Chapter 29: Breach of the Divide

The Abyssal Divide's oppressive energy had not fully dissipated, even after the destruction of the anchor. As the coalition moved forward, every step felt like a battle against the environment itself. The jagged terrain and flickering shadows were constant reminders that Zeyra's influence still loomed heavily over the region.

Ethan led the group, the Forge within him thrumming faintly. The gauntlet's glow pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat, its steady presence keeping him grounded amid the chaos. Kael walked beside him, their silver blades at the ready, their gaze scanning the horizon for any signs of danger.

"The Divide won't give up easily," Kael said, their voice low. "Zeyra's forces may have lost the anchor, but they'll strike back. We need to stay vigilant."

Liora approached, her fiery tattoos glowing faintly as she spoke. "The Zar'Kar can handle whatever she sends. But the Divide itself… it's like it's alive. It's feeding on the rift energy."

Ethan frowned, his gaze shifting to the jagged peaks in the distance. "If Zeyra's using this place as a weapon, we need to figure out how to neutralize it."

Kael nodded. "Agreed. The Divide's instability is spreading. If we don't stop it, it could collapse entire regions."

As they advanced deeper into the Divide, the environment grew increasingly hostile. The ground cracked and shifted beneath their feet, and the air shimmered with chaotic energy. The coalition moved cautiously, their weapons drawn as they navigated the treacherous terrain.

Suddenly, the ground trembled, and a deafening roar echoed through the Divide. From the shadows emerged a massive creature, its form twisted and grotesque. Its body was composed of jagged rock and flickering energy, its eyes glowing with an unnatural crimson light.

"A Rift Titan," Kael said, their voice tense. "Zeyra's forces must have awakened it to guard the Divide."

Ethan summoned a blade of light, the gauntlet's energy surging as he stepped forward. "Then we take it down. Together."

The coalition spread out, each faction moving into position. The Zar'Kar shifted into their primal forms, their attacks ferocious as they charged the Titan. The Emberforge warriors unleashed fiery constructs, their strikes carving through the creature's rocky exterior.

Ethan and Kael worked in tandem, their movements precise as they targeted the Titan's vulnerable points. Ethan's constructs shifted fluidly, his blade morphing into a spear as he drove it into the creature's leg. The Titan roared, its massive form swaying as it tried to retaliate.

Kael's silver blades struck the creature's core, their energy slicing through the unstable rift energy that powered it. "Ethan, its core is exposed! Focus your attack there!"

Ethan nodded, the Forge's energy surging as he summoned a massive hammer. With a roar, he leaped forward, the hammer crashing into the Titan's core with a resounding impact. The creature shuddered, cracks spreading across its body as the rift energy within it destabilized.

"Keep going!" Liora shouted, her fiery form darting around the Titan, her claws raking its rocky hide.

The coalition pressed their advantage, their combined efforts overwhelming the Titan. Finally, with a final, devastating strike, Ethan's hammer shattered the creature's core. The Titan let out a final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing into a heap of crumbling rock and fading light.

The battlefield fell silent, the oppressive energy lifting slightly as the Rift Titan's remnants dissolved into the air. Ethan stood amidst the debris, his chest heaving as the gauntlet's glow dimmed.

Kael approached, their expression a mix of relief and caution. "The Titan is down, but the Divide's instability remains. Zeyra's influence here runs deep. We'll need to dismantle whatever anchors she's hidden in this region."

Liora joined them, her tattoos dimming as she returned to her human form. "The Zar'Kar will scout the area. If there are more threats, we'll find them."

Ethan nodded, his resolve unshaken. "Good. We can't afford to lose momentum. Every anchor we destroy brings us closer to stopping Zeyra."

That evening, the coalition set up camp near a cluster of jagged rocks, the glow of the Emberforge constructs casting a warm light over the group. Ethan sat near the edge of the camp, staring out at the Divide as he processed the day's events.

Kael approached, their voice quiet. "You did well today. The Titan was no small feat."

Ethan managed a faint smile. "Thanks. But it's just one battle. We've got a long way to go."

Kael nodded, their silver eyes thoughtful. "True. But every step forward matters. And with each victory, we grow stronger."

Ethan glanced at the gauntlet, its glow steady against the darkened horizon. "One step at a time," he murmured, the Forge's hum a quiet reminder of the power and purpose driving him forward.