The black obelisk loomed in the hidden chamber, its void-etched runes pulsing with a cold, otherworldly light that seemed to drink the sanctum's warmth. Ethan's breath hitched, the air heavy with chaos essence that made his skin prickle and his wounds—charred leg, bleeding chest, cracked ribs—throb with a dull, insistent pain. The Core Matrix, stabilized by his anchor, glowed faintly behind him, but the obelisk's presence drowned it out, a predator in the room. The corruption in his mind roared, no longer a whisper but a command: Touch it. Become whole.He gripped the Chaos Reaver, its violet blade flickering as if wary of the obelisk. His essence was at 60/200, his artifacts—Voidfang Dagger, Chaos Gauntlet, Voidshard Bow, and Reaver—his only tether to sanity. The system's interface flashed, its warning stark.[Eclipse Forge System: Status]
Forger: Ethan Cole
Essence: 60/200
Skills: Void Forge (Tier 3), Essence Sense (20m)
Artifacts: Voidfang Dagger (Durability: 80/100), Chaos Gauntlet (Durability: 100/100), Voidshard Bow (Durability: 100/100), Chaos Reaver (Durability: 90/100)
Corruption: 15%
[Objective: Investigate the obelisk. Protect the Rift Spire.]
[Warning: Corruption at 15%. Obelisk contact risks total void integration.]"Total integration," Ethan muttered, blood crusting his lips. "Sounds like a great Tuesday." The corruption's command grew louder, painting visions: him, eyes void-black, wielding the obelisk's power, the Shattered Realms kneeling, Lira's lifeless body at his feet. His knees buckled, the Reaver's weight grounding him as he fought the urge to touch the stone.Lira limped into the chamber, her leg wound wrapped in blood-soaked cloth, stolen Covenant staff clutched like a crutch. Her scar-twisted smirk was gone, replaced by a grim intensity. "Ethan, don't do anything stupid," she said, voice hoarse. "That thing's bad news."Sylvara, supported by Kael, followed, her silver hair matted with blood. Her staff flickered, barely alight. "The obelisk is ancient," she rasped. "Older than the Covenant, tied to the void's birth. If it's awake, the Cabal's work isn't done." Kael, his mechanical arm sparking, scanned the chamber, rifle ready. The last scavenger, arm burned, guarded the entrance, spear trembling.Ethan's Essence Sense burned, the obelisk radiating chaos like a black hole. Smaller essence shards lay in the chamber's debris—titan remnants, drone scraps—but the obelisk's pull was overwhelming, its runes whispering in sync with his corruption. Zane's lingering signature nagged at him, the Blood Forger's laugh from Chapter 10 a promise of return. The Iron Archon's retreat felt too clean, a Dominion ploy to let the obelisk break him."Any bright ideas?" Ethan asked, voice strained, eyes on the obelisk. "Because this thing's screaming 'touch me,' and I'm not loving the vibe."Sylvara's gaze hardened. "It's a void anchor. It binds realms to the abyss. If you can't control it, destroy it—but that risks everything.""Great," Ethan said, sarcasm biting. "Save the world or blow it up. My kind of choice." His programmer brain churned, parsing options. Touching the obelisk could unlock its power or corrupt him fully. Destroying it might stop the Cabal but destabilize the spire. Crafting a tool to probe it safely was his best bet, but essence was tight, and Zane's return loomed."Lira, Kael," Ethan said, gripping the Reaver. "Watch the entrance. I need essence to deal with this thing.""You're playing with fire," Kael growled, but he moved, rifle sweeping. Lira nodded, leaning on the staff. "Don't lose yourself, newbie," she said, eyes soft for a moment, a flicker of fear beneath her grit.Ethan crept toward the debris, Essence Sense pinging a titan shard. The obelisk's runes flared, and a void pulse hit him, pain searing his mind. The corruption roared—you are ours—and his vision split: he stood in an abyss, the obelisk a throne, Lira's screams echoing. He clawed back, grabbing the shard.