The second wave hit without warning. Corrupted Revenants poured from multiple entry points, their energy signatures amplified by the Null commander. Shadows writhed unnaturally, striking with precision that suggested strategic intent rather than mindless aggression.
Kael extended the Nexus, but this time the energy responded sluggishly. Every pulse required focus, every strike exacting more toll than before. The flickers of fatigue became sharper, accompanied by brief, disorienting visions—glimpses of alternate realities where the Null had won, cities burning, the Nexus spiraling into chaos.
"You must stabilize!" Veyra shouted, her shadows weaving around him protectively. "Focus on the flow, not the force! Anticipate, do not push blindly!"
Kael clenched his fists, letting the Nexus move through him in controlled arcs, redirecting corrupted energy back toward the minions. He neutralized several waves, but each strike left his chest heavier, his mind foggier. The price of mastery was becoming painfully clear.
Aria and Ryken coordinated the rest of the team, creating controlled zones where Kael's strikes would have maximum effect. But the Null commander was present, their energy pulsing like a dark heartbeat, warping reality subtly, forcing Kael to constantly adapt.
"Your reach exceeds your grasp," the commander hissed, voice distorted and echoing unnervingly. "Every surge feeds the corruption. Every pulse fractures what you cannot see. You are not ready, Revenant."
Kael felt the truth in the words. The Nexus strain was deeper than before. Yet he forced himself to continue, each strike calculated, each pulse measured. Failure was no longer an option.
Veyra's voice cut through the haze, calm but commanding. "Remember this, Kael. The Nexus is your ally, not your weapon. Control it, respect it… or it will consume you. And if it does, the city—and far more—will fall with you."
The battle raged on, the lines between control and overextension blurring. Kael realized that survival was no longer about defeating the Null forces—it was about maintaining balance, even as the tides of corruption threatened to sweep him away entirely.