The tension among the group was palpable as they left the forest clearing behind, each of them carrying the weight of their recent discovery. The smaller fragment Kael held pulsed with an unsettling rhythm, as though it were alive in a different way from the others.
The sky above darkened further, and the storm clouds churned ominously on the horizon. Thunder rumbled, low and distant, a warning of the tempest that was quickly approaching.
"Kael," Rhea said, breaking the silence. "We need to stop and regroup. That fragment—whatever it is—needs to be examined before we press forward."
Kael didn't respond immediately, his focus locked on the pulsing light in his hand. He could feel it resonating with the larger fragments, but it was also different, carrying a strange, chaotic energy. It didn't feel like the wilds—it felt... corrupted.
Finally, he nodded. "You're right. We'll stop here for now."
Adrin let out a breath of relief and began clearing a small area for camp. Rhea, meanwhile, kept her gaze fixed on the fragment, her expression one of deep concern.
As they set up their modest shelter, Kael sat cross-legged, placing the fragment on the ground before him. He closed his eyes, reaching out to it with his senses, letting the wilds guide him.
The connection was immediate and overwhelming. Visions flooded Kael's mind—a world consumed by fire and shadow, the sky torn apart as the earth itself cried out in agony. He saw figures cloaked in darkness, their faces obscured but their intent clear. They were not elites, not survivors—they were something else entirely.
Kael's eyes snapped open, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps. The fragment's glow dimmed slightly, as if it had spent some of its energy.
"What did you see?" Rhea asked, her voice quiet but insistent.
"Something worse than the elites," Kael replied, his voice strained. "This fragment... it's a warning. A glimpse of what's coming if we fail."
Adrin frowned, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. "Worse than the elites? What does that even mean?"
"It means there are forces out there we haven't even begun to understand," Rhea said grimly. "And if this fragment is connected to them, we're in deeper trouble than we thought."
Kael stood abruptly, his resolve hardening. "We don't have time to hesitate. The wilds gave us this for a reason. We need to keep moving, find the next fragment, and uncover the truth before it's too late."
Rhea placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression softening. "We're with you, Kael. But rushing forward blindly will only get us killed. Let's take the night to rest, plan our next move, and face whatever comes with clear minds."
Reluctantly, Kael nodded, recognizing the wisdom in her words. The storm outside their shelter raged on, but within, the group settled into an uneasy quiet, each lost in their thoughts.
As the hours passed and the storm grew fiercer, Kael found himself unable to sleep. The weight of the fragment and the visions it carried pressed heavily on his mind. He stepped out of the shelter, letting the rain lash against his skin, and stared out into the wilds.
The storm seemed alive, the wind howling like a beast in pain. Kael felt the wilds stir around him, their energy surging as if they, too, sensed the growing threat.
"Whatever's coming," Kael murmured to himself, "I'll be ready."
And as the storm roared above, Kael stood resolute, the fragments in his possession glowing faintly in the darkness—a beacon of hope in a world on the brink of collapse.