"The paradox of trust is that it demands vulnerability, even when surrounded by deceit."
---
The dawn arrived not with light but a haze of choking violet mist, seeping through the fractured walls of the city. It wasn't the kind of mist that blanketed the world in quiet serenity; this was alive, a tendrilous specter slithering through the narrow streets, licking at the mortar as though tasting the city's resolve.
Juno stood atop a crumbling tower, her silver pin glinting faintly in the toxic glow. Her breathing was measured, controlled, but her hands trembled as they gripped her broken-bladed handle. The liquid-metal watch on her wrist pulsed erratically, its swirling patterns growing sluggish.
[System initializing…]
[WARNING: Chronoenergy unstable. Ability outputs compromised.]
"That's new," Juno muttered, her voice dry as ash. Beneath her, the cacophony of battle rattled the streets. Screeches of Thalivor's monstrous horde mixed with the desperate cries of the city's defenders. Yet, amidst the chaos, she felt the fracture inside her system widen. It wasn't just her enemies she needed to outmaneuver. Time itself was twisting against her.
"Chronobreak," she whispered, barely audible, yet the word carried the weight of a declaration.
The world shuddered, as though holding its breath. Her surroundings slowed to a crawl, frozen mid-motion—a soldier's blade suspended mid-swing, a Voidling's serrated claws mere inches from its prey. Juno stepped into the pocket of timelessness she had created, her form splitting and fracturing as paradoxes erupted.
The air rippled violently. She staggered, disoriented, as multiple versions of herself flickered into being.
One wore armor scorched black, a warlord from a timeline where mercy had been discarded. Another dripped with Void corruption, her eyes blackened pits of betrayal. And yet another stood as a spectral wraith, her form barely held together by strands of unspooled time. Each turned to her, accusing glares that stabbed deeper than any weapon.
[System anomaly detected… Chronobreak paradox active. WARNING: Unauthorized timeline intrusions.]
"Not now," Juno hissed, her pulse hammering against her temples. She lashed out with her chronostaff, shattering the spectral version of herself before it could lunge. The others retreated, their forms dissipating with whispers of what she could have been.
"What did you see?" a voice called out sharply.
Selene landed beside her, her dual crescent daggers glinting like shards of a fallen star. Her usual jester-like smirk was gone, replaced by a rare seriousness. Yet, even now, her attire betrayed her penchant for theatrics—a constellation-stitched bodysuit layered with celestial armor that seemed to refract starlight.
"Nothing good," Juno replied, pushing herself upright. Her body ached as though she'd run a thousand miles in moments. "I'm working on it."
"No rush," Selene shot back, her tone biting. "It's not like Voidspawn are literally overrunning the city or anything." She twirled a dagger, but her confident flair faltered as the weapon sputtered, its once-luminous edges dimming.
"Void interference," Selene muttered under her breath. "Figures."
Below them, Exos charged through the enemy ranks like a wrecking ball. His crimson cape billowed, scorched and tattered, revealing a patchwork of rune-forged steel that encased his broad frame. His eyes burned with cold fury, the weight of countless battles etched into his every move.
"Exos, don't—" Juno began, but her warning came too late.
Exos drove his blade into the ground and roared, "Aegis Forge: Battering Titan!"
The earth convulsed as a massive siege weapon materialized—a towering construct of obsidian and bronze, bristling with spikes and pulsing with a molten core. Chains of energy coiled around Exos, siphoning his vitality to fuel the weapon's destructive force.
The Titan unleashed its wrath, obliterating the advancing horde in a wave of searing fire and shrapnel. The sheer force rocked the city's foundation, sending debris cascading from the walls. But the cost was evident—Exos staggered, his skin pallid, veins darkened as if poisoned.
"Dammit, Exos!" Juno sprinted to his side, catching him before he collapsed. "Do you have a death wish?"
"I've already died once," he rasped, a bitter edge to his voice. "What's one more time?"
Before Juno could respond, the air grew heavy with a suffocating presence. The violet mist thickened, congealing into a figure cloaked in shadowed elegance. Lady Sythara stepped forward, her porcelain mask concealing her face save for her unnervingly serene smile.
"Ah, how fragile you mortals are," she cooed, her voice dripping with honeyed malice. "Trust is such a delicate thread, isn't it?"
The world warped around them. Juno blinked, and suddenly Selene's daggers were aimed at her throat.
"What are you hiding, Timekeeper?" Selene's voice was a venomous whisper.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Juno snapped, stepping back, only to feel the cold steel of Exos' blade against her spine.
