The Turning Point

The ruins of Blackthorn College spread before Avery, a somber reminder of everything that was lost. The air became heavy with the strong aroma of ash, and the subtle hum of the Nexus pulsed within her chest, continuous but demanding. The shard had dimmed, but its power was far from gone.

Lucas stood alongside her, motionless and vigilant, his hands in his pockets. Marcus and Elena trailed a few feet behind, their faces shrouded in tiredness and despair. No one talked; they were all aware of the gravity of what had just occurred—and what was ahead.

Avery's fists tightened as her mind raced. She had beaten her dark counterpart and closed the quick split, but the broader cracks in truth were still spreading. The Nexus was more than just a problem to solve; it became a living pressure woven into the very fabric of the cosmos.

"We can't stay here," Marcus finally said, his voice low. "If there are more rifts—"