The ground shook as the rumble of Dominion engines grew louder, reverberating through the narrow canyon. Dust cascaded from the temple's walls, the ancient stone groaning under the tremors.
"Positions," Rivan said, their voice calm but firm. They drew their bow, nocking an arrow as they scanned the entrance.
Lira crouched near the pedestal, clutching the bundle of shards. Her breathing was uneven, and her hands trembled as the glow of the shards intensified. "They're reacting again. The shards—they don't like this."
Ardyn stood near the entrance, her blade drawn. "Join the club. I don't like this either."
Elaine moved to Lira's side, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Keep them safe. No matter what happens, they can't fall into Dominion's hands."
"What about you?" Lira asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Elaine raised the shard in her hand, its light flaring as the whispers filled her mind. "I'll do what I have to."
Dominion's Assault
The first vehicle appeared at the canyon's entrance, its headlights cutting through the shadows. Soldiers disembarked quickly, forming a defensive line as they advanced toward the temple.
Rivan released an arrow, striking one of the soldiers square in the chest. The impact sent them sprawling, their weapon clattering to the ground.
"More behind them!" Ardyn shouted, deflecting a burst of Nexus energy with her blade.
The second vehicle stopped behind the first, its turret swiveling toward the temple. A beam of crackling energy shot out, striking the temple's outer wall and sending debris raining down.
Elaine raised her shard, focusing its energy into a protective barrier that absorbed the next blast. The strain was immediate, her breathing labored as the shard pulsed in her hand.
"They're not letting up!" Rivan called, loosing another arrow that disabled a soldier's weapon.
Elaine's grip tightened on the shard as she stepped forward, her voice steady. "Then we make them."
The Shards' Power
The shard flared brightly, its energy spiraling outward in a wave that struck the advancing soldiers. They stumbled, their weapons sparking as the shard's force disrupted their circuitry.
Ardyn seized the opening, charging into the fray with a ferocious battle cry. Her blade cut through the line of soldiers, her movements precise and relentless.
Rivan moved to higher ground, firing arrows with unerring accuracy. Each shot found its mark, slowing the soldiers' advance as they struggled to regroup.
At the temple's center, Lira frantically worked to stabilize the shards, which pulsed erratically in response to the conflict. "They're too unstable!" she cried. "If this keeps up, they're going to react—violently!"
Elaine turned, her voice urgent. "Keep trying! We can't stop now!"
The shard in her hand burned hot, its whispers becoming a roar in her mind.
"The fractures demand resolution, Custodian. The shards will not wait."
A Turning Point
The ground trembled violently as the shards' light flared, their energy spilling outward in chaotic waves. The Dominion soldiers hesitated, their movements faltering as the canyon walls began to crack.
"Elaine!" Rivan shouted, their tone sharp. "Whatever you're doing, stop! You're destabilizing the whole area!"
Elaine gritted her teeth, the shard's energy coursing through her like a storm. "I can control it!"
Ardyn deflected another strike, glancing back toward the temple. "No, you can't! You're going to bury us all!"
Elaine's chest tightened as the shard's whispers grew louder. The fractures glowed brightly, their chaotic patterns spreading across the temple walls.
"Balance demands sacrifice, Custodian. Will you embrace unity, or let the world crumble?"
Her vision blurred as the shard's energy surged, pulling her mind toward the fractures. She saw flashes of a broken world, its lands shattered and its people scattered. She saw Dominion's forces marching, the shards' power twisted into a weapon of control.
And she saw her team, standing with her despite the chaos—despite the cost.
A Desperate Choice
Elaine staggered, the shard's light dimming as she forced herself to focus. "I'm not letting this end here."
She raised the shard, channeling its energy into the fractures. The light spiraled outward, stabilizing the cracks in the canyon walls and halting their spread.
The shards on the pedestal reacted, their energy syncing with Elaine's shard as the glow intensified. The air grew heavy, vibrating with the hum of power.
Dominion's forces hesitated, their weapons faltering as the shards' energy overwhelmed their systems.
"They're falling back!" Rivan called, loosing another arrow that sent the remaining soldiers retreating toward their vehicles.
Ardyn wiped her blade clean, her expression grim. "That won't last. They'll regroup and come back with reinforcements."
Elaine lowered the shard, her breathing ragged. The fractures dimmed, their chaotic glow replaced by a faint, steady pulse.
"We'll be gone by then," she said, her voice firm. "But we've got what we came for."
The Mission Reaffirmed
The group gathered at the temple's center, their faces etched with exhaustion and relief. Lira carefully packed the shards, their light dim but steady.
"We can't keep doing this," Lira said quietly. "The shards… they're too dangerous. If they react like this every time—"
Elaine interrupted, her tone calm but resolute. "We're not stopping. The shards are the key to healing the fractures. If we give up now, Dominion wins."
Ardyn folded her arms, her expression skeptical. "And what happens when they don't stop? Because you know they won't."
Elaine met her gaze, her voice steady. "Then we make sure we're ready for them. The shards aren't just tools—they're alive. And they chose us for a reason."
Rivan nodded, their tone firm. "Then let's make sure we don't waste that chance."
The group prepared to leave, the shards safely secured. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear—the fight was far from over.