"She's leading us into a trap," Exos growled, his voice uncharacteristically cruel.
Lady Sythara's laughter rang out, a symphony of mockery. "Oh, my dear, I didn't need to do much. You already doubt each other."
In her system's flickering display, Juno saw glimpses of alternate realities: Selene accusing her of betrayal, Exos striking her down, herself walking away as the city burned.
[System destabilizing… WARNING: Multiple timelines converging.]
Juno clenched her teeth, fighting the rising panic. "This isn't real," she said, more to herself than anyone else.
But was it?
The final image in her mind lingered—a dormant Aspect, chained and twisted by Void corruption. Its awakening would spell annihilation.
"Stay with me," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "This isn't us."
Her words felt hollow, even to herself.
"The choices we make in desperation define us far more than the ones we make in calm."
The sky above the corrupted ruins churned in an unnatural cascade of reds and violets, like a celestial wound bleeding into the ether. The massive spire loomed ahead, jagged and blackened as if charred by some ancient flame. Tendrils of Void energy writhed along its surface, pulsing in erratic patterns that mirrored the dissonant hum echoing through the desolate valley. It was a sound that burrowed into the brain and refused to let go, a whisper and a scream all at once.
Juno stood at the edge of the place's desecrated grounds, her fingers twitching around the hilt of her Chronosword. The weapon, usually sleek and pristine, now had a faint ripple of instability coursing through it, like static over glass. She clenched her jaw, feeling the uncomfortable pull of her system's warnings rattling in the back of her mind.
[System initializing...]
[Chronosword integrity... compromised. Void interference detected. Stabilization at 87%... and falling.]
[Chronoenergy reserves: 52%. System anomaly detected.]
"Falling apart already?" Selene's voice broke the silence, her usual sarcastic lilt tinged with genuine concern. She spun one of her crescent daggers in her gloved hand, the celestial patterns along its blade shimmering faintly under the oppressive light. The weapon seemed dulled, its usual radiance stifled by the Void's overwhelming presence.
Juno shot her a look, more annoyed than amused. "I'd love to see you try not to glitch out when your sword starts talking back to you."
"I've got my own problems," Selene muttered, casting a wary glance at the spire. She adjusted her constellation-stitched jacket, the leather creaking faintly, and her fingers brushed against the moon-phase charm on her belt. "This place feels wrong. Like... it's watching us."
"It is," Exos said flatly. He was already halfway up the broken stone steps leading to the entrance, his massive frame tense. His black and crimson armor bore fresh scratches, the intricate runes etched into the plates faintly glowing with residual energy. On his back, his soul-bound greatsword shimmered faintly, its edges flickering like the embers of a dying fire. He didn't look back as he spoke, his voice a low growl. "The Void doesn't just corrupt. It learns."
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Juno swallowed hard and followed, her boots crunching against the brittle, ash-covered ground. She hated how Exos could say things like that without even flinching, as if the horrors of the Void were just another obstacle to crush beneath his blade. But as they approached the shattered doors, she saw the subtle signs: the slight tremor in his hand as he gripped the hilt of his weapon, the stiffness in his movements.
He's barely holding it together, she thought. And he's not the only one.
Inside, there was a mausoleum of chaos. The stained glass windows, once depicting celestial triumphs, were now twisted into grotesque mockeries. Angels with blackened wings and hollow eyes stared down at them, their expressions frozen in eternal torment. The air was thick with a cloying miasma that seemed to cling to their skin, and every step echoed with a hollow, accusing sound.
Juno's system flared again, and she winced at the onslaught of fragmented data.
[Environmental analysis: Corruption levels... ERROR. Data compromised.]
[Warning: Chronoenergy reserves affected by Void saturation. Efficiency reduced by 15%.]
[Potential hazards detected: Void distortions, psychological anomalies, unstable temporal zones...]
She shook her head to clear the buzzing, only to be met with another vision—a flash of herself standing alone, her sword raised against Selene and Exos. Their bodies lay crumpled at her feet, their faces twisted in betrayal.
"No," she whispered, gripping her sword tighter. "Not real. Not real."
But the vision lingered, the blood on her hands feeling all too real.
"Juno?" Selene's voice snapped her out of it. "You good?"
"Yeah," Juno lied, avoiding her gaze. "Let's just keep moving."