[Essence gained: +20. Current Essence: 80/200]A second shard lay near the obelisk's base, its glow dim under the runes' light. Ethan reached for it, but a void tendril lashed from the stone, grazing his arm. Pain burned, and the system flashed.[Corruption: +16%. Warning: Obelisk exposure accelerating integration.]The vision returned: Ethan, void-crowned, the Covenant ash, Zane's blood his offering. He screamed, snatching the shard.[Essence gained: +25. Current Essence: 105/200]The menu flashed—Voidprobe Scepter (100 essence, "Analyzes void artifacts, neutralizes minor effects"). Ethan crafted it, essence dropping to 5 as a slender, violet-etched rod formed, its tip glowing with chaos.[Crafting Success: Voidprobe Scepter (Tier 3). Durability: 100/100. Effect: Analyzes void artifacts, neutralizes minor effects for 30 seconds.]He aimed the scepter at the obelisk, its beam piercing the runes. The corruption's howl dulled, and data flooded the system.[Obelisk Analysis: Void Anchor (Tier 5). Binds realms to the abyss. Current state: Active, Cabal-linked. Neutralization requires 200 essence or destruction.]"Two hundred?" Ethan hissed. "Might as well ask for a unicorn." The scepter's effect faded, and the corruption surged, visions clawing: him, shattering the obelisk, the spire collapsing. He staggered, blood dripping, and Lira grabbed his arm, steadying him."Stay with me," she said, voice tight. "You're not going void on us."Ethan nodded, pain blurring his sight. The Matrix Conduit glowed, its essence untapped since stabilization. Channeling it could fuel the scepter, but risked corruption's grip. Essence Sense pinged—more shards in the chamber's corners, enough to try.He dove for a shard, the obelisk pulsing, tendrils lashing. Kael fired, bullets sparking off a tendril, buying time. Ethan grabbed it.[Essence gained: +20. Current Essence: 25/200]Another, under rubble.[Essence gained: +30. Current Essence: 55/200]A third, near the Matrix. The obelisk's runes flared, a void beam striking Ethan's chest. He screamed, flesh searing, and the system flashed.[Critical injury sustained. Corruption: +17%. Warning: Integration critical.]The vision consumed him: Ethan, void-king, the Realms burning, Lira's eyes empty. Sylvara's shout—"Fight it!"—pulled him back. He grabbed the shard, collapsing.[Essence gained: +25. Current Essence: 80/200]Ethan channeled the Matrix Conduit, essence surging.[Essence gained: +100. Current Essence: 180/200]The menu offered Chaos Suppressor (150 essence, "Neutralizes void artifacts, 60-second duration"). Ethan crafted it, essence dropping to 30 as a violet, rune-etched orb formed.[Crafting Success: Chaos Suppressor (Tier 3). Durability: 100/100. Effect: Neutralizes void artifacts for 60 seconds.]He activated the suppressor, hurling it at the obelisk. Violet light erupted, the runes dimming, tendrils dissolving. The corruption's howl quieted, but the system flashed.[Obelisk neutralized (temporary). Essence gained: +50. Current Essence: 80/200]Sylvara staggered forward, awe in her bloodied face. "You've done it, forger. The anchor's dormant—for now."Ethan panted, blood pooling, the Reaver his crutch. "Now what? Blow it up?""No," Sylvara said. "Seal it. The Matrix can bind it, but you'll need more power."Before Ethan could reply, Essence Sense screamed—Zane's blood-red signature, closing fast, with Dominion drones and a colder presence. The sanctum's entrance exploded, and Zane strode in, his gauntlet forming a crimson halberd, flanked by drones and a new figure: a tech-mage in red robes, eyes glowing with essence, a Dominion sigil pulsing on their chest."Eclipse Forger," Zane sneered, halberd gleaming. "The obelisk's mine, and so are you."The tech-mage raised a hand, essence chains erupting, binding Lira and Kael. Sylvara's staff flared, but a drone's beam struck her, and she fell, blood spraying. The system flashed.[Dominion Inquisitor detected. Threat Level: Extreme. Objective: Survive.]Ethan raised the Reaver, corruption whispering—fight, fall, rule. The obelisk's runes flickered, as if waking, and a void pulse hit him, vision darkening.