The fractures' pulse grew stronger as the group moved deeper into the barren terrain. Jagged cliffs rose around them, their surfaces streaked with glowing crystalline veins. The shards in Lira's pack pulsed in rhythm with the fractures, their light casting faint patterns on the rocky path ahead.
"We've been walking for hours," Ardyn muttered, her tone sharp. "You sure these glowing cracks are leading us somewhere and not just dragging us in circles?"
"They're not random," Rivan replied, their tone calm but firm. "The fractures have been consistent. They're guiding us toward something."
Ardyn snorted. "Yeah, like a trap."
Lira glanced at the shards, her brow furrowing as she adjusted the pack's straps. "I don't think it's a trap. It feels… intentional. Like they want us to find whatever's out there."
"Want us to find it or want to consume us?" Ardyn shot back, her blade gleaming faintly in the fractures' light.
Rivan sighed. "Arguing won't get us there faster. Stay alert—Dominion's not far behind."
Phenomena in the Fractures
The air grew heavier as they descended into a narrow canyon, the fractures' glow intensifying with each step. Strange, shimmering patterns danced across the canyon walls, shifting and twisting like reflections on water.
Lira slowed, her eyes wide as she reached out toward one of the patterns. "It's beautiful. Like it's alive."
"Don't touch it," Rivan warned sharply, grabbing her wrist. "The fractures are unpredictable—whatever that is could be dangerous."
Lira hesitated, pulling her hand back. "It doesn't feel dangerous. It feels… familiar."
Ardyn frowned, her gaze darting between the shimmering patterns and the glowing fractures beneath their feet. "Familiar or not, let's keep moving. This place is giving me the creeps."
The group pressed on, the fractures' pulsing light growing brighter. The air around them shimmered faintly, distorting the landscape like a mirage.
"What is this?" Lira whispered, her voice tinged with awe.
"The fractures' energy," Rivan said, their tone thoughtful. "It's reacting to the shards—and to us."
Dominion's Pursuit
Miles behind, Dominion's forces advanced steadily through the fractured terrain. Their vehicles rumbled across the uneven ground, their headlights cutting through the dim light of the glowing fissures.
The commander stood atop a reinforced transport, his sharp gaze fixed on the path ahead. "They're following the fractures' signal," he said, his tone clipped. "They'll lead us straight to whatever's causing the disturbances."
A junior officer hesitated before speaking. "And if the fractures destabilize again?"
The commander's jaw tightened. "Then we take control before they do. The Nexus is ours to command—not theirs."
A Hidden Ruin
The fractures' pulse led the group to a wide plateau, its surface cracked and uneven. At the center stood a ruined structure, its jagged edges gleaming faintly in the fractures' light.
"This is it," Rivan said, their tone filled with quiet certainty. "The fractures are pointing us here."
Ardyn stepped forward cautiously, her blade at the ready. "Looks abandoned. But I'm guessing it's not."
The shards in Lira's pack flared brightly as they approached, their energy syncing with the fractures. Lira winced, clutching the straps tightly as the shards emitted a faint, chiming sound.
"They're reacting to something," Lira said, her voice strained. "It's close—whatever it is, it's inside."
The ground beneath them trembled slightly, the fractures' light casting shifting patterns across the ruin.
"Stay sharp," Rivan said, their eyes scanning the area. "If the fractures led us here, Dominion won't be far behind."
The Fractures' Signal
Inside the ruin, the fractures' energy grew stronger, their rhythmic pulse filling the air with a faint hum. The walls were etched with strange symbols, their glowing patterns mirroring the chaotic light of the fractures.
"What is this place?" Lira asked, her voice filled with awe.
"An old Nexus site," Rivan replied, their tone thoughtful. "It's connected to the fractures—but it's been dormant for a long time."
Ardyn knelt beside a jagged pillar, her fingers brushing against the glowing symbols. "Dormant or not, it's waking up now. And I don't like what that means."
The shards flared brighter, their light syncing with the fractures' pulsing rhythm. Lira winced, clutching her head as the fractures' whispers grew louder.
"They're saying something," she said, her voice trembling. "But I can't understand it—it's too much."
Rivan stepped forward, their expression calm but focused. "The shards are amplifying the fractures. They're trying to tell us what's next."
"And what if we don't like the answer?" Ardyn asked, her tone sharp.
The fractures' light flared suddenly, casting the ruin in blinding brilliance. The hum grew louder, and the whispers became a single, commanding voice.
"Unity awaits. The path is clear. Act now."