They pressed on, the interior growing darker and more labyrinthine. The Void's influence was everywhere, warping the architecture into impossible angles. Staircases spiraled into nothingness, and doorways led to nowhere. The oppressive atmosphere gnawed at their resolve, each step heavier than the last.
It wasn't long before they found the source of the corruption: a massive altar at the heart of this wretched place, surrounded by writhing tendrils of Void energy. Atop it rested an artifact—a crown, its jagged spires shimmering with an otherworldly light.
"The Burning Crown," Exos said grimly, his voice taut. "That's what they're after."
"And that's what's keeping this place alive," Selene added, her daggers at the ready. "We destroy it, and the Void loses its foothold here."
Juno didn't move. Her system was screaming at her now, flooding her vision with warnings and errors.
[Artifact identified: The Burning Crown. Origin: Aspect of Dominion. Status: Corrupted. Interaction may result in... ERROR.]
[System anomaly detected. Chronoenergy destabilized. Void energy interference... escalating.]
"We need a plan," she said, her voice shaky. "This thing is linked to the Void Lords. If we screw this up—"
A sudden roar cut her off as a massive Void beast emerged from the shadows, its body a writhing mass of tendrils and eyes. Its presence was overwhelming, a living manifestation of despair.
Exos didn't hesitate. "Soulforge: Obliterate!"
His greatsword erupted with fiery energy, the runes along its blade blazing as he charged forward. The impact was thunderous, the beast screeching in agony as the weapon tore through its flesh. But even as Exos fought, Juno saw the toll it was taking on him—his movements growing slower, his breathing more labored.
Selene darted in and out of the fray, her crescent daggers slicing through the creature's tendrils with surgical precision. But the Void's influence was affecting her too, her usually fluid movements faltering.
Juno took a deep breath and raised her Chronosword. "Timewarp: Fractured Stream!"
The air around her shimmered as she bent time, creating a wave of distortion that froze the creature in place. But the strain was immediate, her system buckling under the weight of the Void's interference.
[Chronoenergy reserves: 12%. Critical levels detected. System stabilization... failing.]
"We don't have much time!" she shouted, her voice echoing in the cavernous space.
Selene glanced at her, a flicker of worry crossing her face. "Then stop holding back!"
Juno hesitated, her gaze falling on the Burning Crown. The artifact pulsed with a malevolent energy, its power calling to her like a siren's song.
You can end this, a voice whispered in her mind. You just have to take it.
She shook her head, but the temptation was there, gnawing at the edges of her resolve.
"Juno!" Exos' voice snapped her out of it. "Whatever you're gonna do, do it now!"
Taking a shaky breath, Juno made her decision.
---
The aftermath of Juno's desperate gambit echoed in the hollow void of her mind, leaving her shaken but defiant. The ground beneath them groaned and cracked, its shifting plates forcing them into action. Whatever ripple she had sent out had destabilized this zone, dragging them closer to the next distortion.
Selene paced furiously, her boots scraping against brittle, colorless dirt that left strange white scars on the ground. She muttered curses under her breath while spinning one of her crescent daggers in a jittery rhythm. "You just had to try that, didn't you? Channeling the Void like it's some kind of battery. Brilliant idea, Timekeeper. Next time, maybe we throw you in first and see what happens."
"Enough," Exos growled, his voice low and tired. His gauntlets hung loose at his sides, each finger twitching slightly, as if still gripping invisible blades. The faint blue glow of his armor flickered sporadically, hinting at its fading power. "We don't have time for bickering. Whatever she did woke something up."
Juno leaned against a fractured stone pillar, sweat tracing dark lines down her dirt-streaked face. Her Chronosword lay on the ground beside her, its once-pristine clockwork core warped and radiating unstable, erratic pulses of energy. Each pulse sent faint tremors through her arm, as though the blade was screaming for release.
[System alert: Chronosword integrity... 42%. Warning: Void corruption detected. Stabilization protocols active. Chronoenergy drain accelerating...]
Her breath hitched as she read the fragmented system messages. Forty-two percent? That's... bad. Really bad. But she swallowed the panic, letting it simmer beneath her usual mask of forced determination. "I didn't have a choice. If I hadn't used it, we wouldn't have made it out of there. And you know it."
Selene stopped pacing, spinning to face her. "Sure, but at what cost? The sword looks like it's about to implode, and—"
A low, guttural noise cut her off. It wasn't a growl or a roar—it was the sound of absence, like someone had reached into the world and pulled its voice away. The trio froze as the ground trembled beneath their feet, a thin web of fractures spidering outward.
