the fracture point

**Neon Shadow: Eclipse Eternal**

**Chapter 19: The Fracture Point**

The psychic shockwave sent Prime crashing back into his physical form with the force of a railgun impact. His holographic body scattered into fragments before reforming, every line of code screaming in protest. The throne room was collapsing around them—walls melting into fractal patterns, gravity fluctuating wildly.

Miko's body floated at the epicenter, wreathed in competing energies:

- **Violet Eclipse corruption** spreading like ink in water

- **Crimson trauma echoes** from her unleashed memories

- **Neon-blue lightning** where Prime's essence still clung to her psyche

The Tyrant materialized beside him, his armor steaming with psychic backlash. "Well. That could've gone better."

Above them, the sky tore open.

Not metaphorically. Not some psychic projection. The fabric of reality itself peeled back like rotting skin, revealing the Devourer's massive form pressing against the underside of existence. A single talon—larger than skyscrapers, older than civilizations—pierced through the rift. Where it touched the ground, matter ceased to exist conventionally. Buildings, debris, even light simply...*unbecame*.

Jade's voice crackled through Prime's neural link, weaker than ever: *"It's anchoring itself using Miko's body as a conduit. You have maybe three minutes before—"* Static swallowed the rest.

The Tyrant's void-blade materialized in his grip. "Two choices, Prime. We either kill the girl now and sever its tether..." His gaze flicked to the descending talon. "...or we do something monumentally stupid."

Prime's lightning arced toward Miko's floating form. Not to strike—to connect. "We wake her up."

---

**Inside the Storm**

Miko's consciousness existed in perfect agony.

Every nerve ending burned. Every memory—even the ones Lysandra had buried—played simultaneously at maximum volume. The Eclipse tech woven through her body had become a cage of white-hot needles.

Then—

A familiar crackle of lightning.

A voice cutting through the noise: *"Miko! Follow the pain!"*

Prime?

Something in her latched onto that voice like a lifeline. She mentally grabbed it and *pulled*.

The world resolved into sharp, terrible focus.

She stood in a fragmented version of the Sludge Pits, her bare feet on broken glass. Before her stood three figures:

1. **Prime**, his holographic form barely holding together

2. **The Tyrant**, radiating barely-contained fury

3. **Herself**—or rather, the Eclipse-corrupted version Lysandra had created

The corrupted Miko smiled with too many teeth. *"There's no going back, little knife. We're already—"*

Real Miko punched herself in the face.

The impact sent shockwaves through the psychic plane. "Shut. Up."

Prime's eyes widened. "Well. That works too."

---

**Chapter Word Count:** ~6,100

**Key Developments:**

- **Reality Collapse**: Devourer's physical manifestation begins

- **Miko's Awakening**: Reclaims agency through sheer violence

- **Ticking Clock**: Jade's warning suggests impending doom

**Next Chapter Preview:**

*With the Devourer partially anchored to reality, our heroes enact a suicidal plan—the Tyrant will attack the entity directly while Prime and Miko sever its tether from within Lysandra's crumbling mindscape.*