The Void’s infinite expanse pulsed with light as more glowing orbs appeared around Aaron, each one radiating a distinct energy. They moved in erratic patterns, orbiting him like planets around a star.

Crux stood a short distance away, their flickering form glowing brighter with each passing moment. “Your connection to the Stream is raw and untamed,” they said. “If you’re going to survive the Phantom Hunters—or any threat the multiverse throws at you—you need to forge control. This lesson will teach you how to manipulate fragments of the Stream without causing instability.”

Aaron adjusted his stance, his fists clenching instinctively. “Manipulate? You mean like that… glimpse I saw earlier? Those flashes of timelines?”

“Yes,” Crux replied. “But this time, you won’t just observe them. You’ll reach into the Stream and pull. You’ll alter a fragment.”

Aaron’s eyes widened. “Alter? What does that even mean? Won’t messing with time cause, I don’t know, the end of everything?”

Crux tilted their head. “Only if you’re reckless. That’s why we’re here, in the Void. This place exists beyond causality. Any changes you make here won’t affect reality itself. Consider it a sandbox—a safe place to experiment.”

Aaron exhaled slowly, his nerves settling. He looked at the orbs, their glow casting shifting patterns on his face. “Alright. What do I do?”

Crux gestured to the nearest orb. It drifted toward Aaron, its surface rippling like water. “Focus on this fragment. Open your mind to it. Let the Stream flow through you, and you’ll see its possibilities.”

Aaron stared at the orb, his heart pounding. As he extended his hand, the golden glow beneath his skin intensified, resonating with the orb’s energy. The moment his fingers brushed its surface, his surroundings blurred, and his consciousness was yanked into the fragment.

---

Aaron found himself standing in the middle of a bustling city, but something was off. The buildings around him were ancient yet futuristic, their architecture blending stone and metal in impossible ways. People moved through the streets, their faces blurred, their voices muted.

“This is… a timeline?” Aaron whispered, turning in a slow circle.

“Yes,” Crux’s voice echoed in his mind. “A fragment of the Stream. A possibility that exists parallel to your own reality.”

Aaron noticed a young boy running through the crowd, clutching a small, glowing device. Behind him, a towering figure in dark armor gave chase, its movements unnervingly fast.

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“What’s happening here?” Aaron asked.

“This fragment is a moment in time,” Crux explained. “The boy is carrying a temporal shard—an artifact of immense power. If the pursuer catches him, the shard will be corrupted, causing a collapse in this timeline.”

Aaron’s pulse quickened. “So I’m supposed to stop that from happening?”

“Precisely,” Crux said. “But remember, you’re not truly here. Your presence is an echo, a test. Manipulate the flow of events without destabilizing the fragment.”

Aaron took off, his body reacting instinctively. The golden energy surged through him, propelling him forward in a blur. The world around him slowed to a crawl, the boy’s frantic movements and the armored figure’s pursuit freezing in place.

He stopped in front of the boy, studying the glowing device in his hands. It pulsed with the same golden light that resonated within Aaron.

“This shard,” Aaron muttered. “It’s connected to the Stream, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Crux replied. “It’s a manifestation of the Stream’s power. Protecting it ensures the timeline remains intact.”

Aaron glanced at the armored figure, its clawed hand outstretched toward the boy. He could feel the dark energy radiating from it, similar to the Phantom Hunters’.

“How do I stop this without breaking something?” Aaron asked.

“Redirect the flow,” Crux said. “Shift events without creating a paradox. You’ll know when you’ve succeeded—the fragment will stabilize.”

Aaron hesitated, then reached out to the shard. As his fingers touched it, a surge of energy coursed through him, and the scene around him shimmered. He focused on the boy, willing his movements to change.

The boy suddenly veered to the right, ducking into an alleyway. The armored figure followed, but Aaron blurred ahead, knocking over a stack of crates to block its path.

The timeline rippled, the edges of the fragment glowing faintly.

“Good,” Crux said. “Now seal it. Remove the pursuer’s influence.”

Aaron turned to the armored figure, his golden energy flaring. He darted forward, delivering a powerful punch to its chest. The figure crumbled, its form dissolving into black mist.

As the mist faded, the fragment solidified, the muted voices and blurred faces becoming clear.

“It’s done,” Crux said, their tone approving.

Aaron blinked, and the fragment dissolved, pulling him back into the Void.

---

Aaron staggered, catching himself before he fell. The orbs around him pulsed gently, their energy calm and steady.

“You’ve taken your first step,” Crux said. “You’ve proven you can manipulate the Stream without destabilizing it. But this was only a fragment—a controlled exercise. The real challenges will be far more complex.”

Aaron wiped sweat from his brow, his body still buzzing with energy. “That was… intense. But I think I get it now. This power isn’t just about speed—it’s about control.”

“Exactly,” Crux said. “And you’ll need every ounce of that control for what’s coming.”

Aaron looked at them, his expression serious. “What is coming?”

Crux’s form flickered, their voice lowering. “A threat far greater than the Phantom Hunters. A force that seeks to consume the Stream itself. You’re not just a Nexus, Aaron—you’re the only one who can stop it.”

Aaron’s jaw tightened, his determination renewed. “Then let’s keep going. I’m not letting this multiverse fall apart.”

Crux nodded, and the Void began to shift again, new challenges forming in the distance.

---