The ruins were quiet again though the silence now felt different not the silence of death or despair but the silence that follows the echo of something vast something that lingers unseen yet undeniable Koda leaned against a broken wall his breath still heavy his arms still trembling the blade of fractured stars dim in his hand its light flickering as though it too shared in his exhaustion
He closed his eyes listening to the rhythm of his heart the pulsing of the Nexus within his chest it was not gentle it was a storm contained a river trying to tear through its banks and he knew he had only scratched the surface of it
Koda : I do not understand this power but I cannot let it control me if I am to endure it must be by my will not its
The mark on his chest glowed faintly as if answering him he tightened his grip on the blade and rose to his feet the city stretched before him broken endless shadows spilling from every corner and he felt it he was no longer alone
A whisper moved through the ruins not like the voice of the Gatekeeper but sharp almost human he spun raising his blade but what emerged from the shattered street was not an Abyssborn
It was a girl
Her hair silver like threads of moonlight her eyes glimmering with a shade of violet too sharp to be natural she carried no torch no light yet the shadows seemed to bend to her presence twisting and weaving around her like a cloak she stepped forward calm her movements deliberate her gaze fixed upon him
Girl : So it is true the Nexus has chosen again
Koda held his blade steady though his hands trembled she was no Abyssborn yet there was something in her aura that felt just as dangerous
Koda : Who are you
She did not answer immediately instead she raised her hand the shadows curled from the ground forming blades sharper than steel hanging in the air like fangs she tilted her head studying him
Girl : My name is Lyra I walk with shadows I have been searching for the one who carries the Nexus
Koda felt his chest tighten the words echoed with the weight of fate yet suspicion burned in his mind
Koda : And if you found me to what end
Lyra let the shadow blades dissolve her voice low calm yet cutting
Lyra : That depends on you bearer of the Nexus the Abyssborn hunt you the kings of men hunt you the broken heavens themselves conspire against you if you walk alone you will not survive
Koda hesitated the memory of the Gatekeeper's words still burned in his mind his greatest enemy would be himself yet could he risk allies could he risk trust
Before he could answer the ground trembled the sky above pulsed the rift widening a storm of darkness pouring through claws teeth and shifting forms Abyssborn once more descending their hunger radiating through the ruins
Lyra's gaze hardened the shadows at her feet surged to life forming blades spears chains she turned to Koda her voice sharp
Lyra : You can doubt me later for now fight or be erased
The Abyssborn swarmed their bodies tearing through stone their eyes burning void Koda swung his blade arcs of starlight tearing through the first wave Lyra's shadows sliced through the second each movement precise each strike like a dancer weaving death the ruins became a storm of light and shadow fire and darkness colliding
Koda felt the Nexus surge within him each strike faster stronger yet he could feel the weight building the toll on his body the fire in his veins was not endless and every moment threatened to consume him
Lyra fought at his side her expression cold yet her movements shielded him more than once when a claw nearly struck her shadows intercepted when he faltered her strikes carved a path for him together they pushed forward step by step against the impossible tide
Koda : You fight like you have faced them before
Lyra's voice cut through the chaos sharp but calm
Lyra : I have I know their hunger I know their weakness but most of all I know they will never stop until you are nothing
The battle raged on the ruins crumbling beneath their clash and at last the final Abyssborn dissolved into nothingness silence crashing down heavy and absolute Koda collapsed to one knee his chest heaving sweat dripping the blade flickering dimly Lyra stood nearby her shadows fading her eyes fixed on him
Lyra : You carry the Nexus but you are still raw if you continue like this the power will burn you from within
Koda forced himself to his feet his blade heavy yet still raised
Koda : Then I will learn I do not care if it burns me I will not stop
For a moment Lyra studied him silent her expression unreadable then slowly a faint curve touched her lips not quite a smile but something close
Lyra : Then you might just survive after all
The wind moved through the ruins carrying with it the distant echo of something vast the rift above the sky still pulsed each heartbeat wider darker the world itself unraveling thread by thread and in that moment Koda realized he was no longer a lone wanderer fate had bound another soul to his path
Koda looked at Lyra the silver haired girl cloaked in shadows and whispered
Koda : Then walk with me if you choose we will endure together
She gave no words only a silent nod yet in her gaze burned a resolve as sharp as his own the journey ahead was endless filled with war betrayal gods and monsters but for the first time Koda felt the weight of the path ease just enough to breathe
The night stretched on but the first step toward something greater had been taken not as one but as two and in the darkness of the dying world a fragile spark of hope began to burn