Chapter 87: Into the Maelstrom
The Nexus pulsed with a vivid energy that seemed to twist the very air around it, creating a gravitational pull strong enough to make Adam's every step feel like wading through water. Daecon's visor gleamed in the Nexus's unnatural light as he and his operatives closed the distance. The tension crackled like an impending storm.
"Hold your ground!" Adam shouted, his grip on the Glaive of Oblivion tightening. The weapon throbbed with dark energy, urging him forward like a predator eager for the hunt.
Kaelith appeared at his side, her twin blades coated in the blood of another fallen operative. "We've got two down, but the rest aren't going to fall for the same tricks."
Adam nodded, his mind calculating options. With the Nexus fully activated, it was now their only means of escape, but the Apex Operatives weren't going to let them use it without a fight.
System Notification:
Nexus Stability: 100% Destination: Multi-Zone Randomization Time Until Stabilization Collapse: 10:00 Minutes
"Ten minutes," Lysandra said, her voice tight as she joined them. "We have to hold out for ten minutes before the Nexus fully locks us into its destination."
"That's nine and a half minutes longer than I'd like," Kaelith quipped, rolling her shoulders as she took up a defensive stance.
The remaining Apex Operatives spread out, their disciplined movements forming a semi-circle around Adam's team. Daecon stood at the center, his crimson aura flaring like an inferno.
"Your defiance is admirable," he said, his voice amplified by the system interface. "But futile. The Nexus belongs to Apex."
Adam ignored the taunt, focusing instead on the faint hum of the glaive in his hands. The weapon felt like it was alive, feeding on his resolve and amplifying his power. He could sense its potential but also its cost. Wielding it recklessly might save them now but doom him later.
The first operative charged, a hulking figure wielding dual plasma axes. Kaelith darted forward to intercept, her movements fluid and precise. The clash of their weapons sent sparks flying, illuminating the battlefield in brief, violent bursts.
Adam turned his attention to Daecon, whose measured approach made it clear he was waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The remaining operatives flanked Lysandra, their focus on disrupting her control of the Nexus.
"Cover her!" Adam yelled, dashing toward one of the operatives.
The glaive's dark energy roared to life as Adam swung it in a wide arc. A ripple of destructive force erupted from the blade, slamming into the operative and sending him sprawling. Adam didn't pause to admire the result; he pivoted toward the second assailant, who was already closing in on Lysandra.
"Not today," Adam muttered, activating Steal as he leapt into the fray.
System Notification:
Steal Activated: Target - Apex Operative Shield Module. Item Obtained: Disruption Shield (Generates an energy barrier resistant to energy-based attacks).
A translucent barrier materialized around Adam just as the operative's energy blade came crashing down. The shield absorbed the impact, giving Adam the opening he needed to counterattack. With a calculated swing, the glaive cleaved through the operative's weapon, forcing him to retreat.
Meanwhile, Kaelith faced off against the dual-axe wielder, her agility keeping her one step ahead of his devastating blows. But even she couldn't keep dodging forever.
"I could use a hand here!" she called out, narrowly avoiding a strike that left a deep gouge in the ground.
Adam glanced at her, then back at Daecon, who still hadn't made his move. He couldn't shake the feeling that the Apex leader was studying him, waiting for a moment of weakness.
"I'll distract him," Adam said, tossing Kaelith the Disruption Shield. "Use it wisely."
Kaelith caught the shield with a smirk. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
The battle intensified as the clock ticked down. Lysandra worked furiously at the Nexus controls, her fingers flying across the interface as she muttered curses under her breath. Every second she bought was a miracle, but the strain was beginning to show.
Daecon finally stepped forward, his glaive-less hands crackling with raw energy. "You've made this interesting, but it's time to end it."
Adam met his gaze, the Glaive of Oblivion humming in anticipation. "You can try."
The two clashed with a thunderous impact, the ground beneath them fracturing under the sheer force of their blows. Daecon's energy attacks were relentless, but Adam countered with the glaive's destructive power, each swing carving through the battlefield like a scythe through wheat.
"You're holding back," Daecon said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Afraid of what that weapon will do to you?"
Adam gritted his teeth, refusing to rise to the bait. He knew the glaive's power came at a price, but he wasn't about to let Daecon use that against him.
Kaelith, now shielded by the Disruption Shield, took down the dual-axe operative with a swift, brutal strike. "One more down!" she shouted, turning her attention to the remaining Apex member.
The clock hit the two-minute mark, and the Nexus's energy field began to destabilize. Lysandra shouted over the chaos, "It's now or never! Get to the Nexus!"
Daecon's visor flared as he realized their plan. "You won't escape."
With a surge of energy, he unleashed a devastating attack aimed directly at the Nexus. Adam reacted instinctively, using the glaive to absorb the brunt of the blast. The weapon screamed in protest, its dark energy writhing as if alive.
The final seconds ticked away, and the Nexus's energy field enveloped Adam's team. Daecon lunged forward, but the field repelled him, sealing them inside.
As the world around them dissolved into a blur of light and motion, Adam caught one last glimpse of Daecon, his crimson aura blazing with fury.
System Notification:
Nexus Jump Complete. Destination: Zone 217 – The Shattered Dominion.
Adam collapsed to his knees as the Nexus's energy dissipated, the glaive falling from his hands. His body ached, and his mind buzzed with exhaustion.
Kaelith leaned against a nearby rock, her twin blades sheathed. "That was... intense."
Lysandra slumped to the ground, her face pale but determined. "We made it. Somehow."
Adam forced himself to his feet, his gaze fixed on the new, unfamiliar terrain stretching out before them. The Shattered Dominion was a wasteland of jagged cliffs and swirling storms, its skies filled with ominous black clouds.
"This isn't over," Adam said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "Daecon won't stop until he gets what he wants."
Kaelith smirked. "Good. Let him come. I'm just getting warmed up."
Lysandra sighed. "You two are insane."
Adam chuckled, his resolve strengthening. "Maybe. But we're still alive. That counts for something."
Together, they began to explore the Shattered Dominion, their next challenge looming on the horizon.
End of Chapter 87.