The crystal path stretched into an endless void its light cold yet steady carrying Koda and his companions further than any land could reach There was no wind no sky no sound only the glow of fractured crystal beneath their feet pulsing in rhythm with the Nexus in Koda's chest Every step echoed not in the void but within their souls
Ryn spat to the side though the spittle vanished into nothing before it landed His fists hung at his sides raw and bleeding but his grin still carved stubborn into his face
Ryn : This place is cursed worse than the wastelands At least there I can break stone with my fists Here there is nothing to break nothing to fight
Lyra's eyes scanned the endless dark shadows clinging closer to her body as though wary of the void Her silver hair caught the crystal light her face sharp her voice quiet but edged
Lyra : That is the danger It is not the things we see that destroy us It is the silence
Aria walked close behind her hands faintly glowing her light softer than before but constant Her eyes lingered on the void her expression calm but burdened
Aria : The silence is heavy because it is filled with what we carry The path was made by memory Every step forces us to face ourselves
Koda walked at the front his blade strapped to his back his chest burning with the mark The Nexus pulsed brighter with each step as though this road was carved for it Alone it would have devoured him already but with them beside him the fire steadied His voice was low but strong
Koda : Then we face ourselves together
The void shifted The path trembled cracks spreading across the crystal Beneath it visions flickered not of the past not of the world but of themselves
Ryn saw himself broken his body shattered his fists useless his grin gone His strength gone his life meaningless He roared at the vision his fists slamming against the crystal but the image did not vanish
Ryn : Lies I will fight until I die and even then I will keep fighting
The vision twisted showing him dead upon a battlefield countless enemies trampling over his corpse Koda Lyra and Aria left alone and broken Ryn's face pale his eyes hollow
Ryn's grin faltered sweat dripping down his face
Ryn : No I will not let that be me I will not fall before them
Lyra placed a hand upon his shoulder her shadows wrapping around the image and shattering it Her voice cold but steady
Lyra : Then stand and walk with us Do not waste your fury on ghosts
The vision faded the path steady once more
Next the crystal flared and Lyra saw herself standing alone her shadows devouring everything around her Koda Ryn and Aria turned to ash by her veil Her face in the vision was expressionless her eyes hollow she walked endless alone through a world of shadow
She stiffened her jaw tight Her hand reached to her blade of darkness but she did not strike Instead she turned her gaze away her voice sharp though quieter than ever
Lyra : I will not be that I will not walk alone again
Aria touched her hand her light gentle
Aria : Then trust us We are not ash we are here and we will not leave
Lyra looked at her for a moment her eyes unreadable then nodded once sharply and the vision shattered
The path shifted again and Aria gasped Her vision rose before her she stood in a field of corpses her hands glowing with light that could not heal She moved from body to body Koda Ryn Lyra all gone her power useless her light failing She screamed in silence her eyes filled with despair
Aria trembled her hands clutching her chest
Aria : No I cannot fail not again I cannot
Koda stepped to her side his hand steady upon her shoulder his voice firm
Koda : You will not fail You are the light that binds us and if you falter then we will hold you as you have held us
Ryn laughed weakly his grin returning
Ryn : You heal even my stubborn fists Aria If you could fix me you can fix anything
Lyra's shadows wrapped around Aria shielding her from the vision her voice low but sharp
Lyra : The dead are only ghosts We are alive and we are with you
Aria's breath steadied her light glowing brighter The vision shattered
Then the path cracked wide and Koda's own vision rose before them The Astral Reaper stood tall his twisted form cloaked in darkness his scythe carved from collapsed stars His eyes burned with grief endless despair His voice thundered across the void
Reaper : You will fail You will break You will be me You will erase everything you swore to protect
Koda froze his blade trembling in his hand His chest seared the Nexus burning brighter than ever The fire within roared demanding release He could feel it the truth of the vision He was one step away from becoming the Reaper
The Reaper strode forward swinging the scythe the void splitting stars collapsing shadows devouring Aria cried out her light rising Ryn roared charging but struck aside Lyra's shadows shattered like glass The Reaper was not a ghost he was power itself
Koda fell to his knees his blade dim his breath ragged
Koda : I cannot I cannot fight him He is me
Aria knelt beside him her hands gripping his her voice fierce despite her tears
Aria : Then fight for us not for yourself You are more than fire you are more than despair You are Koda and you are not alone
Ryn staggered back to his feet fists clenched blood dripping his grin fierce
Ryn : If that monster is you then break him with us because we will never let you be him
Lyra rose her shadows swirling sharper than ever her voice cutting through the void
Lyra : You are not him because he walks alone and you walk with us Stand bearer Stand
Koda's chest burned the fire roaring the whispers deafening but through them he heard their voices steady unyielding He gripped his blade his breath steadying He rose his voice thunderous
Koda : I am not the end I am not despair I am Koda and I endure
His blade flared arcs of fractured stars brighter than ever He charged meeting the Reaper's scythe the clash shattering the void His companions struck beside him Ryn's fists breaking through shadow Lyra's veil piercing the Reaper's heart Aria's light binding Koda steadying him The Reaper screamed the void collapsing around them fragments of stars scattering into nothing
The vision shattered The path steadied The four stood together breathless but unbroken
Koda lowered his blade his chest still burning but the whispers softer He looked at them all his voice firm
Koda : I will not walk that path Not while you are with me
Aria smiled faintly tears in her eyes her light warm
Aria : Then we will walk with you to the end
Ryn roared with laughter his grin wider than ever despite his blood
Ryn : Damn right Together until the world itself shatters
Lyra said nothing but her gaze held steady upon Koda her silence sharper than words
They continued forward the path stretching endless but steadier now The void no longer mocked but carried them onward
Far away the Crownless King stood upon his throne armies gathered across plains banners tearing skies apart His hollow eyes burned brighter his voice carrying across his halls
Crownless King : Good Let him grow Let him endure Let him burn brighter For when the flame reaches its peak I will devour it whole
The drums of war thundered across the world The rift widened The end drew closer
And still Koda and his companions walked together into the unknown