The Null commander's assault intensified. Larger waves of corrupted energy erupted across the city, feeding directly into newly corrupted nexus nodes. Kael's mind raced, extending his focus across multiple points, the Nexus vibrating with every surge, warning him of potential collapse.
"You're pushing too far," Veyra warned, her voice sharp but steady. "The moment you fracture, even slightly, the feedback will cascade across all nodes. You must maintain flow, Revenant, or everything you've defended will be lost."
Kael's hands glowed faintly as he extended his energy, creating arcs of controlled light that collided with the surging corruption. Sparks flared violently, energy and shadow clashing in blinding displays across the streets. He redirected flows strategically, allowing the Null commander's minions to collapse into zones of containment, but each pulse took more from him than the last.
Ryken and Aria coordinated flawlessly, neutralizing corrupted operatives and stabilizing zones, but the sheer scale of the assault pushed the team to their limits. The Null commander's voice echoed across the city, distorted and mocking.
"You are strong, Revenant, but strength alone cannot save what is already fracturing. Every choice, every pulse, every surge… brings you closer to collapse. And when you fall, all will fall with you."
Kael's vision blurred for a moment, whispers of alternate timelines flickering across his mind: cities reduced to ash, Nexus energy spinning out of control, entire realities unraveling. But he forced his focus, letting the energy move through him rather than commanding it blindly.
With a precise, controlled surge, Kael redirected a major wave of corruption into an isolated containment zone. Sparks erupted, shadows writhed, and the city quaked violently, but the immediate threat subsided. Yet the cost was visible—his mark flickered erratically, and his body shook from exhaustion.
Veyra's silver eyes met his, a mixture of approval and caution. "You survived this wave, but the Null commander has escalated. The tide is rising, Kael. The war is no longer about victory—it is about endurance. Every choice you make now reverberates across realities."
Kael exhaled slowly, chest heaving, energy thrumming faintly in his veins. The city remained standing—for now—but the Null commander's strategy had made one thing clear: the battles ahead would test not just his mastery of the Nexus, but his limits as a Revenant and protector of multiple realities.