The descent into the ravine was treacherous. The fractures running through the ground grew wider and more volatile, their glow illuminating the jagged walls with an unsettling light. The air was thick with the hum of energy, vibrating just beneath the surface of hearing.
"We're walking into a pressure cooker," Kael muttered, his bow in hand.
Ardyn glanced back at him, her tone clipped. "If you're looking for an exit, you're about ten miles too late."
"Enough," Elaine said, her voice firm. She stopped at the edge of a glowing fissure, the shard pulsing faintly in her hand. "Stay close and keep moving. The fractures are unstable—one wrong step, and we're not walking out of here."
Lira hesitated, her eyes darting to the glowing cracks. "And what happens if these things explode?"
"They won't," Rivan said, their voice steady. "Not unless Dominion wants them to. These fractures are connected to their systems, which means they can trigger them if they know we're here."
"That's supposed to be comforting?" Ardyn said dryly, her hand resting on her blade.
"No," Rivan replied. "It's supposed to remind you to move fast."
The First Trap
The group moved cautiously, the glow of the fractures casting long, jagged shadows on the walls of the ravine. The shard in Elaine's hand grew warmer with each step, its light intensifying as they drew closer to Dominion's base.
"Something's not right," Elaine said, her brow furrowed.
Ahead, the ground was unnaturally smooth, the fractures narrowing into sharp, deliberate lines. The hum of energy grew louder, resonating in time with the shard.
Kael crouched, studying the ground. "This isn't natural. Someone carved these out."
Before anyone could respond, the air filled with a sharp, mechanical whine. Pillars of light erupted from the fractures, forming a shimmering barrier that trapped the group in place.
"Trap," Ardyn hissed, drawing her blade.
The light shifted, coalescing into humanoid shapes made of glowing energy. They moved with precision, their forms flickering as they closed in on the group.
"Energy constructs," Rivan said, their tone grim. "Dominion's getting creative."
Elaine raised the shard, its light flaring in response. "Stay behind me!"
Pushing the Shard's Power
The constructs surged forward, their movements eerily fluid. Elaine stepped into their path, the shard's energy building in her hands. She focused, channeling its power into a wave of force that struck the constructs head-on.
The first wave shattered, their forms dissolving into sparks. But more constructs emerged from the fractures, their numbers growing with each passing moment.
Lira worked frantically at the field generator strapped to her back. "I can destabilize the barrier, but I need time!"
"Work fast," Kael said, loosing arrows into the advancing constructs. "We're running out of room here."
Elaine gritted her teeth, the shard's energy coursing through her like wildfire. She could feel its pull, the way it urged her to let go—to unleash its full power.
"Release me," the Nexus's voice whispered in her mind. "You cannot win without unity."
"I don't need you," Elaine muttered through clenched teeth. She raised the shard again, sending another wave of energy crashing into the constructs.
The strain was palpable. Sweat dripped down her brow, and her vision blurred as the shard's power surged. She staggered, her grip faltering.
"Elaine!" Kael shouted, catching her arm as she stumbled. "You're pushing too hard!"
"I'm fine," she said, forcing herself to stand. "Just keep them off Lira!"
Breaking the Barrier
Lira's hands flew over the generator's controls, sparks flying as she rerouted its power. The hum of the barrier grew louder, its light flickering as the fractures beneath them pulsed erratically.
"Almost there!" she shouted.
The constructs pressed closer, their energy flaring as they surrounded the group. Ardyn stepped forward, her blade slashing through one of the figures, but it re-formed almost instantly.
"We can't keep this up," she said, her voice tight. "They just keep coming!"
Elaine focused on the shard, its light blazing brighter than ever. She felt its energy building to a breaking point, a storm waiting to be unleashed.
"Lira!" she shouted. "Now!"
Lira slammed a lever down, and the generator erupted in a surge of energy. The barrier shattered, sending a shockwave through the constructs and scattering them into fragments of light.
The group collapsed to the ground, their breaths ragged as the hum of the fractures subsided.
The Shard's Toll
Elaine sat apart from the group, the shard still glowing faintly in her hands. Its energy had quieted, but she could feel the toll it had taken—on her body, on her mind.
"That was close," Lira said, approaching hesitantly.
Elaine nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Too close."
Kael crouched beside her, his expression serious. "You can't keep doing this, Elaine. The shard's taking too much out of you."
"I don't have a choice," she said, her grip tightening on the shard. "If I don't use it, we don't stand a chance against Dominion."
Ardyn crossed her arms, her tone sharp. "And what happens when it decides to use you instead?"
Elaine didn't answer. She stared into the shard's light, the Nexus's whispers still echoing faintly in her mind.
A Divided Team
As the group prepared to move again, the tension was palpable. Rivan watched from a distance, their gaze unreadable as they adjusted their gear.
"You're awfully quiet," Ardyn said, her tone accusatory.
Rivan smirked faintly. "Just enjoying the show."
Ardyn stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "You knew this was coming, didn't you? The traps, the constructs—all of it. You've been leading us into this."
Rivan's smirk faded, their expression hardening. "You think I want to be here? I'm risking just as much as you are. But if we don't stop Dominion, nothing else matters."
Elaine stepped between them, her voice firm. "That's enough. We're not turning on each other—not now."
Ardyn scowled but said nothing, falling back into step.
The Road Ahead
As they resumed their journey, the towering silhouette of Dominion's base loomed closer. The fractures beneath their feet grew brighter, their energy pulsing in rhythm with the shard.
"We're almost there," Rivan said, their tone grim.
Elaine nodded, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "Then let's finish this."