Chapter 16 — Seeds of Rebellion
Wind from that forgotten world struck Ziza's and Riven's faces, carrying the scent of metal, blood, and ash. The city below them breathed slowly in ruin, the remains of tall buildings resembling broken teeth pointing towards the dark sky. But among the destruction, something else began to appear — a small, faint light, as if life still persisted, hidden amidst the debris.
Ziza pointed towards the source of the light. "Look. Someone is still alive."
Riven frowned. "Or a trap."
Despite their hesitation, they both moved towards the source of the light, descending through streets full of debris and shadows. Each step stirred up thick dust and echoing creaks. As they got closer, the shape of a small temple became clear, almost collapsed yet somehow still standing.
In front of the temple stood someone — a figure in a black robe with an ancient symbol gleaming faintly on his chest. He seemed like a part of the ruins himself, as if he had stood there for thousands of years.
"Welcome, intruders from the new world," the figure's voice was deep and hoarse. "You have crossed the boundaries of time. Not many can survive this far."
Ziza and Riven were instantly on alert. Ziza prepared her undead energy, and Riven activated his magic weapon — a glowing blue dagger that pulsed with his heartbeat.
"Are you part of the Nexus?" Ziza asked, her voice cold.
The person chuckled softly. "Nexus? No. I am a remnant of this world. An anomaly. Like you."
Ziza sharpened her gaze. "Then, who are you?"
"I am Nyvarth, the last guardian of this world," the figure replied, opening his hood and revealing a face that was half-human, half-monster — his skin cracked like stone, his eyes emitting a greenish light. "I am here to plant a choice."
Riven stepped forward. "What choice?"
Nyvarth raised his hand, and in an instant, the space around them shifted. Holographic images appeared — showing how the Nexus was created. They were once the guardian race of this world, sacred beings who protected the balance. But power corrupted them. They decided that the world would only be stable if all forms of life submitted under their absolute rule.
"And that," Nyvarth continued, "was the beginning of destruction."
Ziza watched the images, her jaw clenched. "So the Nexus are... fallen gods."
Nyvarth nodded slowly. "And your world is next."
Silence fell for a moment, only the sound of whispering wind was heard.
"What is the choice?" Riven pressed.
Nyvarth lowered his hand, making the illusion disappear. "You can leave... surrender... join the flow of destiny heading towards destruction."
Or...
Nyvarth held out a small artifact, shaped like a slowly pulsing crystal seed. "Plant this seed in your world. Let the old power rise. But remember, awakening this power means awakening a power that even the Nexus themselves fear."
Ziza stared intensely at the seed. "Old power... that can fight the Nexus?"
"Or destroy your world faster," Nyvarth said with a wry smile.
A nearly impossible choice. But Ziza knew one thing: if they merely endured without change, they would surely lose.
Ziza took the seed from Nyvarth's hand. As she touched it, a surge of wild power surged into her — like connecting herself to something far greater than herself.
Nyvarth stepped back, and his body slowly began to crumble into black dust carried away by the wind. "The choice has been made. Your destiny has turned."
In a few seconds, Nyvarth vanished completely.
Ziza and Riven stood silent, holding the seed of old power that now shone brighter in Ziza's hand.
"We are truly insane," Riven whispered.
Ziza merely smiled faintly. "Then let's end this madness with something even greater."
They turned, ready to return to the real world, ready to plant the seed of rebellion — a seed that might be humanity's only hope.
Or a worse disaster.