The Nexus pulsed faintly behind us, its fractured light casting eerie shadows along the cracked walls of the chamber. The air was still, heavy with the weight of the battle we’d just survived. The Echoed were gone, their presence faded into the darkness, but the memory of their glowing masks and synchronized movements lingered like a phantom.

We were alive. For now.

I turned the crystal over in my hand, its glow faint but steady. Whatever energy it held had diminished, but I could still feel the hum resonating faintly against my palm—a reminder of the connection between this shard and the unstable forces we had just encountered.

“This isn’t going to hold forever,” I said, breaking the silence.

Jessa wiped her blade clean, her movements sharp and deliberate. “It doesn’t have to. We bought ourselves time, and that’s more than we had before.”

“Time for what?” Farron asked, leaning against a jagged piece of stone. His voice was thick with exhaustion, his usual humor absent. “To chase down the next Nexus and hope we don’t run into another batch of glowing mask freaks?”

“Time to figure out what we’re really up against,” Jessa said, her tone curt. “Because if this barrier falls, we’re not just fighting Ecclesion or the Echoed. We’re fighting something bigger. And worse.”

Ryla crouched near the edge of the chamber, her sharp eyes scanning the walls. The runes carved into the stone were barely glowing now, their light flickering weakly like dying embers.

“These seals are failing,” she said quietly. “Even with the Nexus stabilized, the energy isn’t strong enough to repair them.”

“Which means the barrier is still breaking,” Orin added grimly.

“It’s not just the Nexuses,” I said, gripping the crystal tightly. “Whatever’s on the other side—it’s pushing. The Nexuses are locks, but they’re not holding the way they should. And Ecclesion is making it worse.”

The weight of my own words pressed against me like a physical force. The Nexuses weren’t just ancient relics of power; they were the last line of defense against something vast and incomprehensible.

A deep, resonant voice echoed in my memory, its words cutting through the silence like a blade.

"The barrier weakens. The path widens. The anomaly pulls the threads."

I closed my eyes, the weight of those words sinking deeper into my thoughts. The anomaly. It had called me that before—first the traveler, and then the Echoed.

“Why me?” I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.

“What?” Jessa asked, turning toward me.

I shook my head, forcing the question aside. “Nothing. Let’s move. If Ecclesion’s tracking the Nexuses, they’ll find this one soon enough.”

We gathered our gear, the faint glow of the stabilized Nexus lighting our path as we exited the chamber. The tunnel ahead was narrow, its walls cracked and uneven, but it sloped upward—a promising sign that we were heading back toward the surface.

The crystal’s hum grew softer with each step, as if the distance from the Nexus was muting its energy. Still, I held it tightly, its faint pulse a constant reminder of what we had left behind.

As we climbed, Farron broke the silence, his voice low and edged with unease. “So, what’s the plan when we get topside? Because it feels like we’re running out of places to go.”

“We keep moving,” Jessa said. “The next Nexus is out there, and Ecclesion’s not going to stop hunting us until they get what they want.”

“And what do they want?” Ryla asked, her tone sharp.

Jessa didn’t answer, her gaze fixed ahead.

I spoke up, my voice steady despite the uncertainty in my chest. “They want control. The Nexuses aren’t just locks—they’re power. Ecclesion’s using them to fuel their war machine, but I don’t think they understand what they’re tampering with.”

Orin’s voice was grim as he added, “And when they do, it’ll be too late.”

“Unless we stop them,” Jessa said firmly.

The tunnel opened into a wider passage, the faint sound of running water echoing from somewhere ahead. The air grew colder, carrying the scent of damp earth and moss.

Ryla stopped suddenly, holding up a hand. “Tracks,” she said, crouching to examine the ground.

I moved closer, my stomach tightening as I saw the deep impressions in the dirt—boot prints, heavy and deliberate, leading in the same direction we were heading.

“Ecclesion,” Jessa muttered, her blade already in hand.

“They’re close,” Ryla said. “Maybe a scouting party.”

Farron groaned softly. “Because of course they are. Can’t we go one day without a welcoming committee?”

We moved cautiously, sticking to the shadows as the sound of water grew louder. The passage opened into a cavern, its walls slick with moisture and its floor bisected by a narrow underground river.

At the far end of the cavern, a group of Ecclesion soldiers stood near the water, their golden armor glinting faintly in the dim light. They were clustered around a device—an angular construct of dark metal and glowing runes that pulsed faintly with energy.

