The air in the chamber twisted like a living thing, folding and unraveling with each breath. Aiden's heart pounded in his chest, the sensation of reality itself tearing at the edges of his perception. The Conflux Core was shattering, its unstable energies rippling outward like a massive shockwave, distorting everything in its wake.
Aiden scrambled to his feet, his mind racing. He had felt the Nexus energy pulse through him, but this? This was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It wasn't just the energy of a core—it was the energy of the very fabric of existence itself.
Beside him, Brant groaned as he pushed himself up, shaking his head as though trying to clear the disorienting sensation that clung to his mind. Kaela, however, was already in motion, her staff glowing brighter than ever, her movements purposeful.
"We have to stop this," Kaela said, her voice strained but determined. "If the Conflux Core collapses completely, it will tear through all of time and space."
Aiden nodded, his mind still grappling with the enormity of the situation. The Red Singularity's energy was merging with the Nexus, warping not just time, but the very dimensions around them. If they didn't act fast, everything they knew would unravel.
Veyrion's laughter echoed through the chamber, cruel and mocking. His form flickered like a ghost, struggling to maintain its cohesion in the face of the growing instability.
"Do you think you can stop what's already been set into motion?" Veyrion taunted, his voice reverberating through the chamber as though it came from every direction at once. "The Forge is alive now. It cannot be controlled. You're merely delaying the inevitable."
Aiden's fists clenched. "We'll see about that."
With a swift motion, he activated his system, channeling every ounce of energy he had into his next attack. He could feel the raw power of the Nexus and Singularity flooding through him—uncontrolled, volatile, but also… beautiful. It was intoxicating. But he couldn't let it consume him. Not yet.
[Skill Activated: Temporal Fracture – Channeling Nexus-Singularity Pulse]
[Skill Level: 1 | Energy Drain: Extreme | Probability of Failure: High]
The air around Aiden shimmered with blinding light as he thrust his blade forward, aiming directly at the heart of the Conflux Core. Time seemed to warp in his vision as the sword cleaved through the very fabric of reality itself, but just before the blow could land, a surge of dark energy erupted from Veyrion's figure, sending Aiden crashing backward.
The Warden's eyes burned with fury. "You dare challenge me with such crude methods?"
Kaela stepped forward, her staff glowing with arcane energy. "We don't need to challenge you, Veyrion. We need to stop the Conflux Core before it rips apart everything."
The ground beneath their feet shook violently, the force of the distortion growing by the second. The Conflux Core was collapsing in on itself, its energies churning and crackling, forming rifts in the very air. The entire chamber was being consumed by a storm of cascading energy, each fragment of space and time unraveling.
Aiden struggled to his feet, his vision blurring from the overload. Brant was already back in action, charging at Veyrion with a roar. His hammer glowed with violent energy as he swung it with all his might, aiming to strike the Warden down. But the blow never landed. Veyrion's figure shimmered and twisted, his form warping as though the very laws of reality no longer applied to him.
"You're all nothing but ants," Veyrion sneered. "The Forge will burn you alive."
Aiden gritted his teeth, pushing through the disorienting sensation that threatened to collapse his mind. The Nexus Surge still surged within him, giving him strength, but it was also pushing him to the edge. He couldn't hold out much longer. They needed to make their move, now.
"Kaela," Aiden called, his voice strained. "We need to get to the core. Now."
Kaela nodded, her eyes narrowed in concentration. She raised her staff high, and the air around her crackled with magic. She was trying to stabilize the energy, to slow the inevitable collapse. But even her magic seemed to be struggling against the overwhelming force of the Nexus and Singularity.
Suddenly, a crackle of dark energy tore through the air, and a new figure emerged from the shadows—tall, cloaked, and emanating a chilling aura of malevolence. The figure's eyes gleamed with power, and its presence seemed to freeze time itself.
"Enough of this," the figure intoned, its voice cold and detached. "The Nexus and Singularity shall merge. It is the only way."
Aiden's heart skipped a beat. "Who are you?"
The figure stepped forward, the air around it rippling as though the very concept of reality was bending to its will. "I am the Echo of the Forge. The one who watches over the convergence. You have meddled with forces far beyond your understanding."
Veyrion's face twisted in anger. "You! You shouldn't be here!"
The Echo of the Forge raised a hand, and a wave of energy surged toward Veyrion, enveloping him in a blinding light. Aiden and his group watched in stunned silence as the Warden's form flickered and vanished, consumed by the force of the Echo's power.
Aiden barely had time to react before the Echo turned its gaze on him. "You have no place in this world, Divergent. Leave now, or you too will be consumed by the Forge."
Kaela stepped forward, her staff raised in defiance. "We'll stop it. No matter what it takes."
The Echo's eyes darkened, and a cold smile spread across its face. "Very well. Then we shall see who is worthy of the Forge's power."
With that, the chamber erupted into chaos once more.