Descending Into the Unknown

The Aurin Core pulsed gently, its golden light illuminating the chamber and casting shadows across the intricate runes etched into the walls. Daniel stood motionless, his mind processing the flood of information that the Fragment was feeding him. Mira leaned against her blade, her expression a mix of relief and frustration as she surveyed the aftermath of their battle.

"Well," she finally broke the silence, her tone wry, "this wasn't exactly the 'quick detour' I had in mind."

Daniel didn't respond immediately. His thoughts were consumed by the web of connections the Fragment had unveiled. This Spire wasn't a standalone structure. It was part of a network—a network that pulsed with a life-like rhythm. He saw images flashing before his mind's eye: a once-thriving city powered by these Spires, humming with energy and life, now reduced to echoes of its former self, corroded by the corruption spreading like a slow poison.