The chamber twisted further. Gravity shifted unpredictably, buildings folded into themselves, and paradox currents snapped like live wires. Ryken moved like a shadow through the chaos, striking with precision, his distrust making him hyper-aware of potential traps.
Aria Vale linked with Kael and Ryken, her xenotechnological resonance amplifying their combined control over paradox energy. "Kael, we need Ryken's instincts—they're critical to anchoring unstable timelines," she said.
Veyra's shadows extended, protecting Ryken as he struck rogue anomalies with ruthless efficiency. Kael felt the tension radiating from him—his skepticism, his resurrection trauma—but it added a layer of unpredictability that paradox currents alone couldn't account for.
The Architect's voice echoed:"How long can the resurrected endure when loyalty is absent? When the weight of countless lives rests on suspicion?"
Ryken paused, assessing a collapsing shard where Aria Vale floated, trapped in a field of unstable Nexus energy. He didn't hesitate, striking with precise energy blasts and cutting through the instability—but his eyes betrayed a flash of hesitation, a lingering doubt.
Kael extended his mark, linking fully with Ryken and Aria Vale, forming a triad of paradox resonance. Together, they stabilized the shard, bending time slightly to restore both Aria Vale and Ryken's layer to safety.
"Not bad for a mercenary who trusts nothing," Kael muttered.
Ryken's lips twitched in something that almost resembled a smirk. "Don't get used to it," he said, energy still coursing through his gauntlets. "I'm still watching."
The fractured realities pulsed, partially stabilizing under their coordinated effort. The Architect's presence throbbed, testing patience, observing bonds, probing weaknesses.
"The final phases approach," the voice echoed. "Only those who endure every trial, trust their own strength, and leverage the bonds they disdain will survive the apex. Let's see who fractures first."
Kael's chest heaved as he looked at his allies—Aria Vale, Veyra, and the resurrected Ryken Holt. Every thread of trust, every paradox current, every shard of reality was now a battlefield—and the Architect's ultimate trial loomed closer than ever.