Volume 2: Shards of Unity
Chapter 38: The Final Threshold
The air grew colder as the group approached the heart of the ruins. The corridors were no longer marked with carvings or glowing symbols but instead covered in blackened scorch marks, as if the walls had endured centuries of fire. A faint hum filled the space, growing louder with every step.
Eryth gripped the shard tightly, its light pulsating in time with the hum. Nyx stayed close, its body tense and eyes scanning for any signs of danger. The armored woman followed behind, her sword drawn, her expression hard but determined.
"This place doesn't feel right," she muttered. "It's too quiet."
Eryth nodded, his gut twisting. The shard seemed to pull him forward, urging him closer to whatever lay ahead. He wasn't sure if it was guiding him to salvation or destruction.
The Chamber of the Rift
They stepped into a massive circular chamber, its ceiling lost to darkness. In the center of the room floated a rift of crackling energy, a swirling vortex of light and shadow. The shard in Eryth's hand grew unbearably hot, and he winced, nearly dropping it.
"What is that?" the woman asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"The source," Eryth said, his voice hollow. "This is what the shard has been leading us to."
The rift pulsed, and the hum grew deafening. The ground trembled, and from the shadows emerged three towering figures. They were unlike anything they had faced before—massive humanoid forms, their bodies wreathed in flames and their eyes glowing like molten gold.
Guardians of the rift.
The Final Fight
The first guardian lunged at them with a roar, its massive fist slamming into the ground. Eryth dove out of the way, narrowly avoiding being crushed. Nyx countered with a feral leap, its claws raking against the guardian's fiery form. The impact sent sparks flying, but the guardian barely flinched.
The armored woman charged the second guardian, her sword glowing faintly as she struck. Her blade met resistance, as if cutting through solid stone, but she pressed on, her movements fueled by sheer determination.
Eryth focused on the third guardian, his mind racing. The shard was pulsing wildly now, its energy overwhelming. He raised it, and a beam of light shot out, striking the guardian in the chest. The creature staggered, its flames flickering, but it recovered quickly, its molten eyes locking onto him.
"We can't win like this!" the woman shouted, slashing at her opponent. "The rift is making them stronger!"
Eryth's gaze darted to the rift. She was right—the guardians were drawing power from it. If they didn't shut it down, the fight would never end.
A Dangerous Gambit
"We need to destroy the rift!" Eryth yelled, dodging another attack.
The woman's eyes widened. "Are you insane? We don't even know what it is!"
"We don't have a choice!"
Nyx let out a roar, slamming into the first guardian with enough force to send it crashing into the wall. The creature rose slowly, its body flickering like a dying flame. Nyx turned to Eryth, their bond pulsing with understanding.
Eryth raised the shard again, aiming it at the rift. The relic in his chest began to glow, resonating with the shard's energy. The air grew heavy, and the rift's swirling light intensified, as if it were fighting back.
The guardians turned their attention to Eryth, their molten eyes blazing with fury.
"Cover me!" he shouted.
The armored woman gritted her teeth and threw herself into the fray, blocking the guardians' path with a series of desperate strikes. Nyx joined her, its movements a blur of feral precision.
Eryth focused all his energy on the shard, willing it to merge with the rift. The relic burned against his skin, and his vision blurred, but he didn't stop.
"Come on," he muttered through gritted teeth. "Work!"
The Rift Collapses
With a deafening roar, the shard unleashed a burst of light, engulfing the rift. The guardians let out inhuman screams, their forms disintegrating into ash as the rift began to collapse.
The chamber shook violently, cracks spreading through the walls and floor. Eryth stumbled back, clutching the shard as it cooled in his hand.
"We need to get out of here!" the woman yelled, grabbing his arm.
Nyx growled, nudging Eryth toward the exit. Together, they sprinted through the collapsing ruins, the ground crumbling beneath their feet.
They burst out into the open just as the chamber behind them caved in, a plume of dust and debris rising into the air.
A New Horizon
Eryth collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. The shard in his hand was dim now, its energy spent. The armored woman leaned against a rock, her face streaked with dirt and sweat.
"We did it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Eryth nodded, his mind racing. The rift was gone, but its destruction felt more like the beginning of something than an end. The shard still pulsed faintly, as if waiting for the next step.
Nyx sat beside him, its glowing eyes fixed on the horizon. Eryth followed its gaze, a sense of unease settling over him. Whatever lay ahead, he knew their journey was far from over.
To Be Continued…