Elara sat on the chamber floor, her chest heaving as the third shard's steady glow lit the room. The air felt lighter now, but a faint pulse from the relic's remains hinted at something more.
Her hazel eyes searched the shadows, a mix of relief and curiosity in her gaze. Her blood-streaked bandages clung tight to her wounded arm and thigh, the disruptor resting in her lap, its surface still warm from the fight.
Lira leaned against her, her sharp features pale and tired, her glowing scar flickering on her ruined chest, a sign of her Nexus core fusion. As Mira's closest friend and a former Project Nexus test subject, her multiple identities flickered, but her soft telepathic voice said We're safe in Elara's mind.
Elara stood up, her voice rough but steady. "That pulse means something. The lost bloodline's tied to it—we need to find out what. Let's check it out."
The vision of Mira's plea and the bloodline's destiny pulled her forward.
Kael nodded, his gruff tone warm.
"I'll lead—blast any surprises. Stick with me!"
His big hands gripped a detonator, his crooked grin showing through the pain in his leg, his bravery a steady force.
Nyx sat up, her Australian drawl cutting in. "I'll track the pulse—keep us on course. But if this echo's trouble, we're in for it." Her lenses flared as she worked.
Saria's voice was calm and firm.
"The Luminants will protect you. The bloodline's echo holds the key—your blood will reveal it."
Her energy pulse wove a faint shield, her fluid movements and strength a marvel of her gifts.
Vey shifted uneasily, his voice shaky. "The pulse… I sensed it before. I hid data—thought it'd save us."
His nervous twitches showing a secret he couldn't bury, his eyes begging for understanding.
Lira squeezed her hand, her voice a weak whisper. "For Mira… I'll help."
Her telepathic link pulsed We're together, her resolve a fragile light, her Nexus core stirring with memories of their friendship.
They moved toward the pulse, the air growing colder as they followed a cracked passage. The walls glowed with faint runes, and Kael blasted a hidden door, the explosion echoing, revealing a smaller chamber.
At its center floated a pact echo—a swirling mass of green energy, its shape shifting like a ghost, its voice a low hum.
"Bloodline seekers," it intoned, "the pact demands a test."
The echo lashed out, energy tendrils pinning Kael and Nyx to the walls, their struggles weak against its force.
Saria leapt forward, her energy pulses clashing with the tendrils, her agility a blur.
"Elara, face it!" Her strength held, but the echo's power pushed her back.
Kael grunted, his voice a growl.
"Get us free, you misty freak!" His strength fought the tendrils, but his leg weakened under the strain.
Nyx squirmed, her lenses scanning fast.
"It's pure Flux! I'll disrupt it!" Her quick hands clawed at a rune panel, her wit sharp.
"Eat this, you glowy ghost!" Sparks flew, loosening the grip slightly.
Vey shouted, his voice trembling.
"It's the bloodline's guard! Be careful!" His hands traced the runes, his fear mixing with guilt as he tried to help.
Lira crawled closer, her telepathic link strong. Go now, Elara! Her weak shot distracted the echo, giving Elara a chance.
She stepped forward, her blood dripping as she raised the disruptor toward the swirling mass. The echo roared, energy surging, and the chamber shook.
Tendrils tightened on Saria and Vey, their struggles fading.
Elara pressed harder, her blood soaking the disruptor.
"Show us the truth!" The energy flared, and a vision hit her—Mira's form, her eyes pleading, surrounded by ancients forging the pact, a leader in shadow handing over the third shard to a new bloodline.
The echo's form wavered, its voice softening.
"The lost bloodline rises—prove your claim."
Saria gasped, her pulse fading.
"Keep going—your blood!" Her strength waned, but her resolve held.
Kael broke free, roaring as he tackled the tendrils. "Finish it!" His leg gave out, but he kept fighting.
Nyx hacked faster, her voice strained. "Almost there—break it!"
Her wit pushed her on, sparks intensifying, loosening the tendrils.
Vey shouted, his voice breaking.
"The runes are shifting—hurry!" His hands steadied, his guilt easing as he helped.
Lira dragged herself to Elara, her Nexus core flickering, memories of Mira flooding her mind. "For her…"
She added her blood to the disruptor, the energy exploding. The echo shrieked, its form dissolving into light, the chamber stabilizing.
A hologram appeared—a figure with silver hair and gray eyes, not Calder or Veyra, but a new leader, their voice echoing.
"I am the lost bloodline's heir. Unite us, or the pact consumes all."
Elara fell back, Lira beside her, her telepathic voice soft. We found them. Kael limped over, grinning.
"Tough one—got it!" Nyx rubbed her side, her lenses brightening. "Bloody wild!"
Saria nodded, her strength steady, her pride clear. Vey stared, his guilt lifting.
"The heir… it's real."
The room grew quiet, the hologram fading, but the heir's words lingered. The lost bloodline's call grew stronger, the pact's destiny far from settled.