The man's presence filled the chamber with an oppressive weight, as if the air itself recoiled at his existence. His dark robes seemed to writhe and ripple like a mass of living things as shadows clung to him as if alive. Aiden felt transfixed under green, glowing eyes.
"A. a…?" was all Aiden could stutter out of his mouth.
The man laughed, a low, menacing sound that echoed through the chamber. "Names are meaningless here, Traveler. But if you must call me something, I am the Keeper of Shadows—the one who safeguards the rift's will."
Aiden's pulse quickened. "The rift has a will?
The Keeper moved closer, his movements fluid yet unnervingly unnatural. "It is not a simple tear, boy. It is a force—a consciousness that seeks to consume and reshape all worlds. And you." He pointed a clawed finger at Aiden. "You are the only threat to its dominion. That is why I must end you."
The crystalline Core behind Aiden pulsed brighter, as if responding to the Keeper's words.
"You're not killing anyone," Aiden said, surprising himself with the defiance in his voice. He took a step back toward the Core, the faint vibration of its energy thrumming through his body. "If you're working for the rift, then I guess you're the one I have to stop."
The Keeper's grin grew wide, his teeth sharp and unnervingly white. "Brave words for a man who doesn't know how to wield the power of the Nexus." He reached out, and tendrils of shadow shot out, snaking at Aiden like vipers.
Aiden instinctively brought up his arms, and the Core's light flared into life. A shimmering barrier erupted around him, crackling with sizzling tension as it deflected the tendrils.
The Keeper hissed. "Ah, so the Nexus favors you already. No matter—you are untrained and unworthy."
"Maybe," Aiden said, looking at the Core. "But I have a feeling you don't want me touching this thing."
Before the Keeper could respond, Aiden pressed both hands against the Core.
The moment his palms made contact, a surge of energy flooded his body, far more intense than anything he'd felt before. His vision blurred, and his mind was bombarded with images—fractured worlds, ancient battles, and the Nexus itself in its prime, a sprawling, luminous structure that linked countless realms.
Then came a voice, soft yet commanding, echoing in his mind.
Traveler, you must choose.
"Choose what?" Aiden thought, his voice trembling.
To restore or to destroy. Protect the Nexus, or let it fall to the rift.
Aiden's heart was racing. "I don't know how to do either!"
You will learn. But first, survive.
The Core's light increased and Aiden felt its power rushing through him, settling into his very being. His surroundings snapped back into focus and he found himself standing on solid ground once again.
The Keeper stood there, his glowing eyes narrowed to slits. "What did you do?" he asked.
Aiden looked down at his hands, which were now enclosed in faintly glowing patterns of light. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I think it's bad news for you."
The Keeper's response was immediate and violent. He thrust both hands forward, summoning a massive wave of shadow. The darkness surged toward Aiden, roaring like a tidal wave.
But Aiden felt the energy of the Core urging him on. He didn't think; he just raised his hand, and a burst of golden light shot forth, colliding with the wave of shadow. The shockwave of the collision was deafening and rattled the chamber; cracks spidered through the walls.
The Keeper snarled, his form flickering like he was unstable. "You're more trouble than I expected," he growled. "But this is far from over.
He raised his arms, and the entire chamber darkened. The machinery groaned, and the flowing energy rivers dimmed. The pulsing light of the Core faltered, flickering like a dying star.
Aiden staggered, the weight of the Keeper's power pressing down on him. "What are you doing?"
"Severing the Nexus's connection to this place," the Keeper replied. "If I can't destroy you here, I'll destroy the Core itself.
No!" Aiden shouted, but the pressure around him was too much. He fell to one knee, fighting to keep himself upright.
Just as the darkness was about to consume everything, a silver light tore through the shadows. The weight lifted, and Aiden looked up to see the armored woman standing at the entrance to the chamber, her sword raised.
"Looks like I made it just in time," she said, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.
The Keeper recoiled, his shadowy form rippling. "You again," he snarled.
"Miss me?" she replied, lunging forward. Her blade slashed through the air, sending arcs of silver energy toward the Keeper. He dodged with unnatural speed, retreating to the far side of the chamber.
The woman glanced at Aiden. "You okay?"
"I think so," he said, standing shakily. "But he's trying to destroy the Core!"
"Not on my watch," she said, her tone fierce. "Focus on stabilizing it. I'll keep him busy."
Before Aiden could respond, she charged at the Keeper, her blade glowing brighter with each strike. The two clashed in a flurry of light and shadow, their battle shaking the chamber.
Aiden went back to the Core. Its light was growing faint and spreading on its surface through cracks. He put his hands once again on it and started to feel its energy rushing in through his body.
Traveler… equilibrate…
The Core was weak but urging him in a voice. Aiden closed his eyes and continued feeling this flow of energy. Though he didn't quite know what he was doing, Nexus's power seemed to steer him.
Slowly, the light began to stabilize in the Core. Cracks healed themselves, and the rivers of energy in the chamber were brighter.
Behind him, the Keeper let out a furious roar. Aiden turned and watched the woman deliver a devastating blow to the Keeper's form; her sword sliced through its body. He let out one last, guttural scream before dissolving into a cloud of shadow, which dissolved into the air.
She let down her sword, breathing heavily. "That will not be the last we hear of him," she said. "But for tonight, the Nexus is secure.
Aiden backed away from the Core, his hands shaking. "What now?
She sheathed her sword and looked at him with a mix of respect and concern. "Now, we prepare. The Keeper was just the beginning. If we're going to stop the rift, we'll need to visit the other realms and restore their connections to the Nexus."
Aiden nodded, determination hardening in his chest. "Then let's do it."