A Western Kid’s Journey into the Eastern Cultivation World

The underground labyrinth echoed with the rumble of collapsing sand above. Elara followed Lyra's torchlight, her eyes fixed on Nox's back—specifically the faint purple brand peeking from his collar. "The betrayer in your midst." The guardian's warning thrummed in her temples.

"Wait," she said, stopping short. "Nox, what's that mark on your neck?"

Nox froze, his hand instinctively covering the spot. Lyra turned, confusion furrowing her brow. "What mark?"

Xander's laughter echoed from the shadows. "Oh, did I forget to mention our little arrangement?" He stepped from behind a stone pillar, twirling his scepter. "Nox here was so desperate to bring back his dead sister... he didn't even question why I needed a spy inside your little group."

Lyra's sword was at Nox's throat in an instant. "Is this true?"

Nox swallowed, his voice hoarse. "Xander said... he said he could reverse the soul severance. But when I saw what he did to the Worldtree..." He clenched his staff, knuckles white. "I never meant for anyone to get hurt."

Elara's heart ached, but she raised the shards. "We don't have time for this. The Heart of Azzar is ahead."

They pushed deeper into the labyrinth, walls covered in hieroglyphs depicting a figure with Xander's white hair standing before a glowing vortex. "That's the Time Vortex," Nox said, pointing to a mural where figures aged decades in seconds. "The Final Shard is at its center."

As if on cue, the corridor opened into a vast chamber. At its heart, a whirlwind of golden sand swirled, with a crystal shard pulsating at its core. But surrounding the vortex were statues of warriors frozen in mid - aging—their armor rusted, skin withered.

"Touch the shard, and the vortex will lock onto your life force," Xander said, circling them like a vulture. "I've already activated the trap. Now, hand over the shards, or watch your friend turn to dust."

Lyra stepped forward, but Elara held her back. "Wait—look at the mural's last panel." She pointed to a figure merging shards, causing the vortex to implode. "If we combine all shards at once, we can destabilize the vortex."

Nox nodded, his expression determined. "I'll create a shadow shield to buy time. Lyra, you get Elara to the vortex."

Xander sneered. "You think a traitor's shield can stop me?" He raised his scepter, summoning a horde of shadow - clad warriors.

Chaos erupted. Lyra slashed through shadows, Nox's shield wavering as Xander's magic pummeled it. Elara sprinted for the vortex, shards burning in her hands. The moment she touched the Final Shard, time itself seemed to stutter.

She saw Lyra aged fifty years, her hair white, sword arm trembling. Nox appeared as a teenager, his staff clattering to the ground. Xander's form flickered between a young man and an ancient wraith.

"Now, Elara!" Nox shouted, his voice high - pitched like a boy's.

Elara slammed the shards together. A blinding flash consumed the chamber, and the Time Vortex began to collapse. Xander howled, his body sucked into the implosion. But as the vortex vanished, Nox collapsed, his body reverting to normal—except for the purple brand, which now glowed brightly before fading away.

"Is he...?" Lyra asked, kneeling beside him.

Nox opened his eyes, coughing. "Xander... he's gone... for now." He looked at Elara, remorse in his gaze. "I'm sorry."

Elara helped him up, her heart heavy but resolved. "We need to get back to the Worldtree. With all shards merged, we can finally—"

A deafening crack cut her off. Through the labyrinth's ceiling, they saw the Worldtree's branches blackening, as if struck by a cosmic storm. Xander's voice echoed in their minds, "Fools! The shards were never meant to save the Worldtree—they're the key to its destruction!"

The merged shards in Elara's hand began to pulse with a dark, ominous light. They had collected the pieces, but maybe they'd just assembled the world's deadliest weapon.