Veil of Sparks

Kael crouched behind a jagged boulder, the chill of the simulation field's air biting at his skin. His hand tightened around the hilt of his dagger, the worn leather pressing into his palm as if to remind him of its presence. The faint hum of the Conduit Nexus pulsed behind him, steady and unyielding, a fragile beacon of stability in the chaos to come.

The battlefield stretched out in every direction, an unnatural mix of jagged terrain, glowing conduits, and eerie shadows that seemed alive. The distant sky churned with black and purple clouds, bursts of lightning illuminating the far-off cliffs and shadowy forests.

Kael adjusted his stance, his muscles tense. He glanced around at the others, their faces a mix of grim determination and tightly held nerves. The recruits had formed a loose perimeter around the Nexus, their weapons ready, their Sparks humming faintly in the charged air.

Evan stood at the front, his polished armor gleaming faintly in the Nexus's glow. His emerald-green eyes scanned the horizon, calm and focused. He raised his sword, the blade catching the light as he spoke.

"Stay sharp," Evan said, his voice firm but even. "The first wave is coming. Defend the Nexus at all costs. If it falls, we fail."

Kael swallowed hard, his grip tightening on his dagger. The weight of Evan's words pressed down on him. He could feel the hum of his Spark in his chest, restless and crackling faintly at the edges of his awareness. The relic fragment pulsed faintly along with it, like a second heartbeat.

The air shifted, a cold breeze brushing against Kael's skin as the shadows on the horizon began to move. At first, it was subtle—a flicker of motion just at the edge of sight. Then, the shadows solidified, growing darker, their forms taking shape as they surged forward.

The Wraithlings came in a twisted, skittering wave. Their bodies were jagged and incomplete, flickering unnaturally like broken reflections in a shattered mirror. Their glowing red eyes burned with malice as they closed the distance with alarming speed.

Kael's breath hitched. He'd fought Wraithlings before in the trials, but seeing them now, in the endless expanse of the simulation field, was different. Here, they didn't feel like enemies to defeat. They felt like predators.

"Hold the line!" Evan shouted, raising his sword as the first Wraithling lunged toward him.

Kael snapped out of his daze, his focus sharpening. He crouched lower behind the boulder, waiting for the creatures to get closer. His heart pounded in time with the crackle of his Spark, the lightning faint but ready.

The first Wraithling to reach him darted around the edge of the boulder, its jagged claws swiping toward his chest.

Kael ducked low, the claws slicing through the air above him with a sharp whistle. He pivoted sharply, his dagger flashing as he slashed upward. Lightning surged along the blade, the crackle of energy illuminating the Wraithling's distorted form.

The blade struck true, cutting through the creature's core. The Wraithling let out a distorted screech before collapsing into a wisp of dark smoke that dissipated into the air.

Kael exhaled shakily, his heart racing.

But there was no time to rest.

Another Wraithling came at him from the side, its movements faster and more erratic. Kael twisted away from its first swipe, his boots skidding against the uneven ground. The creature lunged again, and Kael barely managed to block with his dagger, the force of the impact sending a jolt up his arm.

He gritted his teeth, pushing back and countering with a sharp thrust. The lightning arced from his blade, striking the Wraithling in the chest. It convulsed before dissolving into smoke.

Kael's breaths came fast and shallow as he scanned the area. The other recruits were locked in their own battles, their Sparks flaring in bursts of light.

Allara's familiar figure stood out on the left flank, her movements quick and efficient as she cut down a Wraithling with a perfectly timed strike. She glanced in his direction, her voice carrying over the chaos.

"You holding up over there, Kael?"

Kael ducked under another swipe, his dagger slicing through the creature's arm. "So far, so good!"

"Good! Keep it that way!" Allara called back, a grin flashing across her face before she turned her focus to another Wraithling.

Her confidence gave Kael a brief surge of energy, but it was short-lived as two more Wraithlings surged toward him.

The battle became a blur of motion.

Kael darted between the jagged rocks, his dagger flashing as he struck down Wraithlings one by one. His Spark flared brighter with each attack, the lightning crackling along his arms in sharp, controlled bursts.

But no matter how many he defeated, more kept coming.

His breaths grew heavier, his muscles burning with exertion as he parried another strike. The Wraithling screeched as his dagger found its mark, the lightning surging through its body before it crumbled into smoke.

"Kael!" Evan's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Regroup at the Nexus! The second wave is coming!"

Kael staggered back, his chest heaving as he glanced toward the Nexus. Around him, the other recruits were falling back, forming a tighter defensive line around the glowing pillar.

He followed, his steps unsteady as the hum of the Nexus grew louder.

The ground trembled faintly, the vibrations running up Kael's legs. His stomach churned as he looked to the horizon.

The shadows shifted again, but this time, the figures emerging were larger, their forms more defined.

Shades.

Kael's jaw tightened. These mid-tier Umbral were slower than Wraithlings, but far more dangerous. Their bodies were solid and sharp, their glowing red eyes filled with cold malice.

Evan stepped forward, his sword blazing with golden light. "Focus your attacks on their weak points! Don't waste energy!"

The Shades moved with deliberate precision, their claws carving deep gouges into the ground as they advanced. Kael's Spark crackled faintly, the relic fragment pulsing sharply in his chest as he prepared himself.

One of the Shades locked onto him, its glowing eyes narrowing. It let out a low, guttural hiss before lunging forward.

Kael sidestepped the first strike, his dagger flashing as he aimed for the creature's side. The blade connected, but the lightning barely left a mark against the Shade's tougher body.

The creature swung its claws in a wide arc, forcing Kael to jump back. He gritted his teeth, adjusting his grip on the dagger as he tried to focus.

The relic fragment pulsed again, its energy syncing with his Spark. Kael's mind sharpened as he channeled the lightning along the blade, focusing it into a single, precise point.

When the Shade lunged again, Kael dodged low, his dagger flashing upward in a sharp, controlled strike. The blade pierced the creature's core, the lightning surging through its body.

The Shade shuddered before collapsing into dark smoke.

Kael staggered back, his chest heaving as he scanned the battlefield. The other recruits were locked in their own struggles, their Sparks lighting up the area in bursts of fire, ice, and lightning.

The hum of the Nexus grew louder, its glow pulsing in time with the chaos around it.

Kael gripped his dagger tighter, his knuckles whitening as he braced himself. The second wave was only the beginning.