The eastern territories stretched out before them, a desolate expanse of cracked earth and jagged mountains. The air was thick with an unnatural hum, the sound rising from fractures that split the ground in glowing, chaotic patterns.
Elaine led the group, the shard in her hand pulsing faintly with each step. Its glow seemed to resonate with the fractures, casting eerie light on the barren landscape.
"How much farther?" Lira asked, her voice strained.
Rivan, who had taken up the rear, adjusted their gear. "A few days, if we keep up the pace. But the closer we get to Dominion's base, the worse it'll get."
Kael frowned, scanning the horizon. "Worse how?"
"The fractures aren't just unstable—they're alive," Rivan said grimly. "Dominion's been using the shards' energy to manipulate them. If we're not careful, they'll tear us apart."
Ardyn snorted. "Great. Another deathtrap. Just what we needed."
Elaine slowed, her gaze fixed on a cluster of fractures ahead. The shard in her hand flared briefly, sending a wave of heat through her palm.
"It's reacting to something," she said, her voice low.
Kael approached cautiously, his bow in hand. "You think it's another shard?"
Elaine shook her head. "No. It's something else. Something stronger."
The First Obstacle
As they approached the fractures, the ground trembled beneath their feet. The cracks widened, glowing with a dangerous intensity.
"We need to move carefully," Elaine said, gripping the shard tightly. "The energy here is unstable."
Rivan gestured toward a narrow path winding through the fractures. "That's our way through. But don't touch anything—those cracks will fry you if you get too close."
Lira hesitated, her eyes darting to the glowing fissures. "Are you sure this is safe?"
"No," Rivan said bluntly. "But it's the only way."
The group moved single file, their steps slow and deliberate. The fractures hissed and sparked as they passed, sending arcs of energy into the air.
Halfway through, the shard in Elaine's hand pulsed violently, its light flaring. The fractures responded, their glow intensifying as the ground trembled.
"Elaine!" Ardyn shouted, her voice sharp.
Elaine staggered, her vision swimming as the shard's energy surged through her. Images flooded her mind—Dominion's base, its towering structure built atop a massive Nexus conduit. The shards glowed within, their energy spiraling upward into a network of crystalline spires.
"They're binding the shards," Elaine murmured, her voice distant. "Feeding them into Dominion's core."
Kael grabbed her arm, steadying her. "What does that mean?"
Elaine shook her head, the vision fading. "It means we're running out of time."
The Shard's Influence
As they emerged from the fractures, the shard's glow dimmed, but its presence lingered in Elaine's mind. She could still feel the pull of its energy, the way it connected her to the fractures and the shards scattered across the world.
"You're not telling us everything, are you?" Ardyn said, her tone sharp.
Elaine glanced at her, frowning. "What are you talking about?"
Ardyn gestured to the shard. "That thing's been reacting more and more since we left the ruins. And now you're seeing visions? What else is it doing to you?"
"It's not doing anything," Elaine said firmly. "It's showing me what we need to know."
"Or it's controlling you," Ardyn countered. "How do we know it's not leading us into a trap?"
Rivan stepped between them, their tone measured. "Enough. If Elaine says the shard's guiding us, we trust her. We don't have time for second-guessing."
Ardyn scowled but said nothing, falling back into step.
A Warning from the Fractures
That night, they camped on the edge of a ravine, its depths glowing faintly with the same energy that coursed through the fractures. The shard rested on a rock near Elaine, its light flickering like a dying ember.
As the others slept, Elaine stared into its glow, her mind restless. The images she'd seen earlier replayed in her thoughts—Dominion's core, the shards, the towering spires of crystal.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Rivan said, approaching quietly.
Elaine glanced at them, her expression guarded. "It's the shard. It's showing me things—visions of Dominion, of what they're building. It's worse than I imagined."
Rivan crouched beside her, their gaze thoughtful. "The shards aren't just relics. They're alive in their own way, tied to the fabric of the world. Dominion's trying to rip that fabric apart and weave something new."
Elaine frowned. "If that happens, what's left of the world won't survive."
Rivan nodded. "Which is why we have to stop them. But you know that shard's power cuts both ways, right? The more you use it, the more it uses you."
Elaine's grip on the shard tightened. "I don't have a choice."
"There's always a choice," Rivan said, their voice quiet. "Just make sure you're the one making it."
A Looming Threat
As dawn broke, the team prepared to move again. The shard's pulse had grown stronger overnight, its energy resonating faintly with the fractures below.
"We're getting close," Elaine said, slipping the shard into her satchel.
Kael slung his bow over his shoulder, his expression grim. "Let's hope we're ready for whatever's waiting."
As they descended into the ravine, the air grew colder, the fractures glowing brighter with each step. The shard's hum rose to a deafening pitch, its energy filling Elaine's mind with fragments of sound and light.
Ahead, the towering silhouette of Dominion's base came into view—a monolithic structure rising from the fractured earth, its spires piercing the sky. The air around it shimmered with raw energy, the shards' influence radiating outward in chaotic waves.
Ardyn drew her blade, her voice low. "So, what's the plan?"
Elaine stared at the base, her jaw tightening. "We stop them. No matter what it takes."