Morning came harsh and gray, clouds hanging low above the shattered skyline of Sector 17. Snowfall had intensified overnight, blanketing everything in a heavy, sound-muting white. The ruins, once stark and angular, now appeared softer, blurred by drifts piled high enough to bury entire vehicles.
Arix stood alone near the edge of the camp, watching the horizon as the storm slowly eased. The Echo Fragment's subtle pulse remained steady in his chest, rhythmic but subdued, as if the intensity of last night had drained both him and the shard.
Kael approached, footsteps barely audible in the fresh powder. "Storm's finally calming," he said, adjusting the strap of his rifle. "We move soon. Calyx wants us clear before the next wave hits."
Arix nodded but said nothing.
Kael hesitated. "How's your head? Last night wasn't exactly gentle on you."
"Stable," Arix replied. "But it's like someone else is sharing space inside my skull."
Kael smirked humorlessly. "Welcome to the club. Syncing fragments always feels invasive at first. You'll adjust."
He turned back toward the shelter, leaving Arix alone again, watching the swirling patterns of snow. Adjusting—he hoped it was that simple.
---
When they finally set out, the snow had slowed to scattered flakes drifting lazily through the air. The terrain had transformed overnight, drifts reshaping paths and obscuring familiar landmarks. The team moved cautiously, wary of hidden dangers beneath the deceptive calm.
Calyx led the way, scanning continuously, her eyes sharp and vigilant. Selis kept close to Thorne, her scanner always active. Kael flanked the group, rifle ready, eyes narrowed against the glare. Arix stayed near the center, silent, observing, feeling the fragment stir gently with each step.
It felt alive—aware.
Hours later, they reached the remains of an old observation tower, its skeletal frame rising defiantly from the snowdrifts. Rusted beams stretched skyward like twisted fingers. Calyx signaled a halt.
"Kael, check for heat signatures. Selis, keep scanners wide," she ordered, eyes narrowing as she studied the structure. "This is Obsidian territory. Expect anything."
Arix knelt and brushed snow from a fallen pylon. His fingers traced lines etched into metal—glyphs, vaguely familiar, shimmering faintly in his periphery.
> [Echo Residue Detected – Fragment Resonance Possible]
"You sense something?" Calyx asked, approaching quietly.
"Echo residue," he said. "Old, but strong."
She glanced at the glyphs. "Obsidian markers. Probably ritualistic. Watch your step."
"Calyx," Kael called urgently. "Movement—multiple points, fast approaching."
The team reacted instantly. Thorne braced his hammer, Kael took a sniper's stance, and Selis armed her medkit. Arix moved beside Calyx, drawing his blade as the snow around them erupted into motion.
Figures emerged from the drifts, cloaked in armor as dark as the rift itself. Obsidian cultists surged toward them, weapons raised, voices silent beneath their masks.
Calyx fired first, dropping one attacker instantly. Kael followed, precise bursts cutting through enemy ranks. But the cultists were many, moving like shadows against the snow.
Arix felt the fragment pulse fiercely, instinct guiding him forward. He activated Adaptive Guard, the ability materializing like a translucent barrier around him, deflecting the first strike aimed at his chest. The enemy stumbled, momentarily confused.
He struck swiftly, blade slicing through armor, dropping his attacker. Another came immediately, weapon sparking violently. Arix sidestepped, moving fluidly as he parried and countered. The Echo Fragment's power was like a partner, guiding his hands and sharpening his senses.
Thorne roared, swinging his hammer wide, scattering cultists like rag dolls. Selis remained focused, maintaining cover and calling warnings. But the Obsidian forces were relentless, driven by fanaticism and numbers.
Kael's shout broke through the chaos. "Rift signature—deep resonance incoming!"
The ground trembled, snow cascading from the tower in waves. From behind enemy ranks stepped a new figure—taller, armored in obsidian plate etched with glowing violet runes. He raised an armored gauntlet, rift energy gathering rapidly.
"Scatter!" Calyx yelled.
A pulse of energy exploded from the cultist's hand, tearing through their makeshift formation. Arix rolled clear, landing hard. His vision blurred, the system pinging frantically.
> [Energy Attack Absorbed – Void Reflection Active: Ready to Redirect]
Without hesitation, Arix thrust his arm forward, releasing the captured energy in a focused beam of violet light. It surged forward, striking the Obsidian commander squarely. Armor shattered, runes dimmed, and the enemy fell to his knees, stunned.
Calyx seized the opening, her shot precise, finishing the commander instantly.
The remaining cultists faltered, suddenly hesitant. Thorne capitalized on the moment, pressing the advantage, driving them back.
Silence followed, broken only by ragged breathing and settling snow.
Calyx stepped beside Arix, eyes wide with something close to awe. "That was new."
"Part of the sync," he replied quietly, staring at his hand, still faintly glowing.
> [System Notification: Echo-Knight Sync Increased to 23%]
She placed a hand lightly on his shoulder, the touch grounding him. "You did good, Arix."
He looked up at her, breathing steadied now, the fragment quiet but present, humming softly.
"So did you."
They regrouped quickly, checking injuries and equipment. The road ahead would only grow more treacherous.
But for now, in the aftermath, Arix felt something he hadn't expected:
Trust.
And he held onto it, letting it anchor him against the storm that still brewed on the horizon.