The fractures' faint hum resonated through the still air as Rivan and Ardyn continued along the glowing pathway. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of the fractures' instability pressing down on them like an unspoken warning.
The path ahead narrowed, its shimmering edges dimming as the fractures' light flickered weakly. The jagged terrain around them felt suffocating, the air thick with an unrelenting tension.
"This place feels... wrong," Ardyn muttered, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. "Like the fractures are holding their breath, waiting for something to snap."
Rivan nodded, their sharp eyes scanning the unstable terrain. "They're weakening," they said, their voice tinged with unease. "The fractures are reaching their limit—they can't hold this path together much longer."
"Then why are they leading us deeper?" Ardyn asked, her tone sharp. "If this whole thing collapses, we're not going to make it out."
Rivan hesitated, their gaze fixed on the fractures' faint light. "Because there's something we need to see," they said quietly. "Something the fractures want us to understand."
The Shard of Creation
As they moved forward, the fractures' light grew brighter, illuminating a jagged, crystalline structure embedded in the ground ahead. The shards in Rivan's pack flared brightly, their chaotic energy syncing with the glowing structure in resonant pulses.
"There," Rivan said, their voice filled with quiet awe. "That shard—it's part of the Nexus. It's ancient."
Ardyn frowned, her grip tightening on her blade. "Ancient or not, it's glowing. Glowing things tend to mean trouble."
Ignoring her, Rivan approached the shard, their hands trembling slightly as the fractures' whispers filled their mind. The words were fragmented but carried a strange, almost reverent tone.
"The First Shard... the Custodian watches. Balance must be... restored."
"This isn't just any shard," Rivan said, their voice trembling. "It's one of the original shards—the ones used to create the Nexus. It's still connected to the fractures."
"And what does that mean for us?" Ardyn asked, her tone edged with skepticism.
"It means," Rivan said, their gaze fixed on the shard, "that this could be the key to restoring balance. But only if we can unlock its power."
Dominion's New Weapon
Far behind, Dominion's forces regrouped in the shattered remains of the crystalline chamber. Engineers worked frantically to repair equipment, while soldiers reloaded weapons and reinforced their defenses.
The commander stood at the center of the encampment, his gaze cold as he watched the jagged outline of the fractured path ahead. The corrupted shard in his hand pulsed faintly, its chaotic energy spiraling upward in jagged waves.
"How much longer?" he asked sharply, turning toward a nearby engineer.
The engineer hesitated before responding. "The weapon is nearly operational, sir. But the fractures in this region are highly unstable—if we deploy it now, we risk collapsing the entire area."
The commander's expression hardened. "Then collapse it. We can't allow them to reach the next Nexus site. Activate the weapon and prepare the shard for deployment."
"Yes, sir," the engineer replied, issuing the order.
Nearby, a massive device began to hum with power, its jagged spires glowing with chaotic light that mirrored the corrupted shard's energy. The fractures beneath the ground trembled violently, their rhythm spiraling out of control as the weapon came online.
The Fractures' Warning
Back at the shard, Rivan placed a hand on its glowing surface, their breathing unsteady as the fractures' whispers grew louder. The shards in their pack pulsed erratically, their chaotic energy spiraling upward in jagged bursts.
"The fractures—they're warning us," Rivan said, their voice strained. "Something's coming—something big."
"Let me guess," Ardyn said grimly. "Dominion?"
Rivan nodded, their expression filled with quiet dread. "They're using something to destabilize the fractures even further. If we don't act now, this entire region will collapse."
"And how exactly do we act?" Ardyn asked, her tone sharp. "We're two people against an army."
Rivan closed their eyes, focusing on the fractures' chaotic rhythm. The whispers in their mind overlapped, forming fragmented words filled with urgency.
"The First Shard... holds balance. The Custodian must... act."
Rivan's breathing steadied as they opened their eyes, their expression resolute. "We use the shard. It's connected to the fractures—if we can sync with it, we might be able to stabilize the area long enough to stop Dominion's weapon."
"And if we can't?" Ardyn asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Then we don't survive," Rivan replied quietly.