The Collapse Begins
The fortress was dying. The moment Kieran's chains shattered, the structure around them began to break apart, massive cracks splitting through the black stone, sending shards crashing into the abyss.
Zyra grabbed Kieran's arm, supporting him as the tremors worsened. He was weak, but he was standing. That had to be enough.
Riven, still maddeningly composed, surveyed the destruction with a slight smirk. "Well. That escalated quickly."
Zyra ignored him. They had to move.
A deafening roar echoed through the collapsing chamber—the shadow beast wasn't dead.
It howled, twisting in agony, its broken form struggling to reassemble itself.
Kieran exhaled sharply beside her, his voice rough. "It's still… connected to the rift."
Zyra's stomach clenched. "If it survives—"
"It will come after us," Kieran finished grimly.
Riven sighed, cracking his knuckles. "Then we should probably kill it properly."
---
A Race Against Time
The ground shuddered violently.
Riven moved first, vanishing in a blink before reappearing above the beast. His golden dagger slashed through the air, cutting through the creature's re-forming mass.
The monster screamed, but instead of retreating, it attacked.
A black tendril shot out, striking Riven mid-air.
He grunted as he was flung backward, landing hard against a crumbling wall.
Zyra reacted instantly.
She didn't hesitate—she raised her hands, channeling the bond that had freed Kieran.
Fire ignited in her palms.
Not just fire—golden fire.
It wasn't hers alone. It was theirs.
She thrust her hands forward, unleashing everything.
The flames surged, crashing into the beast, wrapping around it like chains.
Kieran, beside her, suddenly moved.
Though still weak, he raised a hand—and the fire bent toward him, shifting, sharpening into a blade of pure energy.
His silver eyes glowed.
Zyra felt it—his power, fusing with hers.
And together—they struck.
The blade pierced the beast's core.
For a moment, everything was silent.
Then—the monster exploded into light.
The force knocked them backward, Zyra landing hard against the stone. Dust and debris rained down, the world blurring around her.
For a breathless second, she thought they had won.
Then—the rift itself reacted.
---
The Rift Awakens
A deep, resonant hum filled the air.
The darkness around them began to **shift, swirl—**taking form.
Zyra's pulse pounded. The rift wasn't just collapsing—it was fighting back.
"We need to go. Now."
Riven, brushing dust off his jacket, let out a low whistle. "Agreed."
Zyra turned to Kieran, who was still on his knees, breathing hard.
Something was wrong.
His body trembled slightly, his hands clenched into fists. His power wasn't stabilizing.
Zyra crouched beside him. "Kieran?"
He didn't respond at first—then, slowly, he lifted his gaze.
And what she saw made her blood turn cold.
His silver eyes had changed.
The usual molten glow had darkened, pulsing with an unfamiliar black energy.
Zyra's heart skipped. "Kieran—"
A blast of force suddenly erupted from him, knocking her back.
Zyra barely caught herself before crashing into the ground.
Something was wrong with him.
The rift—it had done something to him.
---
Unstable Power
Kieran clutched his chest, his breath ragged. His body shook violently, his aura flaring with chaotic magic.
Zyra moved toward him again, ignoring the burning energy pulsing off him. "Hey. Look at me."
His jaw clenched, muscles tight. "I… I can't—"
Another shockwave blasted from him, cracking the stone beneath them.
Zyra gritted her teeth. No. She wasn't letting this happen.
She reached out—this time, she didn't hesitate.
She grabbed his face, forcing him to look at her.
His silver eyes were wild, unfocused—but when he met her gaze, the bond between them snapped tight.
Zyra felt it—
A surge of connection, of power, of something deeper than magic.
"You're not losing control," she whispered, her voice steady. "Not to this. Not to them."
The energy around him shuddered.
His breathing slowed.
His hands, which had been shaking, steadied.
And then—just like that—the dark energy faded.
The rift's pulse weakened.
And Kieran exhaled.
"…You did it," he murmured, his voice hoarse.
Zyra swallowed, her hands still cupping his face. "Yeah. I did."
A beat of silence stretched between them.
Then—Riven cleared his throat.
"Not to ruin the moment, but we should probably leave before this place collapses on us."
Zyra shot him a glare, but he wasn't wrong.
She helped Kieran to his feet, looping his arm around her shoulders.
The three of them ran.
Behind them, the rift screamed.
And then—everything went white.
---