🔥 Chapter 22 — Aftermath of the Nexus
The chamber trembled violently, stones raining from the ceiling as the dark crystal cracked and shattered. Green energy arcs hissed into the air, then collapsed into a dull glow as the nexus destabilized. Kael and Rhyne crouched behind spiraling Ember shields, shielding themselves from the backlash.
When the energy subsided, silence fell—heavy, charged with the aftermath of raw magic. Kael's flames flickered gently, Ember pulsing faintly as it surveyed the destruction. The crystal was no more, but the energy it had stored lingered, whispering faintly like echoes of its former power.
Rhyne exhaled, gripping his blade. "It's… over. The nexus is gone. Did we… did we really do it?"
Kael's eyes glowed blue-white as he stepped forward, Ember spiraling in controlled arcs. "Yes—but we've only scratched the surface. This was a central hub. There are more, scattered across the King's territory. Each one strengthens his generals and corrupts the land. Destroying this one delays him, but the war is far from over."
Rhyne glanced around the chamber, noticing faint traces of magical residue. "And whatever energy we didn't destroy… it could be dangerous. We need to leave before it destabilizes further."
Kael nodded, Ember flaring to clear a safe path. As they ascended the staircase, the plateau trembled again. Trees cracked, and shards of stone fell into the chasms below. The destruction of the nexus had sent a shockwave across the area, disrupting the King's magical network.
Outside, the northern plains were bathed in the green glow of residual energy. Villagers and wildlife had fled, leaving the land eerily quiet. Kael and Rhyne paused at the edge of the plateau, looking toward the horizon.
Kael's flames pulsed in thought. "This victory gives us a window. The King will react. His generals may move differently now, his strategies may shift. We need to use this time wisely—to gather allies, strengthen defenses, and uncover the rest of his plans."
Rhyne nodded, determination hardening his features. "Then we prepare. We've struck a major blow, but the real battle is just beginning."
The wind howled across the plateau, carrying the faint echoes of the shattered nexus, a reminder that even in victory, the war against the Harrowed King had only grown more dangerous.