The broken city gave way to barren plains as dawn crept across the horizon though dawn was a fragile thing in this world the sky fractured by rifts of shadow and light bleeding through like wounds that never healed Koda and Lyra walked in silence their footsteps crunching against dry earth their figures small against the endless wasteland
Koda's blade remained dim in his hand the fractured stars that once burned so bright now faint almost dormant though the mark on his chest pulsed steadily like a second heartbeat he glanced at Lyra her silver hair catching the fractured light her eyes sharp yet distant as though always watching for something that lingered beyond sight
Koda : You knew they would come last night the Abyssborn how
Lyra's gaze did not shift her voice calm measured
Lyra : I have seen them before they move with the rifts wherever the sky bleeds they descend and devour the scent of the Nexus draws them faster than anything else it is not coincidence they will follow you until the end
Koda tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade his chest heavy
Koda : Then there is no place safe
Lyra glanced at him finally her violet eyes piercing
Lyra : There never was
They continued forward the plains stretching endless the ruins of old towers dotting the land like bones of forgotten giants and as the wind howled across the emptiness another sound rose faint at first but growing sharper the clash of steel the roar of a voice defiant against the void
Koda halted Lyra's shadows stirred instinctively wrapping faintly around her hands they moved toward the sound each step faster until the sight unfolded before them
A lone fighter stood amidst a circle of Abyssborn his body scarred his clothes torn his fists bare yet each strike he landed tore through the creatures with impossible force his strength erupting like a storm yet Koda could see it with every blow his body faltered bones cracking blood spilling yet he kept fighting his voice echoing like thunder
Fighter : Come on then if I fall I fall fighting
Koda's chest tightened the man was burning himself alive for each strike his strength multiplied but the toll was carved deeper into his flesh Lyra's eyes narrowed shadows forming spears at her side
Lyra : He will not last
Koda raised his blade the mark on his chest igniting once more
Koda : Then we fight with him
They surged forward the battlefield erupting into chaos Koda's blade carved arcs of starlight the Abyssborn dissolving into silence with each strike Lyra's shadows tore through the tide weaving walls and blades around the fighter shielding his broken body and in that moment the man turned his head his eyes blazing despite the blood on his lips
Fighter : Hah about time someone else joined the party
Koda swung again his voice sharp between breaths
Koda : You fight like a madman
The fighter laughed even as blood dripped from his mouth his fists glowing faint with power that tore at his own skin
Fighter : Maybe I am but madness keeps me standing
Together the three carved through the swarm each moment a storm of light shadow and raw strength until at last the final Abyssborn dissolved into nothingness silence returning heavy across the wasteland the fighter staggered his legs trembling his body broken but still upright he wiped the blood from his mouth grinning despite the pain
Fighter : Name's Ryn reckless fighter at your service
Koda lowered his blade his breath heavy his eyes studying the man's battered frame
Koda : Why throw yourself at them alone like that
Ryn laughed again though the sound was ragged his eyes fierce
Ryn : Because someone has to if I can trade my life for theirs then it is worth it every time
Lyra's gaze darkened her voice sharp
Lyra : That strength is a curse you shorten your life with every blow
Ryn shrugged as though the weight of death was nothing to him
Ryn : Then I will burn bright while I can better than fading in the dark
Koda looked at him something stirring in his chest the words reckless yet honest mirrored the defiance he felt within himself and though he knew Ryn's path was one of pain he could not deny the fire he carried
Koda : Then walk with us if you choose this fight does not end here and I cannot face it alone
Ryn blinked then laughed louder this time though blood still stained his lips
Ryn : Hah finally someone worth following count me in Nexus bearer
Lyra's eyes lingered on Koda silent but questioning yet she did not speak her shadows fading into the earth Ryn leaned heavily on his knees his body near collapse but his grin never faltered
The three of them stood together in the wasteland the broken dawn stretching above them the rift in the sky pulsing darker wider each heartbeat bringing the world closer to its unraveling yet in the silence that followed something fragile sparked among them not just survival not just defiance but the first breath of a bond forged in battle
Koda looked at the horizon his voice quiet but unyielding
Koda : Then we endure together
The mark on his chest glowed faintly the blade of fractured stars humming softly as though answering him and the road ahead though endless though filled with shadows felt just a little less heavy beneath his feet