The clash intensified. Kael extended his senses further, mapping the commander's energy flow, anticipating their attacks in real-time. Each strike from the commander bent the environment—walls cracked, asphalt lifted, and energy bursts rippled through the street.
"You cannot contain me, Revenant," the commander sneered. "Your mastery is incomplete. I will teach you… the cost of ambition."
Kael responded with precision, sending arcs of Nexus energy to counter the corruption while creating openings for Ryken and Aria to strike. Veyra's shadow manipulation restrained some of the commander's minions, but the scale of power was unlike anything they had faced.
Kael realized that raw strength alone would not win this battle. The Nexus had taught him the importance of flow, control, and anticipation. He allowed the energy to move through him, rather than forcing it outward. The result was devastatingly effective: each pulse disrupted the commander's minions, slowly driving back the corrupted forms while Kael maintained his defenses.
Sweat and energy pulses burned through his body, yet Kael felt clarity. He understood the larger pattern—the Null commander was a node, connected to corruption spreading across dimensions. If they were defeated here, they could slow the spread. If not… the consequences could ripple beyond this city, beyond their reality.
Veyra's voice cut through the chaos. "Now, Kael! Strike where their flow falters!"
Kael nodded, focusing on the brief moment of vulnerability he had detected. Channeling the Nexus fully, he unleashed a concentrated wave that struck the commander and their minions simultaneously. The shadows screamed and dissipated, leaving only a lingering, malevolent pulse.
The commander recoiled, retreating into a ripple in reality. "This is not over, Revenant," they hissed. "You will learn… all power has a cost."
Kael staggered slightly, his mark glowing faintly, the Nexus energy still humming within him. The city lay quiet once more, but the weight of what they had faced pressed heavily on the team.
Aria exhaled, scanning the aftermath. "We survived. But… that energy? That was beyond anything we've dealt with before."
Ryken's gaze was hard. "And it's coming back. Stronger."
Veyra's silver eyes met Kael's. "Today, you began to master the Nexus against true power. But remember, Revenant… the tide is rising. The Null commander's retreat is not surrender. They are preparing… for something far greater."
Kael clenched his fists, determination blazing through exhaustion. The fight was far from over—but he understood now the true scale of the war they had entered.