Chapter 26: The Core of the Spire
The deeper they ventured into the Shattered Spire, the more unstable the structure became. The walls groaned as if under immense pressure, and the faint hum of machinery grew louder, resonating in time with the Ember Core in Kaylen's hand. Each step felt like stepping into a trap, and the tension in the air was palpable.
"How much farther?" Eryn asked, their blade glinting faintly in the dim light.
"Not far," Solas replied, their voice calm but strained. "The fragment's energy is nearly overwhelming. It's below us, in the Spire's core."
Kaylen wiped sweat from his brow, the Core pulsing faintly against his chest. "And let me guess: getting there won't be simple."
"It never is," Eryn muttered, their eyes scanning the shifting shadows. "Just keep moving."
---
The corridor opened into a massive chamber, its walls lined with pulsing runes that cast eerie light across the space. In the center of the room was a massive mechanical lift, its platform suspended over a seemingly endless abyss. The fragment's energy was stronger here, a heavy presence that pressed down on them like a physical weight.
"This is it," Solas said, stepping onto the platform. "The lift will take us to the Spire's core. But be ready—this is where the defenses will be strongest."
Eryn grinned, their grip tightening on their blade. "Finally, some real action."
Kaylen hesitated, the Core's whispers growing louder in his mind. He could feel the fragment below, its energy pulsing like a heartbeat. The pull was almost unbearable, urging him forward with every fiber of his being.
"Let's get this over with," he said, stepping onto the platform.
---
The lift descended into the depths of the Spire, its gears grinding loudly as it carried them downward. The air grew colder, and the faint hum of machinery became a deafening roar. Kaylen gripped the Core tightly, its warmth the only thing grounding him as the fragment's energy pressed harder against his mind.
Suddenly, the lift shuddered to a halt, its lights flickering. A low growl echoed from the darkness above, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps.
"Of course," Eryn muttered, their blade drawn. "We've got company."
From the shadows emerged three constructs, each larger and more heavily armored than the Guardian they had faced earlier. Their bodies glowed with the same runes as the Spire's walls, their movements slow but deliberate.
"Defensive units," Solas said, their relics flaring to life. "They're here to stop us."
Kaylen summoned a burst of fire, the Core's energy flaring as he prepared for the fight. "Not today."
---
The constructs attacked with mechanical precision, their strikes shaking the platform with each blow. Eryn darted between them, their blade flashing as they aimed for the glowing runes on the constructs' chests. Solas provided cover, their relics emitting pulses of energy that disrupted the constructs' movements.
Kaylen focused on the Core, channeling its power into a concentrated blast of fire. He aimed for the largest construct, his flames striking the runes and sending cracks spiderwebbing across its armor. The construct let out a distorted roar, staggering back as its energy flickered.
"They're tough," Eryn shouted, narrowly dodging a swing from another construct. "Any bright ideas?"
"Keep aiming for the runes!" Solas called, their voice sharp. "It's the only way to bring them down."
Kaylen gritted his teeth, the Core's energy building within him. He shaped the fire into a whip, lashing out at the constructs and carving deep gashes into their armor. The strain of using the Core was immense, but he pushed through, the fragment's pull giving him strength.
One by one, the constructs fell, their glowing runes dimming as their bodies collapsed onto the platform. Kaylen staggered, his breath ragged as the Core's energy settled.
"Everyone okay?" he asked, glancing at Eryn and Solas.
"Still standing," Eryn replied, wiping blood from a shallow cut on their cheek. "Barely."
Solas nodded, their gaze fixed on the chamber below. "We're almost there. The fragment is just ahead."
---
The lift descended once more, carrying them into the Spire's core. The chamber below was vast, its walls lined with massive crystals that pulsed with the fragment's energy. At the center of the room floated the fragment itself, a jagged shard of glowing crystal suspended in a field of light. Its power was overwhelming, the air vibrating with its resonance.
Kaylen stepped off the lift, the Core in his hand blazing brightly. The fragment's energy pulled at him, its whispers turning into a deafening roar.
"This one's stronger," he said, his voice tight. "It's… alive."
"All fragments are," Solas replied, their tone steady. "This one will test you more than the last. Be ready."
Kaylen nodded, his hands trembling as he approached the fragment. The Core's warmth spread through him, its energy syncing with the fragment's. He could feel its power, wild and untamed, pressing against him like a tidal wave.
"You've got this," Eryn said, their voice firm. "Just don't let it break you."
Kaylen took a deep breath, reaching out toward the fragment. The moment his fingers touched it, the chamber erupted in light. Energy surged through him, stronger and more chaotic than ever. The Core blazed in his hand, its resonance syncing with the fragment's in a violent clash.
Pain shot through his body as the fragment's will pressed against him, testing his resolve. Memories flooded his mind—images of the Spire's fall, of those who had tried to wield the fragment before him. He saw their failures, their destruction, and felt the weight of their choices pressing down on him.
"No," he growled, his voice echoing through the chamber. "I won't let this consume me."
He focused on the connection he had forged with the Core, channeling its energy to stabilize the fragment. Slowly, the chaos began to subside, the light dimming as the fragment fused with the Core.
When the light faded, Kaylen fell to his knees, gasping for air. The Core in his hand pulsed faintly, its glow brighter and more ominous than ever.
"You did it," Solas said, helping him to his feet. "The fragment is yours."
Kaylen nodded weakly, his body trembling. "But it's taking more every time."
Eryn clapped him on the shoulder, a faint grin on their face. "You're still you, kid. That's what matters."
Kaylen looked at the Core, its energy steady but ominous. The fragment's power had amplified it again, but the cost of wielding it was growing. He didn't know how much longer he could hold on, but he knew one thing:
There was only one fragment left. And the Hunters wouldn't let him take it without a fight.