Chapter 99: The Nexus Revealed

Chapter 99: The Nexus Revealed

Silvia's POV

The chamber erupted in blinding light, forcing Silvia to shield her eyes. Magic crackled through the air, ancient and powerful, carrying the whispers of those who had come before. The moment the glow dimmed, she lowered her hands and gasped at what lay before her.

The obelisk had transformed, revealing a swirling vortex of energy at its center. It wasn't just a doorway—it was a portal, pulsing with raw, unfiltered magic. The symbols lining the walls illuminated one by one, casting strange shadows across the room. Silvia could feel the power vibrating in her bones, a force that both called to her and warned her to stay away.

Varian's voice broke through the silence. "This is the Hollow Nexus. The true source of the cycle. And now, you stand at the edge of fate."

Dragon stepped forward, his golden eyes reflecting the chaotic energy within the portal. "What's on the other side?"

Varian turned his piercing silver gaze toward him. "Memories. Truth. Madness. And something far worse than any of us have ever faced."

Tarren scoffed, crossing her arms. "Fantastic. So, it's death with extra steps."

Varian smirked but didn't deny it. "Every war that has ever been fought, every kingdom that has ever fallen—it all began here. You wish to break the cycle? Then you must step inside and face the past."

Silvia's breath hitched. The weight of destiny pressed against her shoulders, heavier than ever before. This wasn't just about stopping a war—it was about rewriting history itself.

She turned to Dragon, meeting his gaze. "We do this together."

He nodded without hesitation. "Always."

Varian exhaled and gestured to the portal. "Then step forward. But be warned—what you see in there will change you. Forever."

Silvia took a deep breath, then stepped into the Nexus.

The Forgotten War

The moment Silvia crossed the threshold, the world around her shattered. Reality twisted, warping into a vision of the past. She was no longer in the ruins—she was standing in the middle of a battlefield.

Screams of agony filled the air as humans and underground warriors clashed in brutal combat. Magic exploded in every direction, lighting up the sky in violent bursts of fire and lightning. The ground was littered with bodies, and the air reeked of blood and ash.

Silvia turned, heart pounding, as she recognized something horrifying—she wasn't just watching the battle. She was in it.

She lifted her hands and gasped. They weren't her own. They were larger, wrapped in ancient armor, stained with blood. Her body was not her own.

A deep voice rumbled from her throat. "Hold the line! Do not let them push forward!"

She was inside the mind of a warrior—a leader.

This was the beginning of it all.

Dragon's voice called out in the distance. "Silvia! Where are you?"

She spun around, spotting him a few feet away, his body frozen mid-motion. His golden eyes met hers, wide with shock. "You see it too?"

Before she could respond, an enormous explosion ripped through the battlefield, sending soldiers flying. Out of the dust and fire, a figure emerged—a woman clad in flowing silver robes, her eyes glowing with raw energy.

Varian's voice echoed in Silvia's mind. The First Queen. The one who started it all.

The woman raised her hands, and the battlefield trembled. The very air warped around her as she chanted in an ancient language. The Nexus pulsed, and suddenly, a wave of darkness surged forward, consuming everything in its path.

Silvia tried to move, to stop it, but she was powerless. She could only watch as history unfolded.

The First Queen's voice rang through the chaos. "If we cannot rule together, then we shall never rule at all! Let the earth itself decide our fate!"

The ground cracked open, swallowing soldiers whole. The sky darkened, thunder rumbling like the roar of an angry god. Magic spiraled out of control, creating the first great rupture—the birth of the Hollow Nexus.

The vision blurred, and suddenly, Silvia was falling. The battlefield disappeared, and she was surrounded by swirling images of the wars that followed. Again and again, the cycle repeated. The underground rose. Humanity fought back. The world burned.

Then it started over.

Over and over.

Endless war. Endless suffering.

Silvia gasped, landing hard on solid ground. Dragon crashed beside her, groaning as he pushed himself up. They were back in the chamber, the Nexus still pulsing behind them.

Varian knelt beside them, his expression grim. "Now you understand."

Silvia's hands shook as she looked up at him. "The war… it was never meant to be won. The Nexus ensures it never ends."

Dragon clenched his jaw. "Then we destroy it."

Varian exhaled sharply. "You think it's that simple? The Nexus is not just a place. It is a living force. A will forged from centuries of conflict. If you destroy it, the world may collapse with it."

Silvia's breath hitched. "Then what do we do?"

Varian looked at her, and for the first time, there was something in his gaze that she hadn't seen before—hope.

"We do what no one has ever done before. We rewrite the rules. We change fate itself."

Silvia inhaled sharply. The weight of destiny had never felt heavier.

But for the first time, she knew exactly what needed to be done.

Beyond the Cycle

Varian turned back to the obelisk. "To change fate, you must enter the Nexus again. But this time, you must not just witness the past. You must alter it."

Dragon frowned. "How? The past is set in stone."

Varian smirked slightly. "Is it? The Nexus is not merely a record—it is the root of fate itself. If you can reach the heart of it, you can break the loop. But to do so, you must face its guardian. The one who ensures the cycle continues."

Silvia's stomach clenched. "The First Queen."

Varian nodded. "She has become something more. A being of pure magic, bound to the Nexus. She believes she is protecting the world, when in reality, she is dooming it. You must make her see the truth. Or defeat her."

Tarren exhaled sharply. "Fantastic. So we're picking a fight with an immortal, god-like entity? Sounds great."

Silvia ignored her nerves, standing taller. "Then we go in. Again. And this time, we end it."

Dragon placed a hand on her shoulder. "Together."

Silvia met his gaze, determination burning in her chest. "Together."

Varian gestured to the portal. "Then step forward. And let's see if you can do what no one else ever has."

Silvia took a deep breath and stepped back into the Nexus.