The crystalline relic stood at the ruin's center, its jagged edges pulsing faintly in rhythm with the fractures beneath the ground. The chamber was quiet now, the echoes of Dominion's retreat fading into the distance.
Rivan circled the relic cautiously, their sharp eyes scanning the glowing symbols etched into its surface. "It's more than just a power source," they said, their voice thoughtful. "It's a conduit—designed to control the fractures."
"Control them how?" Lira asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and fear.
Rivan gestured toward the fractures, their chaotic energy casting shifting patterns on the chamber walls. "The fractures are unstable because they're disconnected from the Nexus. This relic might be a way to restore that connection—or to rewrite it entirely."
Ardyn leaned against a jagged pillar, her arms crossed. "And how exactly do you plan to figure that out without blowing us all to pieces?"
Rivan didn't answer, their attention fixed on the relic's glowing surface.
The Relic's Mechanisms
As Lira approached the relic, the shards in her pack pulsed brightly, their energy syncing with the fractures. The glowing symbols on the relic shifted, their patterns aligning with the shards' chaotic rhythm.
"They're reacting to each other," Lira said, her voice filled with awe.
Rivan stepped closer, their expression intent. "The shards are the key. Whatever this relic is meant to do, it's tied to the fractures—and to whoever holds the shards."
Lira hesitated, her hands trembling as she placed them on the relic's surface. The fractures' whispers grew louder, filling her mind with fragmented words and images.
"Unity demands strength. Balance demands sacrifice. The path awaits."
The relic flared suddenly, its light spiraling upward as the fractures beneath the ruin pulsed in response. Lira gasped, pulling her hands back as the energy subsided.
"It's too much," she said, her voice shaking. "It's like it's trying to… connect with me."
"Let it," Rivan said, their tone calm but firm. "We need to understand what it's telling us."
Lira looked at them, fear etched into her face. "And what if I can't handle it?"
Rivan met her gaze, their voice steady. "You're stronger than you think."
Dominion Regroups
Outside the ruin, Dominion's forces regrouped quickly, their vehicles forming a tight perimeter around the site. The commander paced near the command vehicle, his expression dark.
"They've activated the relic," he said, his tone clipped. "The fractures are responding to it—and to them."
A junior officer hesitated before speaking. "What are your orders, sir? The site is unstable—we could risk another collapse if we push too hard."
The commander's gaze sharpened. "Then we push carefully. I want that relic intact and under Dominion control before sunset. Deploy the second wave."
"Yes, sir," the officer replied, relaying the order.
The sound of engines roared to life as reinforcements advanced toward the ruin, their weapons ready.
The Fractures' Warning
Inside the ruin, the fractures' chaotic rhythm grew louder, their whispers filling the chamber with urgency. The shards in Lira's pack flared brightly, casting shifting patterns of light across the walls.
"They're saying something," Lira said, her voice trembling. "It's not just a warning—it's a choice."
"What kind of choice?" Ardyn asked, her tone sharp.
Lira closed her eyes, focusing on the fractures' whispers. The images in her mind grew clearer: visions of the Nexus whole and unbroken, its harmonious light flowing through the fractures. But the images shifted, showing the fractures collapsing under the weight of chaotic energy, their destruction spreading outward in jagged waves.
"They're asking for unity," Lira said, her voice trembling. "But they're not saying how to achieve it. It's like they're waiting for us to decide."
Ardyn frowned, her grip tightening on her blade. "And if we make the wrong choice?"
Rivan stepped forward, their tone resolute. "Then everything falls apart."
The Standoff
The sound of engines echoed through the ruin as Dominion's reinforcements arrived. Soldiers poured into the chamber, their weapons trained on the group as they surrounded the relic.
The commander stepped forward, his tone cold and commanding. "Surrender the relic and the shards, and I might consider letting you live."
Rivan raised their bow, an arrow notched and ready. "You're not taking anything. Not this time."
The commander's gaze narrowed. "You don't understand what you're dealing with. That relic isn't just a tool—it's a weapon. One that only Dominion is equipped to handle."
"You mean to exploit," Rivan shot back, their voice sharp.
Ardyn shifted her stance, her blade gleaming in the fractures' light. "Enough talking. They're not walking out of here with anything."
The fractures beneath the ruin trembled violently, their chaotic energy spiraling upward as the relic flared brightly. The commander hesitated, his gaze shifting to the glowing artifact.
"What is it doing?" he demanded, his voice edged with fear.
Lira stepped forward, the shards in her pack pulsing in time with the relic. "It's reacting to us—to all of us."
The fractures' whispers grew louder, filling the chamber with a single, commanding voice.
"Unity or chaos. The choice is yours."