The ruin's interior glowed faintly with the fractures' chaotic energy, their pulsing rhythm casting jagged patterns across the crumbling walls. Rivan moved cautiously through the space, their sharp eyes scanning the glowing symbols etched into the stone.
"These aren't random," Rivan said, their voice calm but thoughtful. "They're a map—or maybe instructions."
"For what?" Ardyn asked, her tone edged with suspicion. "Another way to blow up the world?"
"Or a way to fix it," Rivan replied, their gaze steady.
Lira knelt beside a jagged pillar, her hands trembling as she traced the glowing patterns. The shards in her pack pulsed brightly, their light syncing with the fractures' chaotic rhythm.
"They're trying to show us something," Lira said, her voice filled with quiet wonder. "I can feel it."
The Relic Awakens
At the center of the ruin, a large, crystalline structure pulsed faintly with dormant energy. Its jagged edges mirrored the fractures' chaotic patterns, but its glow was subdued, as though it was waiting for something.
Rivan stepped closer, their brow furrowing as they studied the structure. "This is the source. Whatever this is, it's tied directly to the fractures."
Lira approached cautiously, the shards in her pack flaring as she neared the structure. "They're reacting to it," she said, her voice trembling. "It's like they recognize it."
Ardyn hung back, her blade at the ready. "And what happens if you wake it up? Because I'm guessing it won't say thanks and leave us alone."
Rivan turned to her, their expression calm but firm. "If we don't understand this, we're walking blind. Dominion already knows more than we do—we can't let them use it against us."
Ardyn's jaw tightened, but she didn't argue.
Lira hesitated, then placed a hand on the crystalline structure. The shards in her pack pulsed brightly, their light syncing with the fractures' chaotic rhythm.
The structure flared suddenly, its dormant energy surging to life. The fractures beneath the ruin trembled, their whispers filling the air with a single, commanding voice.
"Unity demands strength. Chaos demands clarity. The path awaits."
Dominion's Approach
Outside the ruin, the sound of engines echoed through the fractured landscape as Dominion forces advanced. Their vehicles rumbled across the uneven terrain, their headlights cutting through the dim light of the glowing fissures.
The commander stood at the forefront, his sharp gaze fixed on the ruin. "They're inside," he said, his tone clipped. "Surround the structure and prepare to breach. We can't let them leave with whatever's in there."
A junior officer hesitated before speaking. "The fractures are reacting to the site, sir. If we push too hard, we could destabilize—"
"I don't care," the commander snapped. "We're not leaving until we take control of that ruin. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," the officer replied, though their unease was evident.
A Critical Decision
Inside the ruin, the fractures' pulsing light grew brighter, their chaotic rhythm syncing with the crystalline structure's energy. Lira staggered, clutching her head as the fractures' whispers filled her mind.
"They're saying something," she said, her voice trembling. "But it's too much—it's overwhelming."
Rivan placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, their voice calm. "Focus on the shards. They're the key to understanding this."
Lira nodded, her breathing uneven as she tried to focus. The shards in her pack flared brightly, their energy forming a faint connection between her and the crystalline structure.
Ardyn stepped closer, her blade gleaming in the fractures' light. "We've got company," she said sharply. "Dominion's closing in. Whatever this thing is, we need to decide fast—fight or run."
Rivan's gaze flicked between the structure and the ruin's entrance. "If we leave now, Dominion will take this place and use it against us. We can't let that happen."
"And if we stay?" Ardyn asked, her tone sharp.
"Then we hold the ruin," Rivan said, their voice resolute. "Whatever it takes."
The fractures beneath them trembled violently, their chaotic rhythm growing louder. The structure's energy surged, casting the ruin in blinding light.
"The choice is clear," the fractures' voice whispered. "Act, or fall to chaos."