The faint hum of Convergence engines reverberated through the air, a low, insistent vibration that seemed to rattle the very ground beneath the camp. Soldiers scrambled to fortify their positions, their faces pale but determined as orders flew from every direction.
Elaine stood near the central fire, her team gathered close as the camp erupted into controlled chaos. She clenched her fists, her mind racing.
"They're coming fast," Kael said, his bow in hand. "How long do we have?"
"Minutes," Elaine replied, her voice grim. She turned to Lira. "Is the field generator ready?"
Lira tightened the straps on the device, her hands trembling slightly. "It'll hold—if we don't push it too far."
Ardyn glanced at the horizon, where the first flickers of light from approaching drones were visible. "That's not much of a guarantee."
The shard pulsed faintly in Elaine's satchel, its hum growing louder with each passing second. She touched it reflexively, the warmth of its energy coursing through her fingers.
"The shard knows they're here," she murmured.
Kael frowned. "Let's hope it doesn't decide to call them closer."
The Warlord's Command
The warlord emerged from her tent, her mismatched armor gleaming in the flickering light of the campfire. Her presence commanded immediate attention as soldiers snapped to readiness around her.
"We don't have time for second-guessing," she barked, her voice cutting through the din. "Barricade the east ridge and deploy the heavy guns on the north wall. I want snipers in the watchtowers, and anyone with a pulse guarding the main gate. Move!"
Elaine stepped forward, her voice steady despite the tension in her chest. "The Convergence won't come straight at you. They'll use drones to scout and soften your defenses before sending in the real assault."
The warlord turned to her, her sharp eyes narrowing. "And you know this how?"
"I've fought them before," Elaine said. "And I've seen what they can do. If you want to stop them, you need to disrupt their tech before they get too close."
The warlord studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "What do you need?"
Elaine motioned to Lira. "Get that generator on the highest point you've got. Its range will buy us time."
The warlord barked orders to her soldiers. "You heard her. Move it!"
Uneasy Allies
As the preparations continued, Kael pulled Elaine aside, his expression dark. "You're putting a lot of faith in someone who'd sell us out the second it benefited her."
Elaine glanced at the warlord, who was overseeing the deployment of a salvaged anti-air cannon. "She's ruthless, but she's not stupid. The Convergence is a threat to her, too."
Kael shook his head. "And when the fight's over? What stops her from taking the shard?"
Elaine's jaw tightened. "We'll deal with that if we have to. Right now, surviving is all that matters."
Kael sighed, his grip tightening on his bow. "I hope you're right."
The Convergence Strikes
The first wave came as predicted. Drones appeared on the horizon, their sleek forms gliding silently through the sky. Their searchlights cut through the darkness, scanning the camp with cold precision.
"Here they come!" Ardyn shouted, drawing her blade.
The warlord raised a hand, signaling her snipers. "Take them down!"
Gunfire erupted as the snipers opened fire, their shots piercing the night. Several drones spiraled out of control, their engines sputtering before they crashed into the ground.
But more kept coming.
Lira stood near the generator, her fingers flying over the controls. "I'm activating the field!"
The generator whined as it powered up, its energy rippling outward in a shimmering wave. The drones faltered, their movements erratic as the disruptor field scrambled their systems.
"It's working!" Lira shouted.
But the reprieve was short-lived. A new sound filled the air—a deep, mechanical thrum that sent a chill down Elaine's spine.
"They're deploying constructs," Kael said, his voice tight.
A New Opponent
Massive shapes emerged from the darkness, their jagged forms glowing faintly with Nexus energy. The constructs moved with deadly precision, their crystalline limbs slicing through the barricades as they advanced.
"Focus fire on those things!" the warlord yelled, raising her rifle and firing at one of the constructs.
Elaine drew her blade, the shard's light spilling across the battlefield. Its energy pulsed in time with the constructs, as though recognizing a kindred force.
"They're synced to the shards," she said, her voice low. "The Convergence is using them to track us."
Ardyn stepped beside her, her blade gleaming. "Then we take them out before they can report back."
Elaine nodded, gripping her sword tightly. "Let's move."
The Shadow Returns
As Elaine and her team engaged the constructs, the shadowy figure emerged from the smoke, his armor gleaming faintly with Nexus energy. He moved calmly through the chaos, his steps unhurried despite the gunfire and explosions around him.
"You're persistent," he said, his voice carrying easily over the noise.
Elaine turned to face him, her blade raised. "And you're predictable."
The man chuckled softly. "Predictable? Hardly. I've simply learned to embrace inevitability. The shards are meant to unite, Elaine. You're fighting against the natural order."
"Your order," she spat.
"No," he said, stepping closer. "The Nexus's order. You can sever its core, but its purpose endures. And so do I."
The Shard's Power
The shard in Elaine's satchel pulsed violently, its light growing brighter as the shadowy man approached. She could feel its energy building, a volatile mix of power and desperation.
"Let it guide you," the man said, his tone almost gentle. "You've seen what it can do. Imagine what we could accomplish together."
Elaine's grip tightened on her sword. "I've seen enough."
The shard flared, and a wave of energy erupted from it, engulfing the battlefield in blinding light. The constructs faltered, their limbs sparking as the shard's energy disrupted their systems.
The shadowy man staggered, his expression briefly flickering with surprise before it returned to calm resolve.
"Impressive," he said. "But it won't be enough."
A Desperate Stand
The battlefield descended into chaos as the constructs collapsed, their cores overloaded by the shard's power. The remaining Convergence forces retreated, their drones falling from the sky like shattered glass.
The warlord approached Elaine, her armor scorched but intact. "Looks like your shard came in handy after all," she said, her tone grudgingly respectful.
Elaine's chest heaved as she tried to steady her breathing. "This isn't over. He'll be back."
The warlord smirked faintly. "Then we'll be ready."
As the dust settled, Elaine looked down at the shard in her hand. Its light had dimmed, but its presence was stronger than ever.
"We need to move," she said, her voice steady despite the weight of what had just happened. "The Convergence won't stop. And neither can we."