The ruins were silent now, their jagged spires casting long shadows over the fractured ground. The shard Elaine held pulsed faintly in her hand, its light dim but steady. The energy that had erupted moments ago lingered in the air, a heavy reminder of the power they were dealing with.
Kael crouched near the remains of the scavengers' equipment, his sharp eyes scanning for clues. "They weren't just after the shard," he said, holding up a damaged device. "This looks like some kind of tracker. They've been following its energy signature."
Ardyn scoffed, her blade still drawn. "Figures. Everyone's playing scavenger now, sniffing around for scraps of power."
Lira approached, her hands trembling as she examined the fractures glowing faintly in the ground. "These aren't natural. The shards' energy is spilling out—like it's trying to escape."
Elaine frowned, kneeling beside her. "Escape to where?"
Lira shook her head. "I don't know. But whatever it's doing, it's not stable. If this keeps spreading, it'll—"
A distant rumble cut her off, the ground beneath them trembling slightly.
Kael straightened, his expression tense. "That's not a good sign."
A Growing Threat
The group moved cautiously through the ruins, the fractures beneath their feet widening as they ventured deeper. The shard in Elaine's hand glowed brighter, its hum growing louder with each step.
"It's pulling us toward something," Elaine said, her voice low.
Ardyn raised an eyebrow. "You're sure about that? Because it feels like we're walking into a trap."
"Maybe we are," Elaine admitted. "But we need answers, and the shards are the only thing giving us a trail to follow."
Kael stopped suddenly, holding up a hand. "Wait. Do you hear that?"
The faint sound of machinery echoed through the ruins, accompanied by a rhythmic clicking noise. Elaine tightened her grip on the shard, her heart racing.
"Drones," Kael muttered. "And they're close."
The Drones Attack
Before they could take cover, a trio of sleek, black drones emerged from the shadows, their glowing cores pulsing with Nexus energy. They moved with mechanical precision, their weapons swiveling toward the group.
"Scatter!" Ardyn shouted, diving behind a crumbled wall as the first shot struck the ground where she'd stood moments before.
Kael loosed an arrow, his aim precise. The shaft struck one of the drones, sending it spiraling into a nearby pillar. Sparks flew as it exploded, its core shattering.
Elaine ducked behind a boulder, the shard's light flaring in her hand. She could feel its energy building, resonating with the drones.
"They're synced to the fractures," she said, her voice urgent. "They're using the shards' energy to track us!"
Lira scrambled to the cover of a fallen beam, her hands flying over the field generator. "I can overload this, but it's going to take a minute!"
"We don't have a minute!" Ardyn snapped, deflecting a shot with her blade.
Elaine stepped out from cover, the shard's light blazing as she raised it toward the drones. Its energy surged outward in a blinding wave, striking the remaining drones and disrupting their systems.
The drones faltered, their movements jerky as their cores overloaded. Moments later, they exploded in a cascade of light and metal.
The Warning
The group regrouped, their breathing heavy as the echoes of the battle faded.
"That was too close," Kael said, his voice sharp. "If those drones found us, it's only a matter of time before the Convergence does too."
Elaine nodded, her expression grim. "We need to keep moving. The fractures are spreading faster than we thought. If we don't stop it…"
Her words trailed off as a figure stepped from the shadows, their movements deliberate and familiar.
"Rivan?" Elaine said, her voice tinged with surprise.
The former Convergence officer smirked faintly, their armor battered but intact. "Didn't think I'd let you have all the fun, did you?"
Ardyn tensed, her blade still drawn. "What are you doing here?"
Rivan raised a hand in mock surrender. "Relax. I'm not here to fight. I'm here to warn you."
Elaine's grip on the shard tightened. "About what?"
Rivan's expression darkened. "The Convergence isn't done. They're regrouping—and they've got a new plan. They're not just hunting shards anymore. They're trying to rebuild something bigger."
Lira paled. "Bigger than the Nexus?"
Rivan nodded grimly. "They're calling it Dominion. And if they succeed, there won't be anything left to fight for."
The Next Step
The team gathered near the central fracture, the tension thick as Rivan outlined what they knew.
"Dominion isn't just about power," Rivan said. "It's about control on a scale we've never seen. They're using the shards to amplify what's left of the Nexus's infrastructure, turning it into something new. Something worse."
Elaine clenched her fists, the shard pulsing faintly in her hand. "If they're building Dominion, then we have to stop it. Where's their base?"
Rivan hesitated. "It's deep in the eastern territories, past the fractures. But getting there won't be easy. They've fortified their position, and their forces are stronger than ever."
Kael crossed his arms. "And you expect us to just walk in?"
Rivan smirked faintly. "You've done crazier things."
Elaine met their gaze, her voice steady. "Then we'd better get moving. If Dominion takes hold, the world doesn't stand a chance."