The floating islands stretched before them like a shattered mirror, their jagged edges glowing faintly as though each one contained a piece of an ancient puzzle. The faceless army stood in formation, blocking their path, yet they made no move to attack—waiting, watching, as if the very air itself was a battlefield.
Aelion tightened his grip on Starshard, feeling the energy within it resonate with his own. The blade pulsed, alive with a hunger for conflict. Beside him, Thalos adjusted his stance, his eyes scanning the faceless figures.
"These creatures... they feel different," Thalos said, voice low. "Not like the Voidbeasts. They don't seem to be living, yet they move with purpose."
Aelion nodded, his gaze fixed on the closest one. It was taller than a man, with a form shifting like smoke—there were no eyes, no features, just the impression of a presence. Yet the air seemed to crackle around it, thick with power.
"Perhaps they're the remnants of the world's original inhabitants," Aelion mused. "Souls bound to this place, or something more—something ancient. But whatever they are, they're part of the force trying to collapse this realm."
Before Thalos could reply, the army stirred. The faceless beings raised their hands simultaneously, and the air shimmered. A ripple of energy, like a distortion in the fabric of reality itself, shot outward from them. Aelion felt the pressure build in his chest as though the very laws of the world were shifting.
"We need to move," Aelion said, stepping forward.
But before they could advance, a voice—cold, yet eerily familiar—echoed through the space.
"Why do you seek to disturb the balance of the Fragmented Realm?"
Aelion froze. The voice wasn't just in his ears; it resonated deep within his mind, as though it had always been there, waiting for the right moment.
"Who are you?" Aelion demanded, his voice steady despite the unease spreading through him.
From the heart of the faceless army, one of the beings took a step forward, its form flickering as it approached. As it neared, its shape began to solidify, revealing a figure cloaked in shimmering light, wearing an expressionless mask that seemed to pulse with energy. It was not a being of flesh, but of pure energy, woven together in intricate patterns like an ancient symbol.
"I am the Keeper of the Fracture," the being said, its voice now reverberating through Aelion's bones. "I guard the integrity of the realm, ensuring the harmony of its fragments. You should not be here."
"The realm is falling apart," Aelion said, stepping closer, his eyes burning with determination. "And you're part of it. Whatever you're guarding—it's causing this destruction."
The Keeper's mask flickered, as if amused. "You misunderstand. The Fractured Realm is not a place of chaos, but of balance. Every piece must remain in its place, or the whole will collapse. The interference of outsiders like you… is the true danger."
Thalos took a step forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "That sounds like a justification for stagnation. This realm is dying. You're trying to preserve a broken system."
Aelion could feel the pressure mounting, the distortion in the air growing stronger as if the Keeper's very presence was warping reality. He knew they were on the edge of something monumental, something that could tear through everything they had fought for.
"The balance you speak of is a lie," Aelion said firmly, his voice unwavering. "This place is dying, and you're afraid of what happens if it falls apart. But that is the nature of the multiverse—it is not meant to be stagnant. Everything changes, even the worlds that are left to decay. Your so-called balance only exists because you fear what comes after."
The Keeper's form flickered violently, a flicker of something primal beneath the serene mask. It was silent for a moment, as if contemplating Aelion's words.
"You speak of change as if you understand it," the Keeper said, its tone shifting. "You will see nothing but destruction if you continue. The path you walk leads to annihilation."
Before Aelion could respond, the Keeper raised its hands, and a pulse of energy shot out from its body, sending a shockwave through the air. The ground beneath them cracked open, and the faceless army advanced, moving like a tidal wave toward them.
Aelion's mind raced. The Keeper had chosen its side—their path now led directly through these ancient guardians, who would stop at nothing to protect the fractured world.
"Thalos," Aelion said, his voice sharp with focus. "Get ready."
Thalos's sword gleamed in the dim light, the blade crackling with energy as he prepared for battle. Aelion raised Starshard, the blade humming in his grip, resonating with the tide of energy building within him. This wasn't just a fight—it was the first step in unraveling the mystery of this broken realm.
"Bring it on," Thalos grinned, and with a battle cry, he charged toward the army.
Aelion moved swiftly, following his friend into the fray. As the faceless army closed in, Aelion's senses heightened. The flow of the Tide of Infinity surged within him, its boundless power ready to be unleashed. He wasn't going to hold back—not anymore. The Keeper, the army, and the crumbling realm would fall.
And he would uncover the truth behind the Fracture.