Kael and Clara stood on the precipice of the Wound’s core, its chaotic energy whipping around them like an unseen storm. The faint echoes of Blackthorn’s experiments still lingered in the air, fragmented memories of a man who had tampered with forces beyond understanding.

“Before we leave this place, you must make a choice,” Kael said, his voice steady but firm. “The Node’s connection to you is undeniable, but its influence will only grow. If you accept it, there’s no turning back.”

Clara hesitated, her mind racing. The Node pulsed in her bag, as though urging her forward. “What happens if I don’t?”

Kael’s expression darkened. “Then the Node will seek another, and the chaos it carries will remain unchecked. You’ve seen what it can do. Do you trust anyone else to wield that power?”

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Clara thought of the Harvesters, the Custodians, and the fractured realities left in the Node’s wake. She thought of her family’s legacy, the weight of a name she had never truly understood. And she thought of the vision—Jonathan Blackthorn’s desperate plea for redemption.

“No,” she said finally. “I don’t trust anyone else. But I don’t know if I trust myself, either.”

Kael placed a hand on her shoulder. “That doubt is what makes you worthy. Power without restraint leads to destruction. Remember that.”

Clara nodded, her resolve hardening. She reached into her bag and pulled out the Node. Its glow intensified, casting long shadows across the crystalline landscape. As she held it, she felt a surge of energy course through her, a connection to something vast and ancient.

“What now?” she asked.

Kael stepped back, his gaze unwavering. “Now, we prepare for what’s coming. The Node’s signal has reached far and wide. And we’re running out of time.”

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