“What are they doing?” Ryla whispered, her bow already drawn.

“Tracking the next Nexus,” I said, my grip tightening on the crystal.

“Then we stop them,” Jessa said, her voice hard.

The plan was simple, born of necessity more than strategy. Ryla and Farron would take positions along the upper ledge of the cavern, their bows trained on the soldiers. Orin and Jessa would close the distance, taking out the guards before they could activate the device.

And me? I would deal with the device itself.

We moved into position silently, the faint sound of the river masking our footsteps.

The first arrow flew, striking one of the soldiers in the throat before he could react. The second arrow followed, hitting another squarely in the chest.

Jessa and Orin charged in, their blades flashing as they engaged the remaining guards. The clash of steel and the shouts of the soldiers echoed through the cavern, but the fight was swift and brutal.

I darted toward the device, the hum of Shadow Veil cloaking me as I moved. The crystal in my hand flared faintly as I approached, its energy reacting to the runes on the device.

“This is how they’re tracking the Nexuses,” I muttered, studying the glowing symbols etched into the metal.

“Can you disable it?” Jessa called, her blade locked with an Ecclesion sword.

“I can try,” I said, holding the crystal against the device.

The reaction was immediate.

The crystal flared brightly, its energy surging into the device and disrupting its rhythm. The runes flickered, their glow sputtering as the hum of the machine grew erratic.

The device emitted a sharp, high-pitched whine before collapsing inward, its metal frame crumpling as the energy dissipated.

“It’s done!” I shouted, stepping back as the remains of the device sparked faintly.

The fight ended moments later, the last of the soldiers falling to Orin’s blade.

We regrouped near the river, our breaths heavy and our weapons bloodied. The cavern was silent once more, the faint hum of the destroyed device the only sound.

“That won’t stop them for long,” Jessa said, wiping her blade clean. “But it’ll slow them down.”

“Slowing them down isn’t enough,” Ryla said. “We need to get ahead of them. Find the next Nexus before they do.”

“And figure out how to stop this before the barrier falls,” I added, my voice firm.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

As we left the cavern, the crystal’s faint hum resonated in my hand, its energy pulsing like a quiet heartbeat.

The path ahead was clear—find the next Nexus, uncover Ecclesion’s plans, and stop the barrier from breaking.

But with each step we took, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were running out of time.

And whatever waited for us at the end of this path was closer than ever.

The journey away from the cavern was marked by an oppressive quiet, the kind that left space for thoughts you didn’t want to face. The faint hum of the crystal pulsing in my hand was the only sound as we moved through the winding passage.

I kept my gaze forward, the others falling into a loose formation behind me. Even Farron, usually quick with a quip, remained silent. There was nothing to say that hadn’t already been said in blood and fire.

“We can’t keep doing this,” Ryla said finally, her voice low but firm.

“Doing what?” Jessa asked, her tone sharp.

“Reacting,” Ryla replied. “We’re chasing Ecclesion and these Nexuses without a plan. Every time we move, they’re already there—or worse, ahead of us. And we barely scrape by when they catch us.”

“She’s right,” Orin said grimly. “We need to stop playing their game.”

I nodded, though my thoughts felt heavy. “We need to know where they’re going next—and why.”

Jessa slowed her pace, turning to face us. “And how do you suggest we do that? They’ve been tracking the Nexuses with those devices, and we just destroyed the only one we’ve seen. That might slow them down, but it doesn’t help us get ahead.”

“The traveler,” I said, the words coming out before I could stop them.

Ryla’s eyes narrowed. “You think he’s going to help us?”

“He knows more than we do,” I said. “About the Nexuses, the barrier, all of it. If anyone can tell us where Ecclesion is heading, it’s him.”

“And what if he doesn’t want to talk?” Jessa asked, her tone cutting.

“Then we make him,” I said, my grip tightening on the crystal.

The group exchanged uneasy glances, but no one argued. The traveler wasn’t exactly our ally—if anything, he had been more of an obstacle than Ecclesion—but he was the only lead we had left.

“Fine,” Jessa said finally. “But finding him is going to be harder than it sounds. He shows up when he wants to, not when we need him.”

I thought back to our last encounter, the faint hum of his presence still fresh in my mind. He had always appeared when the Nexuses were involved, drawn to them like a moth to a flame.

