The fractures beneath the ground pulsed violently, their erratic rhythm echoing through the fractured terrain as Rivan and Ardyn approached Dominion's encampment. The Corruption Engine loomed ahead, its jagged spires glowing with chaotic energy that rippled through the air in sharp, distorted waves.
Rivan crouched behind a jagged outcrop, their sharp eyes scanning the encampment. Dominion soldiers moved with precision, forming a tight perimeter around the engine as it emitted another pulse of destabilizing energy.
"They've fortified the entire area," Rivan said, their voice low. "Getting close won't be easy."
Ardyn knelt beside them, her blade resting lightly on her shoulder. "Good thing I'm not interested in easy," she said with a faint smirk.
"Focus," Rivan said, their tone calm but firm. "The fractures are already unstable. If we disrupt the wrong thing, we'll make the situation worse."
Ardyn rolled her eyes. "Fine. What's the plan?"
A Coordinated Strike
Rivan notched an arrow, their gaze fixed on the nearest group of soldiers. "We take out their defenses first—quietly. Once we're close enough, I'll sync with the fractures and disrupt the engine's output."
"And if 'quiet' stops being an option?" Ardyn asked, her tone sharp.
"Then we improvise," Rivan replied.
Ardyn grinned, rising to her feet. "Now you're speaking my language."
As Rivan released their arrow, the projectile struck a Dominion soldier's weapon, sending a surge of disruptor energy that rendered it useless. The soldier staggered, their shout cut short as Ardyn darted forward, her blade slicing through the remaining defenses with precise, lethal movements.
The fractures pulsed beneath them, their chaotic energy growing louder as the Corruption Engine emitted another destabilizing pulse.
"Move!" Rivan shouted, notching another arrow.
The Fractures' Instability
As the duo pressed forward, the fractures' chaotic rhythm spiraled out of control. The ground trembled violently, cracks spreading outward in jagged lines that glowed with chaotic light.
Rivan stumbled, clutching their head as the fractures' whispers grew deafening. The shards in their pack flared brightly, syncing with the fractures in erratic pulses.
"They're panicking," Rivan said, their voice strained. "The engine is pushing them too hard—they're on the verge of collapse."
"Then we'd better shut it down fast," Ardyn replied, slicing through another group of soldiers.
The fractures' whispers overlapped in fragmented words, filling the air with a single, urgent plea.
"Balance... demands clarity. Chaos must... be contained. The path is... fragile."
Rivan steadied themselves, their breathing uneven as they focused on the fractures' chaotic energy. "We're close," they said, their tone grim. "The fractures are guiding us toward the engine—but we have to move now."
Dominion's Counterattack
The commander stepped forward, his expression calm but intense as he barked orders to his troops. "Hold the line! The engine is almost ready—don't let them get near it!"
The Corruption Engine emitted another pulse, its chaotic energy spiraling upward in jagged waves that rippled through the fractured terrain. The ground trembled violently, the fractures' light flaring as their rhythm faltered.
A wave of Dominion soldiers advanced quickly, their weapons glowing with Nexus energy as they opened fire. Ardyn moved to intercept them, her blade flashing in the fractures' chaotic light.
"Keep them off me!" Rivan shouted, notching another arrow.
"I'm trying!" Ardyn shouted back, deflecting a barrage of energy blasts with her blade.
The fractures beneath the ground trembled again, their chaotic energy forming jagged spirals that clashed with the engine's destabilizing pulses.
"They're fighting back," Rivan said, their voice filled with quiet awe. "The fractures—they're resisting the engine's corruption."
A Critical Decision
As Rivan and Ardyn reached the base of the engine, the fractures' chaotic energy surged upward, casting the site in blinding brilliance. The shards in Rivan's pack flared brightly, their light spiraling outward in jagged waves that clashed with the engine's pulses.
Rivan placed a hand on the engine's jagged surface, their breathing steady as the fractures' whispers filled their mind. The words were fragmented but urgent.
"Contain... chaos. Balance... fragile. Act now."
"They're giving us a choice," Rivan said, their voice trembling. "If we destroy the engine, we risk destabilizing the fractures further. But if we let it continue..."
"Then Dominion wins," Ardyn finished, her tone sharp. "What's it going to be?"
Rivan hesitated, their gaze shifting between the fractures and the engine. "We disrupt it—just enough to give the fractures a chance to stabilize."
"And how do we do that without blowing ourselves up?" Ardyn asked, raising an eyebrow.
Rivan met her gaze, their expression resolute. "We trust the fractures—and hope they trust us."