The Nexus chamber trembled, its crystalline walls vibrating in response to a force Kael could feel but not see. Lumen hovered nearby, translucent eyes glowing with quiet tension.
"The Architect has initiated the next phase," Lumen said. "This trial will test your strength, strategy, and morality across multiple realities simultaneously."
Kael's mark flared, pulsing with instinctual energy. "How do I even begin?"
Lumen gestured to the surrounding space. The chamber fractured into overlapping layers of reality, each one a distorted reflection of the multiverse. In some, entire cities were in flames; in others, his allies were trapped or fighting versions of him. Time shifted unpredictably. Cause and effect tangled into impossible loops.
"Observe first, act second," Lumen advised. "Your choices will resonate through every layer. Hesitation is your greatest enemy."
Kael's eyes narrowed. Energy surged through his veins as he reached into the paradox currents, sensing the pulse of each reality. In one, a group of innocents screamed as shadow beasts advanced. In another, a version of Liora called out for help. In a third, a phantom Kael faltered under the weight of distorted power.
He extended his mark, bending shards of fractured reality into protective barriers while simultaneously guiding alternate versions of himself to stabilize their own layers. Every movement, every pulse, every decision had to synchronize—not just with his own body, but with the flow of multiple timelines converging at once.
The Architect's voice rippled through the layers, a calm yet omnipresent presence."Your morality is as crucial as your power, Kael. Fail to act, or act wrongly, and the multiverse unravels."
Kael clenched his teeth, understanding the weight of the task. Every action was a ripple. Every hesitation a potential disaster. He had trained, he had fought, and he had survived the Prime Convergence—but this was a trial unlike any before.
A shadow lunged from one of the realities, striking a young version of himself. Kael reacted instinctively, channeling paradox energy to shield both himself and the boy simultaneously. Pain surged through his arm, but he held.
"Good," Lumen said. "Now the test escalates."