The fractures beneath their feet pulsed erratically, their chaotic rhythm echoing through the trembling terrain as Rivan, Ardyn, and the Watcher moved closer to Dominion's weapon. The device loomed ahead, its towering spires glowing with an ominous light that rippled outward in jagged waves, each pulse sending tremors through the ground.
Ardyn gripped her blade tightly, her sharp eyes scanning the swarm of Dominion soldiers surrounding the weapon. "They've dug in," she muttered, her voice edged with frustration. "It's going to take more than a head-on charge to get through that."
"The fractures are already destabilizing," Rivan said, their tone grim. "If we don't act now, it won't matter how many soldiers there are—the entire region will collapse."
The Watcher stood silently, their shimmering cloak of light flickering faintly as they observed the scene. "The fractures will guide you," they said finally, their voice calm but resonant. "But you must act quickly. The weapon's activation is imminent."
The Fractures' Resistance
The ground trembled violently as the fractures' light flared suddenly, casting the battlefield in an eerie brilliance. The chaotic energy rippling through the terrain spiraled upward, clashing with the weapon's destabilizing pulses in bursts of jagged light.
"They're fighting back," Rivan said softly, their gaze fixed on the fractures' erratic rhythm. "The fractures—they're trying to resist the weapon."
"Then let's give them a hand," Ardyn said sharply, raising her blade. "What's the plan?"
Rivan adjusted the shards in their pack, their mind racing. "I can try to sync with the fractures," they said. "If I can stabilize them long enough, we might be able to stop the weapon's activation."
Ardyn nodded, her stance firm. "And what about the soldiers?"
The Watcher stepped forward, their voice calm. "I will deal with them. Focus on the fractures—their survival is paramount."
Ardyn's gaze narrowed. "And how do we know we can trust you?"
The Watcher met her eyes, their expression unreadable. "You don't. But the fractures trust you, and that is enough."
A Desperate Assault
The trio moved swiftly, the fractures' light guiding their path as they approached the weapon. Dominion soldiers turned toward them, their weapons glowing with Nexus energy as they opened fire.
Ardyn darted forward without hesitation, her blade flashing in the fractures' chaotic light as she deflected the barrage with precise, lethal movements. She cut through the nearest attackers, her sharp eyes focused on the path ahead.
"Keep moving!" she shouted, slicing through another soldier. "Rivan, stay close!"
Rivan followed quickly, their hands trembling as the shards in their pack flared brightly, syncing with the fractures' energy in uneven pulses. The whispers in their mind grew louder, overlapping into fragmented words that filled the air with urgency.
"The path must hold. Chaos must be contained. The Custodian must... endure."
The Watcher moved with an eerie grace, their shimmering cloak of light deflecting incoming blasts as they advanced toward the weapon. Their movements were deliberate and precise, their presence unsettling the soldiers who faltered under their gaze.
"The fractures are weakening," the Watcher said, their tone sharp. "You must reach the base of the weapon before it is too late."
The Weapon's Activation
A low hum echoed through the battlefield, growing louder with each passing moment as the weapon's spires glowed brighter. The fractures beneath the ground trembled violently, their chaotic rhythm spiraling out of control as the device emitted a massive pulse of destabilizing energy.
Rivan staggered, clutching their head as the fractures' whispers grew deafening. The shards in their pack burned hot, their chaotic energy syncing with the fractures in jagged bursts.
"They're panicking," Rivan said, their voice strained. "The fractures—they're on the verge of collapse."
"Then stop them!" Ardyn shouted, deflecting another barrage of blasts. "Whatever it takes!"
Rivan steadied their breathing, their focus sharpening as they placed a hand on the glowing fractures beneath their feet. The shards flared brightly, their energy spiraling upward in shimmering waves that clashed with the weapon's destabilizing pulses.
"I'm trying," Rivan said, their tone filled with quiet determination.
The Watcher's Warning
The Watcher turned toward Rivan, their voice calm but urgent. "You cannot stabilize the fractures alone. Their connection to the Nexus has been severed for too long—they need a guide."
Rivan's gaze snapped toward them, their eyes narrowing. "What are you saying?"
The Watcher stepped closer, their shimmering cloak glowing faintly. "The fractures recognize you as the Custodian. But they require more than your strength—they require your bond. You must become part of them."
Ardyn's blade froze mid-swing as she turned to the Watcher, her expression filled with disbelief. "What the hell does that mean?"
The Watcher's gaze remained on Rivan. "You must merge with the fractures' energy. Only then will they have the strength to resist the weapon's destruction."
Rivan hesitated, their hands trembling as the fractures' light flared brighter. "If I do this... what happens to me?"
The Watcher's expression softened slightly. "You will endure. But you will no longer be the same. The fractures will change you, just as you will change them."