The corrupted crystal pulsed faintly in the center of the chamber, casting jagged shadows across the ancient walls. Its energy felt wrong, a twisted echo of the Nexus's power that made Elaine's skin crawl.
Lira crouched beside the crystal, her tools spread out as she carefully examined its surface. "This isn't just Nexus energy," she murmured. "It's been altered—weaponized. Whoever's doing this knows exactly what they're doing."
Elaine nodded, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. "They've found a way to control it. That's why the shard resonated with this place—they're tied together."
Kael leaned against the wall, his bow slung across his shoulder. "If they're building weapons, this won't be the only one. We need to stop them before they start spreading this to other regions."
Ferran scowled, his arms crossed. "How do we stop something we barely understand? We can't exactly smash it and hope for the best."
Elaine's jaw tightened. "We don't smash it. We learn from it."
Ferran raised an eyebrow. "You're not seriously thinking about using this thing, are you?"
Elaine met his gaze, her voice firm. "If we destroy it now, we lose any chance of tracking whoever's behind this. The shard reacted to it—it might lead us to the source."
Lira hesitated, glancing between Elaine and the crystal. "She's right. But if we make one wrong move, this thing could destabilize the entire area."
The Decision
The team gathered around the crystal, the tension thick in the air.
Kael was the first to speak. "If we're keeping it, we need a plan. Something to keep it contained—and to make sure no one else finds it."
Elaine nodded. "Lira, can you shield it? Keep the energy from leaking out?"
Lira frowned, her brow furrowed. "I can try. But it'll take time—and I'll need essence charges to stabilize the field."
Ferran groaned. "Great. More time sitting around with a giant glowing target on our backs."
Kael smirked faintly. "Better than walking into another ambush."
Elaine ignored them, her focus on Lira. "Do it. The faster we finish, the faster we can move."
A Growing Threat
As Lira worked on stabilizing the crystal, Elaine and Kael scouted the stronghold for any clues about their attackers. The carvings on the walls grew more erratic as they moved deeper into the ruins, depicting scenes of destruction and despair.
"This place wasn't just abandoned," Kael said, his voice low. "It was torn apart."
Elaine nodded, her eyes scanning the jagged markings that scored the walls. "Whatever happened here wasn't an accident. The Nexus did this."
Kael frowned. "And now someone's trying to rebuild it. Why?"
Elaine's hand brushed against the shard in her satchel, its warmth a constant reminder of the power they were chasing. "Because they think they can control it. They think they can succeed where the Nexus failed."
As they returned to the central chamber, Ferran met them with a grim expression.
"We've got company," he said.
Elaine's pulse quickened. "How many?"
"Too many," Ferran replied. "Looks like reinforcements from the group we fought earlier. They've got the place surrounded."
The Attackers Return
The hum of the corrupted crystal grew louder as the energy in the chamber began to react to the approaching threat.
"We need more time," Lira called, her hands moving quickly over the runes she had etched into the ground around the crystal.
Elaine drew her blade, her expression resolute. "Then we buy it."
Kael took position near the entrance, his bow drawn. "If they're smart, they'll rush us. If they're desperate, they'll try to use the crystal against us."
"Let's hope they're smart," Ferran said, unsheathing his sword.
The first wave of attackers surged into the chamber, their weapons flashing in the dim light. Elaine met them head-on, her blade cutting through their ranks with precision.
Kael's arrows flew true, each shot striking with deadly accuracy. Lira hurled an essence vial, the explosion sending a ripple of light through the room and forcing the attackers to scatter.
Ferran fought with brutal efficiency, his strikes calculated and relentless. "They just keep coming!" he shouted.
Elaine gritted her teeth, parrying a strike and driving her blade into her opponent's chest. "We hold the line. Lira, how much longer?"
"Almost done!" Lira called, her voice strained.
A Desperate Gambit
As the attackers pressed closer to the crystal, Elaine's instincts screamed a warning. The energy in the room was building to a breaking point, the corrupted power threatening to spiral out of control.
One of the attackers broke through the line, their focus locked on the crystal. They carried a device that pulsed with a familiar glow—a crude replica of the shard's energy.
"They're trying to take it!" Kael shouted.
Elaine moved quickly, intercepting the attacker before they could reach the crystal. Their blades clashed, the force of the impact sending a surge of energy through the room.
"Get away from it!" Elaine growled, driving them back.
The attacker's device flared brightly, its unstable energy feeding into the crystal. The entire chamber shook violently, cracks spreading through the walls as the corrupted power surged.
"Lira, now!" Elaine shouted.
Lira slammed her hand down on the final rune, and a shimmering barrier formed around the crystal, containing its energy. The attacker staggered, their device flickering before shattering into fragments.
The remaining attackers faltered, their ranks breaking as the energy in the room subsided.
"They're retreating!" Kael called, loosing another arrow.
Elaine watched as the last of the attackers disappeared into the shadows, her chest heaving.
A Fragile Victory
The chamber fell silent, the faint hum of the crystal now muffled by Lira's containment field.
"That was too close," Lira said, wiping sweat from her brow.
Elaine nodded, her grip on her blade relaxing. "They'll be back—and next time, they'll bring more than foot soldiers."
Ferran scowled. "Then maybe we shouldn't stick around long enough to find out."
Elaine placed a hand on the barrier surrounding the crystal, her mind racing. "We're taking this with us. If they want it, we can't leave it behind."
Kael frowned. "And if we can't control it?"
Elaine's jaw tightened. "Then we destroy it. But not until we've learned everything we can."
The team exchanged uneasy glances but said nothing. The weight of their mission pressed heavily on all of them, the stakes higher than ever.
As they prepared to leave the stronghold, the shard pulsed faintly in Elaine's satchel, guiding them toward their next destination—and deeper into the mystery of the Nexus's fragmented legacy.