The Nexus was eternal. Or so everyone believed.

The Nexus Gates, ancient portals connecting worlds across the multiverse, had existed for as long as recorded history. They allowed trade, exploration, and even survival among realms so vastly different that their rules of existence often contradicted each other.

At the center of it all stood the Nexus Core, a massive crystalline structure that pulsated with the lifeblood of the multiverse. It regulated the gates, maintained the delicate balance of interworld connections, and ensured stability.

But on that fateful day, everything changed.

The collapse began without warning.

In the heart of Cadrithis, the capital of the Nexus Gatekeepers, the Core trembled, its glow dimming as fissures snaked across its crystalline surface. The Gatekeepers, the protectors and maintainers of the gates, rushed to contain the anomaly. But the Core's energy surged uncontrollably, sending shockwaves across the Nexus network.

Throughout the multiverse, gates flickered and faltered. Some crumbled entirely, leaving worlds isolated and vulnerable. Others malfunctioned, twisting their destinations or merging incompatible realms. The balance was shattered.

And in the chaos, something ancient stirred.

Far away, in a remote corner of the Nexus network, Kaine Velar stood at the foot of Gate 712. To him, it was just another quiet night—until the tremors began.

He felt the ground shift beneath his feet and saw the gate pulse erratically. He had no idea he was witnessing the first ripple of a cataclysm that would unravel the multiverse.