Reavers Unleashed

Location: Borderlands – Dominion Command Outpost

Nightfall cloaked the landscape like a shroud, pierced only by the low hum of engines in the distance. Inside a Dominion outpost buried beneath the rocky terrain, Thorne stood on a steel platform watching the Reavers prepare.

They weren't ordinary soldiers—they were engineered, trained from birth to obey, to eliminate, to survive beyond death itself. With cybernetic enhancements and emotion stripped clean, the Reavers were known to tear through entire battalions without flinching.

Thorne's voice echoed coldly, "Target: Victor Kane. Eliminate on sight. Bring me the woman—alive."

The lead Reaver, a towering figure with half a face replaced by reinforced plating, saluted. "Command received."

The gates parted.

Dozens of black-armored Reavers stormed into the darkness, their boots pounding in perfect synchrony.

---

Location: Vault of Echoes – Outer Corridor

Victor, Nora, and Zuri stood before the third chamber's gate, lit by the symbols of trials already passed. Though their faces were calm, each bore fresh wounds—some seen, most not.

Zuri checked her blades. "We don't get breaks between trials?"

"Apparently not," Victor muttered.

Suddenly, a sharp hum disrupted the vault's usual silence.

Nora's brows furrowed. "Do you hear that? That sound—"

Victor's jaw clenched. "Engines."

The wall behind them burst open—stone exploding into debris as four Reavers emerged, rifles in hand, faces devoid of mercy.

"DOWN!" Zuri yelled, drawing her sidearm and firing two rapid shots.

Victor tackled Nora behind a collapsed pillar as the gunfire lit up the vault. "They found us!"

Zuri rolled forward and cut through a Reaver's neck with a hidden blade, sparks flying from the exposed circuitry.

"They're Dominion!" Nora gasped. "They shouldn't be able to enter this vault."

"They shouldn't," Victor agreed. "Which means someone inside let them in."

They had no time to think.

Ten more Reavers crashed through the other wall. One fired a concussion blast that sent Victor flying.

Zuri gritted her teeth and launched a series of explosives from her wrist rig, the resulting shockwave collapsing a portion of the roof and buying them a few seconds.

"We can't stay here," she barked.

Victor pulled Nora to her feet. "To the third gate—go!"

---

Location: Trial Chamber Three – The Maze of Bonds

They rushed through the threshold just as it sealed behind them.

Everything went silent.

The room was dimly lit and circular—walls lined with tall mirrors that reflected not just their bodies, but different versions of themselves. A younger Victor, filled with anger. A Nora in chains. A Zuri as a Dominion officer.

A new voice greeted them.

"Trial Three: The Maze of Bonds. Only those who trust beyond reason will find the path forward. Doubt will destroy. Love will lead."

Victor blinked. "We were almost killed, and now this?"

Zuri groaned. "It's emotional death now?"

Nora placed her hand on the nearest mirror. "It's not just a test… it's about us."

Victor stared at his reflection—broken and bloodied but still walking forward.

He whispered, "Then we pass."

Behind them, the wall trembled. Dominion's Reavers had begun cutting through.

The clock was ticking.