Fallen Connection

l and stone hurtling through the air. Nikolas barely managed to catch Erlan's arm, pulling him back just as the very foundation of the vault gave way. The ex

hest, the weight of what they had done suddenly too much to bear. The system was collapsing, but

djusted the console in front of her. Sparks flew from the control panel as it short-circuited in response to the sudden overload of energy. B

vault was now a maelstrom of destruction. The walls buckled inward, glowing conduits sparking in protest. It was

as he fought to maintain control of the magic within him. Every step he took w

s... it's pulling everything down. The core's failure has triggered a chai

lls began to cave in on themselves. Dust and debris filled the air,

oice sharp with panic. "We need to leav

astructure crumbling in on itself, like the final throes of a dying beast. The streets outside the Nexus were just as bad

of the Nexus were now completely gone, reduced to rubble and twisted metal. The city

voice filled with disbelief. "The Architects'

"We're still alive. We still have a chance. We

urning circuitry. The once pristine streets of the city were now warped, the buildings groaning as they swayed in the

ng heavily on him. "The city... it's too far gone. We can'

chitects would have rebuilt it. They would have kept con

oice hoarse with emotion. "Look around you

rrowing in frustration. "What are

around them. Finally, he spoke, his voice soft and heavy. "I don't know. Maybe we did the right thing.

s the city's lifeblood, and without it, everything was crumbling. But they couldn't change what had been done. The only

d through gritted teeth, desperation creeping in

x it. We need to get to the surface. The city's systems are gone, and the und

ld be. If they could make it there, maybe-just maybe-they could still find a way to rebuild. But it wasn't going to be easy.

ed streets. The air was thick with the smell of burning plastic and metal, the city's once-vibrant skyline now reduced to a sil

rection as they tried to escape the falling buildings and the collapse of the city's infrastructure. The

voice strained. "We're almost

main square, their faces grim and desperate. They were trapped, cut off from the exit, surrounded by a maze of collapsing buil

said, his voice tight. "We c

ty was falling apart. The survivors were trapped, and the only way to get to safety was through the

as said, his voice laced with r

an't just leave them. We're not like the Architects.

ir predicament. He knew she was right. He couldn't

ly. "We'll help them. Bu

ough the crumbling streets toward the surface. The chaos around them was overwhelming-people pushing

ke the very air. The ground beneath their feet trembled once again, and the sky overhead darkened with the smoke o

. The Architects were gone. The Nexus was destroyed. T

steady despite the chaos around them

heavy but resolute. "But