The air hung heavy, thick with the scent of ozone and dust as Aeris stepped back, eyes locked on the cold reflection of herself — the rival who offered uncertain alliance. Behind her, Kael's fists sparked with restrained power, the tension palpable.
The broken streets beneath their feet cracked further, glowing veins of temporal energy spiderwebbing across the pavement, illuminating shards of fractured memories frozen in time. Flickers of past battles, lost promises, and shattered hopes shimmered like ghosts.
Aeris's heartbeat thundered in her ears. "Why should I believe anything you say?" she demanded, her voice cutting through the electric silence.
The rival's lips curled into a smile, sharp as shattered glass. "Because if we don't unite, the Paradox Guild wins. And then none of your timelines — none of your worlds — will survive."
Suddenly, a surge of energy exploded nearby. Kael's eyes darted to a group of Guild assassins emerging from the shadows, their weapons humming with dark energy. The fractured reality made them unpredictable — one moment solid, the next intangible.
With a roar, Kael unleashed a torrent of lightning, illuminating the twisted skyline in a blinding cascade. The assassins dissolved into streaks of smoke, but more appeared — relentless, merciless.
Aeris drew her blade, the edge shimmering with a radiant blue light that cut through the darkness like a beacon. Together, they moved as one, weaving through collapsing buildings and shifting realities.
Yet, as the battle raged, doubt gnawed at Aeris. Was this alliance a chance for salvation or the first step toward betrayal?
The fractured world trembled around them, reflecting the fracture growing in her heart.