Chapter 40: The First Fragment
The Astral Rift's chaotic energy pressed against Adam like a weight, the shimmering ground fracturing beneath his every step. The Codex of Balance pulsed steadily, its resonance guiding him toward the fragment. The stars above twisted in impossible patterns, as if the sky itself were watching his progress.
Ahead, the Riftborn Entity stood waiting, its form flickering erratically between dimensions. Its voice was a distorted hum, sharp and grating.
"You seek to destroy what you cannot understand. The Catalyst is eternal."
Adam raised the Codex, its light flaring in response to the creature's unstable energy. "The Catalyst isn't eternal—it's a parasite. And it ends here."
Battle in the Rift
The Riftborn Entity attacked first, its limbs elongating unnaturally as it lashed out with tendrils of distorted energy. Adam rolled to the side, the ground beneath him splintering into shards of glass-like light.
The Codex projected a warning.
[Dimensional Guardian Detected.]
Weakness: Core stabilization through harmonized resonance.
Adam shouted the activation phrase, "Resonae stabilis!"
The Codex unleashed a wave of resonance that struck the entity, forcing its form to stabilize briefly. The creature howled, its movements growing erratic as cracks spread across its body.
The system chimed again.
[Stabilization Effect: 47%.]
[Maintain Resonance to Weaken Core.]
The Riftborn Entity retaliated, summoning a vortex of energy that distorted space around it. Adam struggled to stay upright as the ground warped beneath him, but he kept the Codex raised, its light piercing through the chaos.
"Come on," Adam muttered, pouring more energy into the artifact.
The resonance intensified, the Codex flaring brightly as it struck the entity's core. With a deafening screech, the creature shattered, its fragmented form dissolving into the rift.
The air around Adam grew still, the oppressive energy fading. The Codex pulsed softly, and the system displayed a message.
[Catalyst Fragment Neutralized.]
[Dimensional Stability Restored: 91%.]
Adam exhaled, his grip on the Codex loosening. "One down."
Selene's Fight: The Infernal Colossus
The Infernal Colossus towered over Selene, its molten body radiating waves of heat that warped the air. The ground beneath her feet bubbled and cracked, but she remained calm, her dagger gleaming in the fiery glow.
The guidance device flared, projecting an analysis.
[Dimensional Guardian Detected.]
Weakness: Core cooling through concentrated resonance.
Selene darted forward, dodging a massive molten fist as it slammed into the ground, sending rivers of lava splashing in all directions.
"You're too slow," she muttered, striking at the Colossus's exposed core. The dagger left a faint mark, but the creature roared, its body regenerating almost instantly.
The device projected a solution.
[Resonance Cooling Required.]
[Activation Phrase: Vinculum gelida.]
Selene whispered the command, "Vinculum gelida."
The device emitted a pulse of cold resonance, striking the Colossus's core. Steam hissed as the molten surface hardened, cracks forming across its fiery armor.
The creature roared in defiance, summoning a wave of molten energy that nearly overwhelmed her. Selene moved swiftly, delivering precise strikes that deepened the fractures in its core.
With one final surge of resonance, the Colossus collapsed into a pile of smoldering rock, its fiery glow extinguished.
The device projected its message.
[Catalyst Fragment Neutralized.]
[Dimensional Stability Restored: 94%.]
Selene stood over the remains, her dagger still in hand. "Two down."
Ethan's Challenge: The Venomous Leviathan
In the suffocating depths of the Sunken Hollows, the Venomous Leviathan circled Ethan, its glowing fangs dripping with acidic venom. The cavern walls trembled with each hiss, droplets of acid burning holes into the ground.
The guidance device lit up.
[Dimensional Guardian Detected.]
Weakness: Neutralization through purified resonance.
Ethan braced himself as the creature lunged, its massive body twisting through the air. He raised the Veil of Luminal Shields, blocking the attack as the Leviathan's fangs scraped against the barrier.
"Not today," Ethan muttered, pushing the creature back with a burst of energy.
The device projected a command.
[Purified Resonance Activation Required.]
[Activation Phrase: Lumen purificare.]
"Lumen purificare!" Ethan shouted, activating the shield's resonance.
A wave of light erupted from the shield, striking the Leviathan's body. The creature shrieked, its scales cracking as the acidic mist around it dissipated.
The Leviathan lashed out, its tail smashing into the ground and sending Ethan sprawling. He rolled to his feet, the shield glowing brightly as he prepared for another attack.
"Come on, you overgrown snake," Ethan taunted, slamming the shield into the Leviathan's exposed core.
The resonance intensified, the creature thrashing violently before collapsing into a pool of harmless liquid.
The device displayed its message.
[Catalyst Fragment Neutralized.]
[Dimensional Stability Restored: 97%.]
Ethan wiped the sweat from his brow, grinning weakly. "Three down. You're welcome, world."
A Temporary Calm
Back in Westbridge, the trio reunited at the workshop. Though exhausted, their expressions carried a sense of accomplishment.
"The fragments are gone," Adam said, placing the Codex on the table. "Dimensional stability is almost fully restored."
Selene nodded, wiping soot from her blade. "But the Catalyst is still out there. Destroying the fragments doesn't mean we've stopped it."
Ethan flopped into a chair, his shield clattering to the ground. "No, but it does mean we're not dead. That's a win in my book."
The Codex flared briefly, projecting a single message into the air.
[Dimensional Stability: 97%.]
[Catalyst Core Presence Confirmed.]
[Warning: Primary Catalyst Reconstructing.]
Adam's face darkened. "It's not over. The Catalyst is rebuilding itself. We've slowed it down, but the final battle is still ahead."
Far beyond the edges of Westbridge, in the void between dimensions, the Catalyst stirred. Its fractured core glowed faintly, its voice a low, chilling whisper.
"You cannot stop me. The balance will break, and I will rise again."
End of Chapter 40.