“He’ll find us,” I said. “If we’re close to the next Nexus, he’ll show up.”

We continued through the tunnel, the air growing colder and the metallic tang stronger as the passage began to slope upward. The faint sound of wind echoed from somewhere ahead, promising an exit to the surface.

The others fell into a tense silence, their movements careful and deliberate. I could feel the weight of their doubts pressing against my shoulders, but I forced myself to push forward.

This wasn’t just about surviving anymore. It was about finding answers—and stopping whatever was coming before it was too late.

We emerged into the open air just as the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky painted in hues of orange and deep purple. The forest stretched out before us, its dark silhouette blending into the shadows of the fading light.

The crisp air was a welcome relief from the stifling atmosphere of the tunnels, but the tension in my chest didn’t ease.

“This is better,” Farron said, stretching his arms. “You know, apart from the whole apocalyptic vibe and the fact that we’re being hunted by literally everything.”

“Enjoy it while you can,” Jessa said, scanning the treeline. “It won’t last.”

We moved into the forest, the dense canopy swallowing the last remnants of sunlight. The crystal pulsed faintly in my hand, its light just enough to guide our way.

I could feel the weight of the group’s unease, their unspoken fears hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break.

“Do you ever think we’re too late?” Orin asked quietly, his voice cutting through the silence.

I didn’t answer right away. The truth was, I didn’t know.

But I couldn’t say that.

“No,” I said finally. “If we were too late, Ecclesion wouldn’t be trying so hard. They’re pushing because they’re desperate. Because they think they’re close to winning.”

“And what about the barrier?” Ryla asked. “If it’s already cracking, how do we stop something like that?”

I tightened my grip on the crystal, its faint hum vibrating through my fingers. “We find out what’s pushing against it—and we fight back.”

“And what if we can’t fight it?” Farron asked, his voice unusually serious.

“Then we make sure it doesn’t matter,” Jessa said, her tone hard.

The path through the forest led us to a narrow ridge overlooking a valley. The faint glow of torches flickered in the distance, marking the outline of an Ecclesion camp.

“They’re here,” Ryla said, her voice sharp.

I scanned the camp, my heart sinking as I took in the sight. Ecclesion soldiers moved with purpose, their golden armor glinting faintly in the firelight. At the center of the camp stood another device, larger and more elaborate than the one we had destroyed in the cavern.

“They’re already tracking the next Nexus,” Jessa said, her jaw tight.

“Then we stop them,” I said, the weight of my words heavy in the cold night air.

The plan was forming in my mind even as I spoke. We would move under the cover of darkness, using the forest to stay hidden until we were close enough to strike.

This wasn’t just about stopping Ecclesion anymore.

It was about getting ahead of them, finding the next Nexus before they did, and ensuring that whatever lay on the other side of the barrier stayed locked away.

For good.

As we prepared to move, the crystal in my hand pulsed faintly, its hum growing stronger.

And in the distance, I thought I saw a figure standing at the edge of the forest, watching us.

The traveler.

He had found us again.

This time, there would be no warnings.

This time, I would get the answers we needed—no matter what it cost.

The faint figure at the edge of the forest stood still, cloaked in shadow. The fading light from the Ecclesion camp below flickered off the silhouette, but even in the dimness, I recognized the deliberate posture and faint glow of runes etched into his armor.

The traveler.

I tightened my grip on the crystal, its hum growing faintly louder, as if reacting to his presence.

Jessa noticed my change in stance and followed my gaze. “Him again,” she said, her tone low but filled with sharp intent.

“What’s the plan?” Ryla asked, already reaching for her bow.

“We talk,” I said, my voice firm.

Farron scoffed. “Talk? That’s optimistic, considering the last few chats involved him almost killing us.”

“This time, we make sure he doesn’t have the upper hand,” Jessa said, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade.

The traveler didn’t move as we approached, his presence as still and unnerving as the Nexuses themselves. His hood obscured most of his face, but the faint glow of his eyes caught the light, like embers smoldering beneath the darkness.

“You’ve made it farther than I expected,” he said, his voice calm but layered with something unspoken. “And yet, you continue to walk a path that isn’t yours.”

“What path?” I demanded, stepping forward. “What are you hiding? Why do you keep interfering?”

His gaze turned toward the crystal in my hand, the faint hum between us growing sharper. “You carry the shard, yet you do not understand it. The Nexuses are more than locks. They are conduits—bridges between this world and what lies beyond. By stabilizing them, you are only delaying the inevitable.”

