The ravine walls stretched high above, their jagged edges casting long shadows in the shards' faint light. Elaine and Lira moved carefully along the uneven ground, their footsteps muffled by the soft layer of sand that covered the path.
"This should buy us some time," Elaine said, her voice low but steady.
Lira glanced back, her breath coming in short gasps. "What happens when they catch up again? Because they always do."
Elaine paused, turning to face her. The shard in her hand pulsed faintly, its whispers a constant presence in her mind. "Then we don't let them. The fractures are leading us forward—if we trust them, we'll stay ahead."
Lira hesitated, then nodded. "I hope you're right."
The Fractures' Guidance
The shards in Lira's pack flared softly, their glow syncing with the fractures beneath the ravine. Elaine knelt beside a narrow crack in the ground, the shard in her hand pulsing brighter as it connected with the fractures.
"What are they telling you?" Lira asked, her voice quiet but curious.
Elaine closed her eyes, focusing on the shards' energy. The fractures' whispers filled her mind, forming fragmented words and images.
"The shards… connect. The fractures… fuel. Balance… must hold."
Elaine opened her eyes, her voice steady. "Dominion isn't just using the fractures for power. They're amplifying them—turning them into conduits to control the Nexus."
Lira's face paled. "And if they succeed?"
Elaine's jaw tightened. "Then the fractures won't just destabilize. They'll collapse—and take everything with them."
A Dangerous Experiment
In their makeshift hideout, Rivan and Ardyn worked cautiously with the stabilizer, its cylindrical surface glowing faintly as it synced with the fractures. The air was thick with tension, each pulse of the device filling the alcove with an ominous hum.
"We're close to something," Rivan said, their voice calm but focused. "The fractures are reacting to the stabilizer—it's pulling their energy into a single point."
Ardyn leaned against the alcove wall, her arms crossed. "And what happens if it pulls too much?"
"It could destabilize the fractures entirely," Rivan admitted. "Or… it could stabilize them long enough for us to regain control."
Ardyn sighed, her expression skeptical. "You realize how insane this sounds, right? We're messing with something that could kill us all."
"I know," Rivan said quietly. "But if we don't, Dominion will finish what they started. And we can't let that happen."
The Fractures' Warning
Back in the ravine, Elaine and Lira stopped near a jagged outcrop, the fractures beneath them pulsing brighter. The shard in Elaine's hand flared as the fractures' whispers grew louder.
"The Custodian nears the Nexus. Balance or chaos—choose wisely."
"The fractures are guiding us toward the Nexus," Elaine said, her voice filled with quiet determination. "It's the only way to stop this."
Lira hesitated, her voice trembling. "And what if we're walking into a trap? Dominion's always one step ahead—they'll be waiting for us."
Elaine turned to her, meeting her gaze with steady resolve. "Then we'll be ready. The fractures won't fall to them—not while we have the shards."
The faint hum of Dominion engines echoed faintly in the distance, growing louder with each passing moment. Elaine's grip on the shard tightened as the fractures' light cast shifting patterns on the ravine walls.
"Come on," she said, motioning for Lira to follow. "We're almost there."
A Growing Threat
At the hideout, the stabilizer pulsed violently, its energy spilling outward in chaotic waves. Rivan staggered back, their sharp eyes narrowing as they adjusted the device's settings.
"It's pulling too much energy!" Rivan shouted, their voice tense.
Ardyn stepped forward, her blade ready. "Then shut it down!"
"I'm trying," Rivan said through gritted teeth, their hands flying over the device's controls. "But it's not responding—Dominion's programming is overriding it."
The fractures beneath the alcove glowed brighter, their chaotic patterns syncing with the stabilizer's pulsing rhythm.
"Rivan!" Ardyn shouted, stepping closer. "If you can't stop it, I'm destroying it—right now!"
Rivan hesitated, their chest tightening as they considered their options. "Wait. Just a little longer. If I can stabilize the fractures, we might be able to—"
A surge of energy erupted from the stabilizer, sending a shockwave through the alcove. Ardyn cursed, raising her blade as the fractures' light flared blindingly bright.
"Rivan!" Ardyn shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. "This thing is going to kill us!"
Rivan steadied themselves, their voice resolute. "Not if I stop it first."