"What now?" Selene whispered, gripping her daggers tightly.
The landscape began to shift violently, as though rejecting its own existence. Blackened dunes twisted and reformed into jagged spires, while the horizon folded in on itself like a collapsing painting. Colors bled into one another, and in the distance, an enormous chasm yawned open, swallowing what little light remained.
The air grew heavier, oppressive. Every sound—footsteps, the clink of Exos' armor, even Juno's breath—was muffled, swallowed by an unseen force.
[System update: WARNING—Entering anomaly zone: "Thalivor's Silence"]
[Chronoenergy abilities... suppressed. Void signature dominant. Proceed with caution.]
Juno's stomach churned at the message. Suppressed? She flexed her fingers, willing the faint threads of time to coil around her, but nothing came. It was like trying to hold onto water with bare hands.
"Fantastic," she muttered. "No time powers, no sword stability, and I'm guessing this place is probably run by a Void Lord. Anything else?"
Exos' gaze hardened as he stepped forward, his Starforged Glaive materializing in his grip. The weapon gleamed with an ethereal light, its blade resembling a shattered star frozen mid-explosion. Tiny shards of celestial metal orbited its hilt, crackling faintly with otherworldly energy.
"Stay behind me," he said, his voice firm.
"No way," Selene shot back. "You're already running on fumes. If you collapse, I'm not dragging your shiny ass out of here."
The tension between them was interrupted by another guttural sound, closer this time. Shadows coalesced into vaguely humanoid forms around them, their movements jagged and unnatural, as if they were broken puppets held up by invisible strings.
"Voidlings," Juno said, gripping her Chronosword despite its instability.
The first creature lunged, and Exos met it head-on, his glaive carving a blinding arc through the air. The voidling disintegrated into black mist, but three more replaced it, swarming him with clawed limbs.
Selene moved like a dancer, her crescent daggers flashing as she slipped between the voidlings. Each strike left trails of starlight in the air, burning through the creatures' forms with sharp, deliberate precision.
Juno hung back, her heart pounding. She could barely feel the connection to her system, and every attempt to use her abilities was met with resistance. But as she watched Exos stagger under the weight of his glaive and Selene's frantic, almost reckless movements, she knew hesitation wasn't an option.
"Fine. Let's try this." She raised the Chronosword, ignoring the warning pulses from its core.
"Time—!"
Before she could finish, a wave of silence rippled outward, slamming into her like a physical force. The sword slipped from her grasp, and she collapsed to her knees, clutching her head as her vision swam.
[System error: Anomaly detected. Core functions disrupted. Re-initializing...]
Through the haze, she saw a figure emerge from the chasm. It was humanoid but wrong—its body seemed to fold in on itself, layers of shadow writhing and shifting like a living void. At its center, a single point of light burned, cold and unyielding.
"Thalivor," Exos whispered, his voice tinged with dread.
The Void Lord raised a hand, and the oppressive silence deepened, pressing down on them like a physical weight. Even Selene faltered, her movements slowing as though she were wading through thick mud.
Exos gritted his teeth, planting his glaive in the ground to steady himself. "Get behind me," he said again, this time with an edge of finality.
"Starborn Ascension!"
The glaive erupted with light, its celestial shards forming a protective barrier around them. The voidlings recoiled, their forms disintegrating under the weapon's radiant energy. But the strain was evident on Exos—his breathing grew ragged, and sweat dripped from his brow.
"That's... not going to hold," Juno muttered, forcing herself to her feet.
Her mind raced. Without her time powers, they were at a massive disadvantage. And Exos—strong as he was—couldn't keep this up.
She glanced at Selene, who was still struggling against the oppressive silence, her daggers flickering faintly. Then at Thalivor, whose burning gaze was fixed on them, unyielding.
There has to be a way.
And then she saw it—a faint shimmer near the edge of the chasm, like a tear in reality itself.
"Selene!" she shouted. "Cover me!"
Without waiting for a response, Juno sprinted toward the shimmer, her heart pounding as the voidlings turned their attention to her.
The silence pressed down harder with every step, but she gritted her teeth and pushed forward. She didn't know what the shimmer was—or if it would even help—but it was their only chance.
Behind her, she heard Selene's voice, sharp and defiant.
"Stellar Cascade!"
Stars rained down from above, their light carving through the voidlings in brilliant arcs.
"Keep going!" Selene shouted, her voice strained but determined.
Juno reached the shimmer, her fingers brushing against it.
And then everything shattered.