The hum of Dominion's machinery grew louder, a low, resonant vibration that carried through the fractured terrain. The jagged ground beneath Rivan and Ardyn trembled, the fractures' chaotic rhythm clashing with the steady pulse of the encroaching threat.
"They're here," Ardyn said, her blade already in hand. Her stance was tense, her eyes scanning the shifting horizon.
The Watcher stood still, their shimmering cloak of light flickering faintly. "Dominion's weapon is near," they said, their voice calm but edged with urgency. "The fractures are resisting it, but their strength is limited. If the weapon is activated, this region will collapse."
Rivan adjusted the shards in their pack, their sharp eyes focused on the faint glow in the distance. "What kind of weapon are we dealing with?"
The Watcher's gaze turned toward the horizon, their expression unreadable. "A device designed to sever the fractures' connection to the Nexus. It does not corrupt like the shard you encountered before—it destroys."
Ardyn frowned, her grip tightening on her blade. "Great. So how do we stop it?"
The Watcher tilted their head slightly. "You must reach the weapon before it activates. The fractures will guide you—but you must act quickly. Time is not on your side."
The Fractures' Desperation
The fractures beneath their feet pulsed erratically, their chaotic light spiraling upward in jagged bursts that illuminated the shifting terrain. The air grew colder, the fractures' hum deepening into a mournful resonance that vibrated through the ground.
"They're scared," Rivan said softly, their voice tinged with unease.
"Scared?" Ardyn asked, glancing at them. "I thought they were just... energy or something."
Rivan shook their head, their gaze fixed on the glowing fissures. "They're alive, in their own way. The fractures—they're trying to protect themselves, but they can't do it alone."
The fractures' whispers grew louder, their fragmented words overlapping into a single, desperate plea.
"The path must... hold. Balance demands... action. The Custodian must... act."
Rivan steadied their breathing, their focus sharpening. "They're guiding us toward the weapon," they said, turning to Ardyn. "We need to move."
Ardyn nodded, her blade gleaming faintly in the fractures' light. "Then let's go."
Dominion's Advance
The landscape grew more unstable as they moved forward, the fractures' chaotic energy clashing with the steady hum of Dominion's machinery. The air shimmered with distorted light, the ground beneath them trembling with each step.
As they crested a jagged ridge, the weapon came into view—a towering structure of dark metal and glowing spires that pulsed with a menacing rhythm. Dominion soldiers swarmed around the device, their movements precise and coordinated as they prepared the weapon for activation.
The Watcher stopped abruptly, their shimmering cloak shifting in slow, deliberate patterns. "The fractures are weakening," they said, their tone grave. "If the weapon is activated, their connection to the Nexus will be severed permanently."
Rivan's gaze narrowed as they studied the weapon. "There has to be a way to stop it," they said, their voice steady.
"There is," the Watcher replied, their expression unreadable. "But it will not be easy."
Ardyn smirked faintly, her blade at the ready. "Nothing ever is."
A Fractured Battlefield
The fractures beneath the weapon pulsed violently, their chaotic energy spiraling upward in jagged bursts that clashed with the device's destabilizing rhythm. The ground trembled as the fractures' whispers filled the air, overlapping into a cacophony of fragmented words.
Dominion soldiers turned toward the group, their weapons glowing with Nexus energy as they opened fire. Ardyn charged forward without hesitation, her blade flashing in the fractures' chaotic light as she deflected the barrage with ruthless efficiency.
"Rivan!" she shouted, cutting through the nearest soldier. "Whatever you're doing, do it fast!"
Rivan moved toward the fractures, their hands trembling as they reached for the shards in their pack. The fractures' energy surged through them, their whispers growing louder as the shards synced with the fractures' chaotic rhythm.
"The path must hold. Balance demands strength. The Custodian must... endure."
Rivan closed their eyes, their breathing steady as they focused on the fractures' energy. The shards flared brightly, their light spiraling outward in resonant waves that pushed back against the weapon's destabilizing pulses.
The Watcher's Revelation
As the fractures' energy surged, the Watcher stepped forward, their shimmering cloak glowing brighter. Their voice echoed through the chaos, calm and commanding. "The fractures are connected to this place, but their strength is not infinite. You must act now if you wish to preserve them."
Rivan's eyes snapped open, their gaze sharp. "Why do you care so much? What's your stake in this?"
The Watcher turned to them, their expression somber. "I was once a Custodian, long before the Nexus was broken. When it shattered, I became a fragment—bound to the fractures, unable to act. Until now."
Ardyn froze mid-swing, her blade hovering over another soldier. "You're a Custodian?" she asked, her voice sharp with disbelief.
The Watcher nodded, their gaze steady. "I was. And I carry the weight of our mistakes. Now, I seek to correct them—but I cannot do it alone."
The fractures beneath them trembled violently, their chaotic rhythm growing louder as the weapon emitted a massive pulse of destabilizing energy.
"We don't have time for this!" Ardyn shouted. "Rivan, what's the plan?"
Rivan's jaw tightened as they glanced between the fractures and the weapon. "We stop the activation," they said firmly. "Whatever it takes."
The Watcher stepped closer, their shimmering cloak glowing faintly. "Then follow my guidance. The fractures will show you the way."