Kael's mind was reeling from the revelations. He stared at Vexa, trying to process the implications. "What do you mean, I'm the key to unlocking it?"
Vexa's tendrils quivered, as if sensing his unease. "The Root has chosen you, Kael. Your unique abilities make you the only one who can facilitate the opening of the gateway."
Kael's grip on his plasma blade tightened. "And what's on the other side of this gateway?"
Vexa's gaze was enigmatic. "The Devouring. A realm of darkness and chaos. But also... possibility."
Suddenly, the ship's systems faltered, and the lights dimmed. A low hum filled the air, like the whispering of the Root.
"What's happening?" Kael asked, his voice low.
Vexa's eyes flicked to the side, as if monitoring some hidden data stream. "The ship's AI is malfunctioning. It's... adapting. Evolving."
The hum grew louder, and the ship shuddered. Kael stumbled, catching himself on a nearby console.
A shadowy figure coalesced in the corner of the room, its presence like a cold draft. Soot, the feral shadow creature, materialized, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly energy.
"It's here," Soot whispered, its voice like a sigh of wind. "The thing that's been tracking you, Kael. It's inside the ship."
Kael's heart sank. "What is it?"
Soot's gaze flicked to Vexa, then back to Kael. "A servant of the Root. Or something worse."
The ship lurched again, throwing Kael off balance. Vexa's tendrils extended, stabilizing him.
"We need to get out of here," she said. "Now."
As they fled the chamber, the ship's systems continued to fail, plunging them into darkness and uncertainty.