The tension in the facility was palpable after the Envoy's retreat. Ardin led the group back to the central command room, his steps brisk and purposeful. Kael and Maris followed in silence, their minds reeling from the encounter. The ominous red glow of emergency lights gave way to the sterile white of the command room as the automatic doors hissed open.
Maris leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her usual sarcasm absent. "We can't keep doing this," she said after a long pause. "We're reacting to every breach, but we're not stopping anything. The rift is still there, and it's getting worse."
Ardin removed his helmet, revealing sharp, battle-hardened features. His expression was grim. "You think I don't know that? The rift isn't just a portal; it's a wound in our reality. Closing it will take more than brute force—it will take understanding. And that's where Kael comes in."
Kael, who had been silently watching the exchange, straightened. "Me?"
"Yes," Ardin said, turning to face him. "The energy you carry is tied to the rift. You felt it, didn't you? When the Envoy appeared."
Kael nodded hesitantly. "It was… overwhelming. Like it was calling to me."
"That's because the energy isn't just inside you—it's a part of the rift's essence," Ardin explained. "It's why the Exiled are so drawn to you. To them, you're more than a threat—you're a key."
"A key to what?" Maris asked, her tone sharp.
Ardin's gaze darkened. "To control. To destruction. If they can manipulate the energy within Kael, they could use him to tear the rift wide open and bring the Exiled fully into our world."
The weight of Ardin's words settled over the room like a heavy fog. Kael clenched his fists, his mind racing. He had always felt like an outsider, never truly understanding the power he possessed. Now, he was learning it could be the very thing that destroyed everything he cared about.
---
A Flicker of Hope
Maris broke the silence, her voice softer than usual. "So, what's the plan? You said reacting isn't enough. How do we stop this?"
Ardin turned to a console, his fingers dancing over the holographic interface. The room darkened as a map of the city appeared, glowing faintly. Red markers highlighted areas where the rift's influence was strongest.
"There's a pattern to the breaches," he said. "The rift is unstable, but its energy isn't random. If we can track the flow of energy, we might find a way to disrupt it—maybe even seal it temporarily."
Kael studied the map, his eyes narrowing. "What about the Envoy? It said the Exiled would rise soon. Does that mean more of them are coming through?"
Ardin nodded. "The Envoy was a scout, meant to test our strength and sow fear. The next wave will be worse. We don't have much time."
"Great," Maris muttered. "So we're on a ticking clock, with a world-ending rift and an army of nightmare creatures. No pressure."
Kael ignored her, focusing instead on the glowing map. "What do you need me to do?"
Ardin looked at him, his expression unreadable. "We need to push you further—unlock more of your potential. But it won't be easy. The energy within you is volatile, and if you're not careful, it will consume you."
Kael met his gaze, determination hardening his features. "I don't care how hard it is. I'm not going to let this thing control me. Tell me what I have to do."
---
The Forgotten Zone
Their first objective lay in the Forgotten Zone—a derelict district on the outskirts of Luminalis, abandoned decades ago after a catastrophic energy surge rendered it uninhabitable. The area had become a hotspot for rift activity, its crumbling buildings and twisted metal structures providing a grim reminder of the dangers of unchecked power.
The journey there was tense. They traveled in silence aboard a battered transport vehicle, the hum of its engine the only sound. Ardin sat in the driver's seat, his focus unyielding. Maris tinkered with her gear, occasionally glancing at Kael, who stared out the window, lost in thought.
The vehicle jolted to a stop, the brakes screeching in protest. "We're here," Ardin announced, stepping out.
Kael followed, his boots crunching against the cracked pavement. The air was thick with static, and the faint hum of the rift's energy buzzed in his ears. The Forgotten Zone was a graveyard of civilization, its skeletal buildings standing as silent witnesses to the destruction wrought by the past.
"Stay close," Ardin warned, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. "The rift's energy is unpredictable here. It's not just the Exiled you need to worry about—this place has a way of turning your fears against you."
Kael felt a chill run down his spine. He gripped his plasma blade tightly, the weapon's familiar hum offering a small measure of comfort.
---
The First Trial
They hadn't gone far when the rift's influence made itself known. Shadows danced along the edges of their vision, flickering and shifting unnaturally. The air grew colder, and the faint whispers of voices Kael didn't recognize began to echo around them.
"Focus," Ardin said, his voice cutting through the eerie soundscape. "The rift feeds on doubt. Don't let it distract you."
Kael tried to block out the whispers, but they grew louder, more insistent. Images flashed in his mind—his parents, their faces blurred by time and distance, calling out to him. He shook his head, gripping his blade tighter.
"Kael!" Maris's voice snapped him back to reality. He turned to see her pointing ahead, where a figure emerged from the shadows.
It was humanoid but distorted, its body a mass of writhing tendrils and jagged edges. Its eyes glowed with the same crimson light as the Envoy's, and Kael felt the familiar pressure bearing down on him.
"An Echo," Ardin said, drawing his blade. "It's a fragment of the Exiled's power. Be ready."
The Echo lunged, moving with unnatural speed. Kael barely had time to react, raising his blade just in time to block its attack. The force of the impact sent him stumbling backward, his arms trembling from the strain.
Ardin and Maris moved in tandem, their attacks precise and coordinated. Maris's plasma rifle sent bursts of energy into the Echo, forcing it to retreat, while Ardin's blade cut through its tendrils with surgical precision.
Kael steadied himself, his pulse racing. He focused on the energy within him, feeling it stir in response to the Echo's presence. This time, he didn't force it. He let it flow, allowing it to guide him.
The glow returned to his hands, brighter and steadier than before. He surged forward, his blade slicing through the Echo's defenses with a newfound confidence. The creature writhed and screamed, its form dissolving into shadow before vanishing entirely.
Kael exhaled, his body trembling from the exertion.
"Not bad," Maris said, lowering her rifle. "You're finally starting to pull your weight."
Ardin sheathed his blade, nodding approvingly. "You're learning. But this was just the beginning. The rift's guardians will only get stronger from here."
Kael nodded, determination burning in his eyes. He wasn't just fighting for survival anymore—he was fighting for a chance to reclaim the world from the darkness threatening to consume it.