The Nexus chamber was unrecognizable. Fractured reality spiraled outward in jagged shards, twisting gravity and time. Kael felt every pulse of the Architect's presence pressing against him, probing for weakness.
"They're escalating faster than before," Veyra murmured, shadows flaring protectively around the team.
Aria Vale's eyes glimmered with determination, her xenotechnological connection to the Nexus humming in resonance. "This is no longer just a test of power. The Architect is striking at our minds, our bonds, and our trust. If we falter, these realities collapse beyond repair."
Ryken's fists ignited with energy as he swung through collapsing shards, stabilizing critical timelines. "Then we don't falter. We hit back—every move synchronized."
Kael extended his mark, feeling paradox currents pulse violently, tearing at the threads of reality. Alternate versions of himself surged from fractured layers, each demanding attention—some pleading for help, others striking in aggression.
The Architect's voice echoed, omnipresent and cold:"Kael, every bond is a weakness. Every choice is a fracture. Will you protect them or preserve yourself?"
Kael's pulse flared. He couldn't allow fear or hesitation to dictate action. "We protect them—all of them. Every reality, every ally, every version of myself. That's the only way."
With a surge of energy, Kael linked his mark with Aria Vale's resonance. The xenotechnologist's secret connection amplified the paradox currents, allowing them to stabilize multiple collapsing realities simultaneously. Veyra's shadows and Ryken's strikes reinforced the flow, creating a lattice of protection that held the shards together.
But the Architect's assault was relentless. In one layer, Aria Vale was trapped inside a collapsing energy prism, screaming as her consciousness was pulled into the Nexus currents. Kael acted instinctively, channeling energy through every fractured layer to reach her, bending time slightly to synchronize their connection.
"You won't fall, Aria," Kael growled. "I won't let you."
The Architect's pulse shifted, almost amused. "Clever… but only one test remains before the apex is complete."
Kael clenched his teeth, mark blazing. "Then we endure. We fight. Together."