The fractures' chaotic rhythm steadied, their jagged pulses replaced by a harmonious hum that resonated through the trembling terrain. The First Shard in Rivan's hands flared brightly, its energy spiraling upward in shimmering waves that synced with the fractures' fading light.
Ardyn paused mid-swing, her blade hovering over the commander's head as the fractures' light surged around them. "Rivan," she called out, glancing toward the glowing shard. "What's happening?"
"The shard," Rivan said, their voice trembling. "It's stabilizing the fractures—but it's doing something else. Something... unexpected."
The fractures beneath them pulsed faintly, their steady rhythm growing louder as the shard's energy surged. A low, resonant hum filled the air, vibrating through the ground and casting the entire battlefield in ethereal light.
The Shard Speaks
Rivan staggered slightly as the fractures' whispers grew louder, their fragmented words overlapping into a single, commanding voice. The light from the shard flared, coalescing into a faint, ghostly figure that hovered above its jagged surface.
The figure's features were blurred and indistinct, but its presence was undeniable. Its voice echoed through the air, carrying a weight of authority and sorrow.
"The Nexus is not lost. Balance can yet be restored... but the price will be great."
Rivan's eyes widened as the fractures' energy surged through them, syncing with the shard's chaotic rhythm. "You're... part of the Custodians," they said softly. "A fragment of their consciousness, preserved in the shard."
The figure nodded faintly, its expression unreadable. "This shard holds the memory of the Nexus's creation—and its destruction. If you wish to restore balance, you must unlock its full potential. But be warned: the cost may outweigh the reward."
Ardyn stepped forward, her blade still raised as she glared at the figure. "Why should we trust you? The Custodians are the ones who broke the Nexus in the first place."
The figure's gaze turned toward her, its voice tinged with regret. "The Custodians acted out of fear. They believed control would preserve the Nexus. Instead, they unleashed chaos. Now, the choice falls to you: to rebuild what was lost, or to let the fractures fade into oblivion."
Dominion's Catastrophe
The fractures' light dimmed suddenly as the Fracture Breaker emitted another destabilizing pulse. The jagged spires of the weapon glowed with chaotic energy, their unstable rhythm clashing violently with the shard's stabilizing pulse.
The commander stumbled, his expression darkening as the weapon shuddered under its own power. "What's happening?" he demanded, turning toward a nearby engineer.
"The weapon is overloading," the engineer said, panic creeping into their voice. "The fractures are resisting the output—they're syncing with something stronger!"
The Fracture Breaker emitted a final, blinding pulse of energy before collapsing inward, its jagged spires crumbling as a wave of chaotic light rippled outward. The fractures beneath the ground trembled violently, their chaotic rhythm surging back to the surface.
Rivan's gaze snapped toward the weapon, their expression filled with quiet dread. "The fractures—they're collapsing again. The weapon's failure destabilized the entire region."
"Then we need to move—now," Ardyn said sharply, grabbing Rivan's arm.
The fractures' whispers grew frantic, filling the air with fragmented words that echoed through the chaos.
"The path must... continue. Balance demands... strength. The Custodian must... decide."
A Fateful Decision
Rivan hesitated, their hands trembling as the shard's light flared brightly. The fractures' chaotic energy surged through the terrain, threatening to consume everything in its path.
"The shard—it's giving us a choice," Rivan said, their voice steady despite the chaos. "We can use its power to stabilize the fractures temporarily, but it will cost us the shard's connection to the Nexus. Or..."
"Or what?" Ardyn demanded, her tone sharp.
"Or we let the fractures collapse here and save the shard for later," Rivan replied. "But if we do that, this entire region—including everyone in it—will be lost."
Ardyn's gaze hardened as she glanced between the collapsing fractures and the glowing shard. "Then there's no choice. Use the shard—save the fractures."
Rivan's breathing steadied as they placed both hands on the shard, their mind syncing fully with its chaotic energy. The fractures beneath them pulsed faintly, their rhythm growing steadier as the shard's light flared one final time.
"I hope this works," Rivan said softly, their voice filled with quiet determination.
The shard's energy surged outward in a blinding wave of light, syncing with the fractures in a resonant pulse that rippled through the terrain. The collapsing fractures stilled, their chaotic rhythm replaced by a faint, harmonious hum that echoed through the battlefield.
The Aftermath
The light from the shard dimmed slowly, its jagged edges losing their glow as the fractures' energy stabilized. Rivan staggered, their hands trembling as they released the shard's surface.
"It's done," they said quietly. "The fractures are stable—for now."
Ardyn sheathed her blade, her breathing uneven as she surveyed the battlefield. "And Dominion?"
The fractures beneath them pulsed faintly, their steady rhythm a quiet reminder of the fragile balance they had just preserved. The remaining Dominion soldiers retreated quickly, their ranks broken by the collapse of their weapon.
"They'll be back," Rivan said, their tone grim. "But the fractures—they're still connected to the Nexus. We've bought ourselves some time."
The ghostly figure from the shard lingered for a moment longer, its gaze fixed on Rivan. "You have chosen well," it said softly. "But the path ahead is fraught with peril. The Nexus demands more than strength—it demands sacrifice."
With that, the figure faded into the fractures' light, leaving the shard dark and inert in Rivan's hands.