The faint glow of the Nexus burned brighter in the distance, its pulse resonating through the dark waters. But this time, something felt different. Daniel and Mira hovered in uneasy silence, their senses heightened as an unnatural stillness settled around them. The remnants of the Abyssal Guardian lingered as faint wisps of shadow, dissipating into the cold void. Yet the air felt heavy, as if the Abyss itself was preparing for something far worse.
"Something's changing," Daniel murmured, his grip tightening around the shard in his hand. Its faint glow was erratic, the once rhythmic pulse now flickering unpredictably.
Mira scanned their surroundings, her blade drawn and ready. "We've triggered something. The Abyss isn't just watching anymore—it's responding."
The system chimed softly, its words appearing in Daniel's mind like ripples across a still surface:
[Alert: Environmental Stability Decreasing. Abyssal Energy Flux Detected.]
