Chapter 32: Clashing with the Void

The coalition ventured deeper into the Fractured Expanse, the atmosphere growing more oppressive with each step. Ethan felt the Forge's hum resonate stronger than ever, a steady pulse that echoed the unstable energy surrounding them. The jagged terrain was littered with cracks that glowed faintly, the light flickering like a heartbeat.

Kael walked ahead, their silver blades ready, their gaze scanning the horizon. "The anchor's close. The Forge's energy is pulling us toward it, but so is the Divide's chaos. Stay sharp."

Liora, her fiery tattoos glowing faintly, let out a low growl as she glanced at the shadows moving along the edges of their path. "We're being watched. The Divide is alive with predators. They'll strike when we least expect it."

Ethan summoned a blade of light, the gauntlet's glow intensifying as he prepared for the inevitable. "Let them come. We've handled worse."

As they approached a wide chasm bridged by narrow platforms of glowing stone, the air grew still. The coalition halted, their weapons drawn, their senses on high alert. Ethan scanned the area, his pulse quickening as the Forge's hum turned into a sharp vibration.

"Something's coming," he said, his voice low but steady.

Kael stepped beside him, their silver eyes narrowing. "Void Stalkers. And more."

From the shadows emerged a swarm of Void Stalkers, their sleek, angular forms moving with unsettling speed. Behind them loomed a massive construct, its body composed of jagged crystals and pulsing energy. The construct's eyes burned with an intense crimson light, and its every movement sent ripples through the unstable ground.

"That's new," Ethan muttered, tightening his grip on the blade.

Liora let out a battle cry, her fiery tattoos flaring as she shifted into her primal form. "Zeyra's testing us again. Let's show her we're not afraid."

The Zar'Kar charged forward, their primal forms tearing into the Void Stalkers with feral precision. The Emberforge warriors followed, their fiery constructs creating barriers and unleashing explosive attacks that disrupted the swarm's movements.

Ethan and Kael focused on the construct, its towering form an unmistakable threat. Kael moved with precision, their blades flashing as they deflected incoming projectiles. "Ethan, its core is exposed at the chest. We need to break through its defenses."

Ethan nodded, the Forge's energy surging within him. He leaped forward, his blade morphing into a spear mid-air. The construct reacted, swiping at him with massive crystalline arms. Ethan twisted, narrowly avoiding the attack as he drove the spear into its side. The impact sent a burst of light through the construct, but it barely staggered.

"This thing's tough," Ethan said, landing and summoning a shield just in time to block another attack.

Kael darted around the construct, their movements swift as they struck at its legs. "We need to weaken its foundation. Take out its supports!"

The two worked in tandem, their strikes coordinated as they targeted the construct's limbs. Each hit sent cracks spreading through its crystalline body, its movements growing more erratic as it tried to defend itself.

The Void Stalkers, meanwhile, continued their relentless assault on the coalition. Liora's primal form blazed like an inferno as she tore through their ranks, her claws raking through their sleek forms. The Emberforge warriors held the line, their fiery constructs creating protective barriers that kept the swarm at bay.

"We can't hold them forever!" Liora shouted, her voice a guttural roar.

Ethan turned, his chest heaving. "Kael, the core! Now!"

Kael nodded, their blades glowing brighter as they drove them into the construct's knees. The massive form shuddered, its balance faltering as its movements became sluggish. Ethan seized the opportunity, channeling the Forge's energy into a single, massive construct.

A hammer formed in his hands, its surface etched with glowing runes. He charged forward, dodging the construct's desperate swings, and leaped into the air. With a roar, he brought the hammer down onto its chest, striking the exposed core. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the battlefield, and the construct let out a piercing shriek before collapsing into a heap of shattered crystal and dissipating energy.

The remaining Void Stalkers faltered, their connection to the construct severed. The coalition pressed their advantage, their combined attacks overwhelming the swarm until the battlefield fell silent.

Ethan stood amidst the quiet, his chest heaving as the gauntlet's glow dimmed. Kael approached, their expression a mix of exhaustion and pride.

"Another victory," Kael said, their voice steady. "Zeyra's losing her grip on this region."

Liora returned to her human form, her fiery tattoos dimming as she surveyed the scene. "She'll retaliate. Harder than before. We need to be ready."

Ethan nodded, his resolve unshaken. "Then we keep moving. The Divide isn't done testing us, but we'll pass."

As the coalition regrouped and prepared to move forward, Ethan felt the Forge's hum resonate within him. Each victory brought them closer to their ultimate goal, and with every step, his determination grew stronger.

"One step at a time," he murmured, the glow of the gauntlet steady as they pressed on toward the next battle.