From the shadows of the industrial district, a new figure emerged. Larger, more imposing than any Null operative Kael had encountered, radiating raw power and command. The Null commander had brought a catalyst—a weaponized conduit designed to amplify corrupted energy across the city.
"You think your discipline can save you, Revenant?" the commander hissed. Their voice echoed with unnatural distortion, each syllable bending the air itself. "This is not merely a battle… it is the test of your existence, the proof of your mastery or your collapse."
Kael felt the pulse of the catalyst thrumming through the streets, feeding the corrupted minions and amplifying the commander's presence. Every pulse of Nexus energy he attempted to use was partially countered, forcing him to adapt mid-strike, recalibrate the flow, and anticipate the cascading energy effects.
Veyra's shadows surged, intertwining with his energy. "Focus on control, not destruction. The moment you overreach, the catalyst will exploit your weakness. You must flow with it, not fight it blindly."
Kael's mind raced, calculating arcs, currents, and energy patterns simultaneously. He released a wave of controlled energy, redirecting part of the catalyst's surge back into the corrupted minions, destabilizing their ranks. Sparks flared as shadows collapsed, but the effort sent shockwaves through his body.
Ryken and Aria acted as coordinated anchors, securing key locations while Kael stabilized the Nexus flow. Yet even as they gained ground, the catalyst pulsed again, more aggressively. The city quaked, and the boundaries between the corrupted energy and reality thinned alarmingly.
Kael's mark flickered violently, and he felt the strain clawing at the edges of his consciousness. "I… I can handle this," he muttered through gritted teeth. "I have to…"
Veyra's voice was steady but firm. "Remember, Revenant: power is meaningless without control. One wrong pulse and the city, the Nexus, and perhaps the multiverse could fracture in ways you cannot repair. Every action must be deliberate."
The Null commander's grin was cruel, their energy flaring like a dark sun. Kael understood, in that moment, the full weight of the fight: this was no longer about survival—it was about preventing a multiversal collapse, and every decision now carried consequences far beyond the city itself.