The Crimson Spire felt colder now, the crimson veins in the ground pulsing faintly as Riyan followed Amara through the jagged landscape. Every step felt heavier, as though the Nexus itself was pushing against him, reminding him of the weight of the artifact in his hands.
Amara walked ahead, her blade sheathed but her eyes sharp, constantly scanning their surroundings. She didn't speak, and Riyan didn't dare break the silence. The events of the past few hours—or had it been days?—had left him shaken, unable to piece together the fragments of his new reality.
"What's the plan?" he asked finally, his voice tentative.
Amara glanced back at him, her expression unreadable. "Survive."
Riyan frowned. "That's not a plan. That's… that's just instinct."
"It's worked for me so far," she replied bluntly, her pace unwavering.
Riyan sighed, clutching the artifact tighter. Its glow had dimmed slightly, but it still pulsed faintly, as if reacting to the energy of the Nexus. He wanted to throw it away, to rid himself of the burden it represented, but something deep inside stopped him.
---
As they moved deeper into the Spire, the air grew heavier, the crimson light casting distorted shadows against the jagged rocks. The ground trembled occasionally, the veins of energy pulsing brighter with each quake.
"We're getting closer to the safe zone," Amara said, her voice low.
"What happens when we get there?"
She didn't answer immediately, her focus locked on the path ahead. "It'll buy us time. That's all I can promise."
Riyan opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat as a sudden noise echoed through the air—a sharp, guttural growl that made his skin crawl.
Amara froze, her hand moving to the hilt of her blade. "Stay quiet," she hissed, her eyes narrowing.
The growl grew louder, joined by the sound of heavy footsteps. Riyan's heart raced as he pressed his back against a nearby rock, his grip on the artifact tightening.
"They found us," Amara muttered, her voice barely audible.
"Who found us?"
"Keep your voice down!"
---
The creature emerged from the shadows, its massive form looming over them. Its jagged, bone-like protrusions glinted in the crimson light, and its glowing eyes locked onto them with predatory intent.
Amara drew her blade, her stance shifting as she prepared to fight. "Run," she ordered, her tone sharp.
Riyan hesitated, his legs frozen in place. "I can't—"
"Go!"
The urgency in her voice snapped him into action. He turned and ran, the sounds of battle echoing behind him as Amara clashed with the creature.
The ground trembled beneath his feet, and Riyan stumbled, the artifact glowing brighter with every step. He didn't know where he was going—didn't know if he was running toward safety or deeper into danger—but he couldn't stop.
---
The landscape shifted around him, the jagged rocks twisting and reshaping themselves as though the Spire was alive. The air grew colder, heavier, and the crimson light seemed to dim, replaced by an eerie golden glow that radiated from the artifact.
Riyan slowed to a stop, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. The artifact pulsed violently now, its light illuminating the path ahead in shades of gold and red.
"What is this thing?" he muttered, his voice trembling.
Before he could examine it further, the air shifted, and a shadow fell over him.
"You've come far, Catalyst," a familiar voice said.
Riyan turned, his eyes widening as the shadowed figure from before stepped into view. His obsidian armor gleamed in the golden light, and his crimson eyes seemed to pierce through Riyan's very soul.
"What do you want from me?" Riyan asked, his voice shaking.
The figure chuckled, a low, menacing sound. "What I want is irrelevant. What matters is what you've already set in motion."
"I don't understand."
"You will," the figure said, his tone calm yet filled with an ominous weight. "The artifact you hold is the key to the Nexus. Its power is tied to your fate, and your fate is tied to the collapse of the realms."
Riyan's grip tightened on the artifact. "Why me? I didn't ask for any of this!"
"Fate does not ask," the figure replied, stepping closer. "It demands."
---
Before the figure could continue, a loud explosion shook the ground. Riyan staggered backward, shielding his face as debris flew past him. When he looked up, the shadowed figure was gone, replaced by Amara, who stumbled into the clearing, her armor scratched and her breathing heavy.
"You're alive," she said, relief flickering in her eyes.
Riyan didn't respond, his mind racing with the shadowed figure's words.
Amara frowned, her gaze flicking to the glowing artifact. "That thing's dangerous," she said. "You need to get rid of it."
"I can't," Riyan replied, his voice quiet.
"Why not?"
He hesitated, his grip on the artifact tightening. "It won't let me."
Amara stared at him for a moment, her expression unreadable. "Come on," she said finally, pulling him to his feet. "We don't have time to stand around. The safe zone isn't far."
Riyan followed her silently, the weight of the artifact feeling heavier than ever.