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Chapter 103 – Shattered Alliances
The ruins of the Nexus stretched far beyond what Erevan had anticipated. Even after the collapse of the distorted figure that had once embodied its will, the remnants of its power clung to the air like a thick fog. The rifts in time and space that had torn at the edges of existence were healing, but they left behind scars that threatened to unravel the fabric of reality. Erevan could feel the weight of those scars pressing in on him, like a force that sought to reclaim what had been taken.
"Is this really over?" Serah's voice was hesitant, barely audible above the hum of the broken world around them.
Erevan didn't answer at first. He simply stared into the vast emptiness, the place where the Nexus had once existed. It was no longer the chaotic maelstrom of fractured timelines and reality-bending forces. It had become something different—something more dangerous. The air was thick with the remnants of what had been. He could almost feel the weight of the Nexus itself, mourning its loss.
"No," Erevan finally said, his voice grim. "This is far from over. The Nexus might be healing, but it's not whole. And I can feel something lurking in the distance… something worse than what we've faced."
Serah met his gaze, her eyes reflecting the same determination that had carried them through so many battles. She knew that this was just the beginning of a new kind of war. The kind that wasn't fought with weapons or power, but with willpower and strategy. They were about to face an enemy that was far more elusive and dangerous than any they had encountered before.
Yuren stepped forward, his brow furrowed in thought. "The heart of the Nexus," he muttered, as if testing the words in his mouth. "If we don't destroy it, this place will keep reassembling itself, like it has a life of its own."
Erevan nodded. "Exactly. But it's not just about stopping it from regenerating. It's about ending it—erasing its influence completely. The heart of the Nexus is tied to something far darker. A presence that exists outside of time, waiting for the right moment to strike."
"Then we need to find it, and fast," Yuren said, his voice sharp. "If what you say is true, we can't afford to waste any time."
But even as he spoke, a shift in the air seemed to ripple through the ruins. Erevan's senses flared, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. He could feel the pressure building, something closing in on them, something that wasn't just part of the Nexus.
"We're not alone," Erevan said, his voice steady but with an underlying urgency. "Get ready."
A figure emerged from the shadows—no, not a figure, but a presence. It was like the embodiment of the darkness between stars, something that didn't belong to any realm, not even the Nexus. Its form was ever-shifting, a collection of voids and whispers. A being that had slipped through the cracks in time, drawn to the ruptures caused by Erevan's actions.
"I am the Keeper of the Threshold," the presence spoke, its voice a chorus of distant, hollow echoes. "You have broken the boundaries of the Nexus. Now, you must face the consequences."
The air grew colder, and the ground trembled beneath Erevan's feet. The figure's presence was oppressive, like a weight pressing down on everything they had fought for.
Erevan stood his ground, his eyes narrowing. "We've already faced worse. You don't scare me."
The Keeper's voice twisted in the air, its tone dripping with malice. "You are mistaken, Erevan. You think you've destroyed the Nexus, but all you've done is open the gates. There are forces you cannot comprehend, powers that exist beyond your understanding."
The ground split open beneath their feet, and Erevan barely managed to leap to the side, his instincts kicking in as he avoided the chasm that threatened to swallow them whole.
Serah's voice rang out, her sword drawn and gleaming with a faint ethereal glow. "What do you want from us?"
The Keeper's form flickered, like a shadow caught in the moonlight. "I seek nothing. I am the void between all things, the keeper of what cannot be remembered. I am the echo of the infinite, and I exist to preserve the equilibrium. You have disrupted it."
Yuren glanced at Erevan, his expression darkening. "So it's true then. The Nexus wasn't just a force—it was a prison. And by breaking it, we've unleashed something even worse."
Erevan's gaze hardened. He had suspected this, but hearing it spoken aloud only solidified his resolve. This wasn't just about saving the multiverse anymore. It was about survival. The rules had changed, and they needed to adapt—or risk being consumed by the forces they had unwittingly unleashed.
"We don't have time for your riddles," Erevan spat, his hand reaching for the power within him. "If you want a fight, we'll give you one."
The Keeper's response was a laugh—cold, hollow, and without humor. "Very well. But remember, Erevan, the more you struggle, the more you will tear at the fabric of your reality. There is no escape from this. There never was."
With that, the Keeper lunged forward, a void of darkness stretching out from its form to engulf everything in its path. Erevan didn't hesitate. He called upon the singularity within him, a swirling force of energy and will, and met the Keeper head-on.
The clash was cataclysmic.
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Author's Note:
Thank you all for your continued support! As a special thanks, for every 10 stones, I'll be releasing two extra chapters, and for every review, I'll upload one more chapter. Your feedback means everything to me, so don't hesitate to leave your thoughts and reviews. Until next time, stay tuned for more!
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