Night had fallen, and the city glowed under the pulse of the catalyst. Kael extended the Nexus, sensing the precise flow of corruption feeding the device. Shadows twisted unnaturally, but this time, Kael didn't react with brute force. Instead, he let the energy move through him, bending it with precision and anticipating the flux points where the catalyst would be most vulnerable.
Veyra's shadows intertwined with his Nexus flow, stabilizing the arcs of energy and protecting him from feedback surges. "Now, Kael. Direct the pulse. Let it destabilize the conduit," she instructed.
Kael's eyes glowed with focus. He released a controlled burst, weaving through the corrupted energy like a thread through a needle. Sparks erupted, and the catalyst shuddered, its energy briefly faltering. Ryken and Aria struck in perfect synchronization, neutralizing the minions that tried to exploit the momentary weakness.
The Null commander roared in frustration, energy flaring like a dark storm. "You dare challenge me, Revenant? You will pay for this insolence!"
Kael ignored the taunt, focusing entirely on the balance. Another pulse, more refined and precise, hit the catalyst's core. The device shuddered violently, releasing a controlled backflow into the city that Kael and Veyra stabilized just in time.
The final wave of corrupted energy collapsed into controlled arcs, and the catalyst emitted a final, destabilized pulse before shutting down. The city fell silent, the oppressive pulse gone—but the strain on Kael was visible. His mark flickered weakly, and sweat and exhaustion lined his face.
Aria exhaled sharply. "It's over… for now."
Ryken grinned despite the tension. "That was insane. Kael, you pushed harder than ever—and it worked."
Veyra placed a hand on his shoulder, her silver eyes glinting with pride and caution. "You have begun to truly master the Nexus, Revenant. But remember, every victory comes with a cost. The Null commander will not relent. And the multiverse… will continue to test you."
Kael sank to one knee, breathing heavily, feeling both the weight of exertion and the exhilaration of success. The city was safe—for now. But the war was far from over, and the boundaries of reality itself had begun to tremble under the strain of the Nexus.