Lucas stood amidst the silent cavern, his breathing gradually steadying. The victory against the Abyssal Chimera was both dramatic and exhausting. He looked at the Nexus Crystal, now stable again, emitting a soft purplish-blue light. Its warning—The Great Collapse… coming again…—still echoed in his mind, more haunting than ever. He knew this was not the end, but the beginning of a much larger conflict.
As he was about to leave, a faint sound echoed from the cave's entrance. Lucas, with his enhanced hearing, immediately hid behind a large crystal formation. It wasn't Lightning Hunter. The footsteps were much lighter and more purposeful.
A figure slowly entered, cloaked in dark grey robes, slender but exuding a cold presence. Though her face was hidden by the hood, Lucas sensed a familiar energy. It was Elara.
She stopped in the middle of the cavern, her eyes scanning the space, seemingly searching for something. As her gaze swept over the disintegrating corpse of the Abyssal Chimera, Lucas felt a fleeting surprise, followed by a thoughtful expression. She showed no fear.
Elara approached the Nexus Crystal, her palm extended. A shimmering silver-white light flickered around her hand, and the crystal fragments in her armor reacted faintly. She, too, could sense the crystals, but in a different, more subtle way, perhaps for healing or gentle manipulation. Lucas realized: she was a true Crystal Warrior, not just a crystal user, but a part of it.
As Elara touched the Nexus Crystal, she also closed her eyes. But there was no overwhelming flood of memories like Lucas experienced. She simply stood there, calm, seemingly "listening" to the crystal's whispers.
After a few minutes, Elara opened her eyes. A complex expression appeared on her face—regret, worry, and even a hint of anger. She looked towards the Abyssal Chimera's corpse, then swept her gaze across the cavern, as if searching for someone. Lucas held his breath.
"What have you done here, Scavenger?" Elara whispered, her voice soft but echoing clearly in the cavern. She wasn't speaking directly to Lucas, but to the air. "You have awakened something that should not have been awakened."
Lucas flinched. She knew someone was here. She knew about him!
"Whoever you are, and however you gained this power," Elara continued, her gaze settling on Lucas's hiding spot, though she didn't look directly at him. "You have interfered with an ancient cycle. The Chimera's appearance was not random. It was a sign."
She paused, then continued in a colder tone. "But you destroyed it. While that act temporarily prevented further devastation, you have made things more complicated. You have attracted attention. And now, not only I, but others will come looking for you."
Lucas felt a chill run down his spine. "Others"?
"Do you think you are the only one seeking the power of the Great Collapse?" Elara scoffed, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "There are those who have hunted this secret for a long, long time, even before you knew of the Abyss's existence. And they will not be as gentle as I am."
Suddenly, Elara spun around, her sharp gaze directly on Lucas's hiding spot. He knew he couldn't hide anymore.
"Come out, Scavenger," she said, her voice now carrying a hint of steel. "You have delved too deep into secrets that should remain untouched. You have revealed a unique ability, which could be a key, but also a double-edged sword for all of us."
Lucas stepped out of hiding, his flashlight beam illuminating his face. Elara stared at him, her gaze dropping to the pure black scar on his palm. A look of astonishment crossed her face.
"That... you connected with the Nexus Crystal?" Elara whispered, seemingly forgetting her initial purpose. "And you... you transformed it?"
Lucas didn't reply. He simply looked back at her, his eyes holding the secrets of the Great Collapse he had just absorbed.
"You don't understand what you've done, Scavenger," Elara said, her voice laced with worry and a hint of reluctant admiration. "Your ability... it's dangerous. But also a hope."
Suddenly, from another dark corner of the cavern, a dry hiss echoed. It wasn't an ordinary Abyssal Creature. Lucas, with his heightened senses, felt an invisible energy presence, moving extremely fast.
"They're here," Elara gritted out. "The disturbance from your fight attracted them."
A blurred black shadow darted across their vision. They were Phantom Stalkers—Abyssal Creatures that were masters of stealth and speed, specializing in cleaning up what remained after major battles, and capable of perfectly hiding in the shadows.
One of them lunged at Lucas, making no sound. He felt a cold gust of air just past his ear. He dodged instinctively, but knew he couldn't deal with them alone.
"We need to cooperate," Lucas said, his voice steady.
Elara looked at him, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Cooperate? With a Scavenger of unknown origin?"
"Or we both die at their hands," Lucas retorted. He had no time to explain. He just knew that, with Elara's skills and power, combined with his knowledge and Crystal abilities, they might have a chance.
The Nexus Crystal glowed faintly behind them, like a beacon in the darkness, attracting all manner of danger. The real battle, not just for survival but for the fate of ancient secrets, had just begun. Lucas and Elara, two strangers bound by a mystery far beyond their comprehension, had to face the invisible hunters lurking in the shadows.