The team advanced inside, moving through broken corridors where the Null had left traps and anomalies designed to confuse and kill. Kael's mark pulsed, synchronizing with the energy around him, guiding his movements and alerting him to danger. He saw shadows detach from the walls, coalescing into humanoid forms—Null operatives, faster and more precise than any sentinels they had faced before.
Ryken fired first, moving with lethal efficiency, but Kael realized his blows alone could not stop these adversaries. He focused inward, letting the Nexus guide his hands. Lines of energy erupted from his fingertips, striking multiple operatives simultaneously. They screamed in distortion, their forms flickering before stabilizing again.
Veyra moved beside him, shadows bending around her like liquid armor. "Kael, don't hesitate. Let it flow," she instructed. "The Nexus amplifies your instincts. Use it, or you fall."
Kael extended his senses, feeling the energy streams of the Null operatives before they moved. He dodged, countered, and struck with a precision that surprised even him. The room was chaos—a ballet of shadows, sparks, and light—but slowly, the team gained control.
Aria manipulated a portable energy matrix, creating barriers and funnels that disrupted the operatives' attacks. Ryken moved with cold efficiency, cutting paths and protecting the team from lethal strikes. Kael's mark glowed brighter with each pulse, and he felt a strange exhilaration: the Nexus was not just a tool—it was a weapon, and he was becoming its conduit.
Finally, after a harrowing struggle, the operatives dissipated into shadows, leaving the room in eerie silence. Kael dropped to one knee, chest heaving. The mark dimmed, leaving a faint glow beneath his skin.
Veyra's eyes met his. "Good. You survived. But remember this: the Null will not retreat. They will learn, adapt, and escalate. Each mission will test not only your strength, but the very limits of your humanity."
Ryken exhaled slowly, lowering his weapon. "Not bad for a ghost," he muttered. "But don't think this is victory. It's only the beginning."
Kael stood, energy still coursing through him, and felt something profound: for the first time, he understood that survival was no longer enough. He had to master the Revenant power, understand the Nexus, and face the encroaching Null Order—or everything he cared about would burn.