Jessa stepped forward, her blade glinting faintly in the dim light. “What’s inevitable? The barrier breaking? The path opening? Tell us what’s on the other side of all this.”

The traveler tilted his head slightly, his movements deliberate. “What lies beyond the barrier is not something you can comprehend. It is endless. Immutable. The void is neither ally nor enemy—it simply is. And when the barrier falls, it will consume everything.”

“Then why aren’t you helping us stop it?” I asked, my frustration boiling over. “If you care so much about the barrier, why leave it to fall apart?”

The traveler’s eyes narrowed, his voice lowering into a rumble. “I am not your ally. The Nexuses are flawed, their power unstable. You are tampering with forces beyond your understanding, and the more you interfere, the weaker the barrier becomes.”

Ryla raised her bow, her expression sharp. “Then why are you here? If you’re not stopping us or Ecclesion, what’s your purpose in all this?”

“To ensure balance,” he said simply.

Farron let out a bitter laugh. “Balance? That’s rich. If this ‘balance’ thing is so important, how do you explain Ecclesion tearing the world apart one Nexus at a time?”

The traveler’s gaze flicked to the distant glow of the Ecclesion camp. “Ecclesion is a symptom, not the disease. Their ambition is misguided, but their actions are not what threatens the barrier most.”

I took another step forward, the crystal in my hand flaring faintly. “Then what does? Me?”

The traveler’s silence was answer enough.

“You keep calling me an anomaly,” I pressed. “What does that mean? What makes me different?”

He shifted slightly, his voice taking on a cold edge. “You were not chosen by the Nexuses. You were pulled into their web by accident, a fracture in the cycle. Your presence distorts the balance, and the Nexuses respond to you because they cannot ignore what you are.”

“And what am I?”

The traveler didn’t answer immediately. When he spoke, his words were slow and deliberate. “A thread out of place. A shadow where none should exist.”

Before I could respond, a faint sound reached us—the low murmur of voices and the crunch of boots on the forest floor.

“Ecclesion,” Ryla whispered, her bow already drawn.

The traveler turned his head toward the sound, his posture rigid. “You have drawn them here. They will not stop until they claim the shard—and the Nexus it leads to.”

“We can stop them,” Jessa said, her blade ready. “But not without answers. Tell us where the next Nexus is. If you want us to preserve your balance, we need to get there first.”

The traveler stared at her for a long moment before finally nodding. “There is a Nexus buried beneath the Iron Spire, a fortress Ecclesion has recently reclaimed. It is the largest and most unstable of them all.”

Ryla’s eyes widened. “The Iron Spire? That place is a deathtrap.”

“It is where the threads converge,” the traveler said. “If Ecclesion gains control of that Nexus, the barrier will shatter.”

“And you expect us to just waltz in there?” Farron asked, his voice thick with sarcasm. “Great plan. Love it. Really looking forward to dying in a giant glowing ruin.”

“You will not face it alone,” the traveler said, his voice low but steady. “I will guide you to the Spire. But once we reach it, you will have to decide—do you stabilize the Nexus, or let it collapse?”

Jessa’s gaze hardened. “Collapse it? That’ll just speed up the barrier breaking, won’t it?”

“Not if it is sealed,” the traveler said. “Destroying the Nexus while sealing its connection to the void will delay the inevitable. But the cost will be great.”

“What cost?” I asked, my voice quiet.

He didn’t answer.

The sound of Ecclesion’s approach grew louder, the glow of their torches visible through the trees.

“We don’t have time to debate this,” Jessa said, her tone sharp. “We’ll figure it out at the Spire. Right now, we need to move.”

The traveler turned to me, his gaze intense. “The choice will be yours, anomaly. The path widens, but only you can decide where it leads.”

Before I could respond, he turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving only the faint hum of the crystal in his wake.

Jessa pulled me forward, her grip firm. “We’ll deal with him later. For now, we need to stay ahead of Ecclesion.”

The others fell into step behind us as we slipped deeper into the forest, the glow of Ecclesion’s torches fading into the distance.

The Iron Spire loomed ahead of us—a fortress shrouded in legend and death.

And with it, the next step on the path.

The choice the traveler spoke of weighed heavily on my mind, but one thing was clear.

The threads were unraveling.

And the barrier wouldn’t hold for much longer.