerion were carving new paths through his veins. He gritted his teeth, refusing to let go.
"More," he growled, his voice strained.
The pain receded, replaced by a rush of clarity. When Alex opened his eyes, his markings were brighter, more defined, with intricate patterns branching along his arms and up toward his neck. His body hummed with power, the shard in his hand glowing like a living flame.
Raze barked sharply, breaking his focus.
"What is it?" Alex asked, standing.
A shadow moved across the ridge ahead, followed by another.
Two figures emerged from the swirling mist—creatures with elongated limbs and grotesque, insect-like features. Their glowing veins pulsed with faint green light, their jagged forms almost camouflaged against the chaotic backdrop.
"Stalkers," Alex muttered, raising the shard.
These weren't like the stalkers he'd encountered before. Their markings were brighter, more intricate, and their movements were faster, more deliberate. They were ranked higher.
The first stalker leapt, covering the distance between them in a single bound. Alex ducked, driving the shard upward into its torso. Energy exploded outward, throwing the creature back, but it recovered instantly, its jagged claws slashing toward his chest.
He twisted, narrowly avoiding the strike, and countered with a crushing kick to its leg. The stalker stumbled, but its companion was already closing in.
Raze intercepted, her glowing jaws clamping onto the second creature's neck. The stalker thrashed, its claws raking across her flank, but she held firm, dragging it to the ground.
Alex pivoted, slamming his fist into the first stalker's head. The energy in his veins surged, amplifying the blow. The creature's skull cracked, its glowing eyes flickering before it crumpled.
The second stalker broke free from Raze's grip, lunging at Alex with blinding speed. He raised the shard, catching its claws mid-swing. The energy from the shard flared, sending sparks cascading between them.
"Not this time," Alex growled, driving the shard into the stalker's chest. The creature let out a guttural screech, its body convulsing before dissolving into motes of light.
Alex dropped to one knee, his chest heaving. Raze limped over, her fur streaked with blood but her eyes steady.
"You're tougher than me," Alex said, giving her a faint smile.
He glanced at his shard, now pulsing more brightly than before. The markings on his arms flared briefly, the energy within them settling into a steady rhythm.
"They're getting stronger," Alex said, standing. "But so are we."
The chasm before the spire was vast, the swirling Enerion currents below glowing with dangerous intensity. A narrow bridge of jagged stone stretched across the gap, barely wide enough for a single person.
"This is insane," Alex muttered, eyeing the bridge.
Raze let out a low bark, her glowing eyes locked on the path ahead.
"You're not scared, huh?" Alex said, smirking. "Alright, let's do this."
He stepped onto the bridge, his movements slow and deliberate. The stone beneath his feet crackled faintly, sending shivers up his spine. Each step felt like a gamble, the wind howling around him as the swirling currents below threatened to pull him in.
Halfway across, the air shifted.
Alex froze, his grip on the shard tightening. A low growl echoed from the far side of the chasm, followed by the rhythmic pounding of heavy footsteps.
A massive creature emerged from the shadows, its form covered in thick, crystalline plating that shimmered like black glass. Its glowing markings were intricate and vibrant, spreading across its body like molten lava.
"An Apex," Alex whispered, his heart racing.
The beast roared, its voice shaking the bridge beneath Alex's feet. It charged, its massive claws tearing into the stone as it barreled toward him.
Alex sprinted forward, the narrow bridge forcing him into a direct path with the beast.
"Raze, get back!" he shouted, the wolf hesitating at the far end.
The Apex swiped at Alex, its claws narrowly missing as he slid under its massive frame. The bridge shuddered from the impact, cracks spreading across its surface.
Alex leapt to his feet, driving the shard into the beast's flank. The energy surged, but the creature barely flinched. It twisted, its crystalline tail swinging toward Alex like a battering ram.
He dove to the side, the tail smashing into the bridge and sending chunks of stone plummeting into the chasm below.
"This thing's not going down easy," Alex muttered, his mind racing.
The Apex lunged again, its glowing eyes locked onto him. Alex met its charge head-on, his markings flaring as he channeled all his energy into the shard. The impact sent shockwaves through the air, the bridge groaning under the strain.
With a roar, Alex drove the shard deep into the creature's chest. Energy exploded outward, tearing through the Apex's body. The beast let out a final, deafening roar before collapsing, its massive form dissolving into light.
Alex staggered back, barely keeping his balance as the bridge cracked beneath him. He sprinted the remaining distance, leaping onto solid ground just as the bridge collapsed into the chasm.
Raze ran to his side, her glowing eyes filled with relief.
"We're alive," Alex said, his voice shaky. "Barely."
He looked toward the spire, now towering directly above him.
"No turning back now," he said, his markings glowing brighter than ever.