The Convergence Point pulsed in the center of the crater, its swirling prismatic energy casting chaotic, shifting light across the jagged terrain. The group stood at its edge, their breathing still heavy from the battle with the Juggernaut. The air was electric, the hum of the Beacon reverberating in their bones.
Kael stepped forward, his calm gaze fixed on the vortex. His fingers twitched, then snapped once—a sharp sound that cut through the hum of the Convergence Point. The others instinctively tensed, even though nothing happened.
"It's stronger than the last one," Kael said quietly.
Lyra joined him, her bow still in hand. "It's amplifying the energy of the land itself. If we don't collapse it soon, it'll destabilize the entire region."
Oran wiped his face with his shirt , his threads flicking weakly. "So, what's the plan? Another 'hold off an army while we do something insanely dangerous' kind of deal?"
"That's exactly the plan," Lyra said, her tone matter-of-fact.
Kael glanced back at Elara. "This one's different. The energy here is too aggressive for me to handle alone. I'll need you to disrupt it while I work."
Elara swallowed hard, the weight of his words pressing on her. "What happens if I can't?"
Kael's expression didn't waver. "You will."
As they approached the Convergence Point, the runes on the surrounding pillars flared brighter, their light flickering erratically. The hum grew louder, the air vibrating with tension.
"They're coming," Lyra said, her voice sharp and focused.
The ground shook as the first wave of enemies appeared: Crimson Veil soldiers pouring into the crater from all sides. Their armor glowed with prismatic enhancements, and their weapons left trails of light in the air as they charged.
"Defensive formation!" Lyra barked, her arrow already nocked. She loosed it in one fluid motion, the golden trajectory line arcing gracefully before striking the lead soldier.
Oran's threads snapped to life, weaving intricate traps between the rocks. "Let's hope they're as bad at dodging as the last group!"
Kael snapped his fingers, swapping places with a boulder as a soldier's blade slashed through the air where he'd just been. The snap echoed, sending a ripple of uncertainty through the advancing soldiers.
Elara stood near the Convergence Point, her focus split between the chaos of the battle and the unstable energy swirling around the Beacon. The hum was louder now, almost deafening, and the pull of the energy made her stomach churn.
"Elara!" Kael's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Focus on the runes! Disrupt them!"
She nodded, forcing herself to tune out the battle. Reaching out with her ability, she felt the chaotic rhythm of the runes, their energy flickering like an erratic heartbeat. She concentrated, disrupting the flow. One by one, the runes began to dim.
The second wave arrived before the first was fully repelled. Larger than the Crimson Veil soldiers, the new arrivals were hulking abominations, their forms twisted and fused with unstable prismatic energy. Their glowing cores pulsed violently, casting shadows across the battlefield.
Oran cursed under his breath. "Not these things again!"
"They're unstable," Kael said, snapping his fingers to dodge an abomination's clawed swipe. "Target their cores!"
Lyra's arrows struck with precision, but the abominations didn't fall easily. Their unstable energy made them unpredictable, their movements erratic and violent.
Elara felt the pressure mounting. The runes were resisting her disruptions, flaring back to life almost as quickly as she dimmed them. The Beacon pulsed erratically, its energy growing more volatile with each passing moment.
"We don't have much time!" she shouted.
Kael appeared beside her, his expression calm despite the chaos. He crouched, placing his hands on the ground. "I'll stabilize it long enough for you to finish. Just keep going."
Elara nodded, her determination solidifying. She reached out again, pouring everything into her ability.
The battlefield was chaos. Oran's threads entangled one abomination, pulling it off balance and exposing its core for Lyra to strike. Another charged toward the Convergence Point, its glowing form casting an ominous light over Elara and Kael.
Kael snapped his fingers, swapping places with a fallen soldier's body. The abomination roared in confusion, turning just in time to meet Lyra's arrow.
"Elara!" Lyra shouted. "Hurry!"
The final rune flared, resisting her disruption with a violent burst of energy. Elara gritted her teeth, pushing harder, her ability humming with intensity. The rune flickered, dimmed—and then shattered.
The Beacon's energy pulsed violently, the swirling vortex shrinking and collapsing in on itself. The air grew colder, the oppressive hum fading into silence.
For a moment, the crater was still.
Then the ground trembled, and a new figure emerged from the shadows.
Draped in a dark, flowing cloak, the figure exuded an aura of cold authority. Their face was obscured by a mask, its surface etched with faintly glowing runes. In their hand, they held a staff pulsing with prismatic energy.
"Lucius," Lyra said, her voice barely above a whisper.
The figure's head tilted slightly, as though amused. "You've been busy," Lucius said, his voice smooth and calculated. "But you've accomplished nothing."
Kael stepped forward, his fingers flexing at his side. "We'll see about that."
Lucius raised his staff, and the air around him shimmered with raw energy. "Let's see if you're worth my time."
The group tensed as the energy around Lucius surged, the final battle looming.