The forest gave way to rocky hills as Elaine and her team moved deeper into the southeastern region. The shard pulsed faintly in her satchel, its energy syncing with her own steady footsteps. The air grew colder, carrying with it the faint scent of ozone—a telltale sign of lingering Nexus energy.
Lira lagged slightly behind, her face pale and drawn. She adjusted her satchel, her voice wavering. "Does anyone else feel it? That hum in the air?"
Ferran grunted. "I feel a lot of things, none of them good."
"It's the shard," Elaine said, glancing back at Lira. "It's reacting to the energy around us."
Kael scanned the horizon, his bow in hand. "If the shard's reacting, we're getting close."
"Too close," Ardyn muttered, her gaze fixed on the distant hills. "That hub won't just be guarded—it'll be crawling with their best fighters."
Elaine's jaw tightened. "Then we'll deal with them. We've come too far to turn back now."
A Dangerous Path
The shard's energy grew stronger as they approached a narrow pass winding between two jagged cliffs. The faint hum in the air intensified, vibrating through the rocky ground beneath their feet.
"This place feels wrong," Lira whispered, her voice barely audible.
Kael nodded, his expression grim. "Perfect spot for an ambush."
Elaine motioned for the group to spread out, her blade drawn as she advanced cautiously. The shard pulsed more rapidly now, its energy syncing with the faint glow of runes etched into the cliffs.
"These markings," Ardyn said, studying the runes. "They're Convergence. They've claimed this area."
Ferran raised his sword, his voice sharp. "Then where are they?"
As if in response, a deafening roar echoed through the pass. A hulking figure emerged from the shadows, its jagged form glowing with unstable energy. The construct was larger than any they had encountered before, its crystalline body crackling with power.
The Construct's Attack
"Spread out!" Elaine shouted, diving to the side as the construct swung a massive, glowing limb toward the group. The impact shattered the ground where she'd stood moments before, sending shards of rock flying in every direction.
Kael loosed an arrow, the projectile striking the construct's core and sending a ripple of energy through its form. The creature faltered but quickly reassembled, its energy flaring brighter.
"It's drawing power from the runes!" Lira shouted, pointing to the glowing markings on the cliffs. "We need to disrupt them!"
Elaine nodded, her blade flashing as she deflected another strike. "Lira, Ardyn, handle the runes. Kael, Ferran, with me!"
Disrupting the Runes
Lira and Ardyn sprinted toward the nearest set of runes, their movements quick and coordinated. Lira knelt by the markings, her tools sparking as she worked to disrupt the energy flow.
"These runes are feeding the construct," she said, her voice tense. "If I can break the circuit, it should weaken it."
Ardyn stood guard, her blade slicing through a smaller construct that emerged from the shadows. "Hurry. It's not going to wait for us to finish."
The runes flickered as Lira disrupted their energy, the construct roaring in pain as its form destabilized.
The Final Strike
Elaine darted around the construct, her blade flashing as she targeted its exposed core. Ferran charged from the opposite side, his sword cleaving through one of its glowing limbs.
Kael fired another arrow, his shot striking true and sending cracks spidering through the construct's body.
"It's faltering!" Elaine shouted. "Now!"
With a final, coordinated strike, the group shattered the construct's core, its jagged form collapsing into a pile of lifeless shards. The ground trembled as the energy in the pass dissipated, the runes on the cliffs dimming into darkness.
A Grim Discovery
As the dust settled, Elaine approached the remnants of the construct, her chest heaving. The shard in her satchel pulsed faintly, its energy resonating with the broken fragments.
"There's something here," she murmured, crouching to examine the shards.
Lira joined her, her hands shaking as she picked up one of the fragments. "These… these aren't just constructs. They're made from Nexus fragments."
Kael frowned, his voice quiet. "The Convergence is building their army out of the shards."
Ardyn's expression darkened. "And if they have enough fragments, they won't need constructs. They'll rebuild the Nexus itself."
Elaine stood, her resolve hardening. "Then we have to stop them—before they finish what they've started."
The Road Ahead
The group pressed onward, the weight of their discovery hanging heavy over them. The shard's pulse guided them like a faint heartbeat, pulling them closer to the Convergence's hub—and the growing shadow of their ambitions.
As night fell, Elaine stood watch at the edge of their camp, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. The shard's light flickered faintly in her satchel, its energy a constant reminder of the dangers ahead.
Kael approached quietly, his voice low. "You all right?"
Elaine nodded, though her expression was grim. "We're running out of time. The Convergence is moving faster than we thought."
Kael placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm. "Then we'll move faster. Whatever it takes."
Elaine offered a faint smile, her resolve unwavering. "Whatever it takes."