The Shattered Constellations Between Stars

Nyx activated Echo Vision, the familiar tingling sensation brushing against her senses. It took a while, longer than she expected, and for a few tense moments, she wondered if it would even work in this strange, glowing cavern. She strained to focus, eyes narrowing as she tried to pick up on the magical energy around her. At first, there was nothing but the cold air and the faint hum that vibrated through the stone.

But then, slowly, shapes began to emerge. Subtle movements in the corners of her mind, like shadows caught in the light. The creatures’ auras glinted faintly, little sparks of life pulsing against the magic that saturated the cave. The more she focused, the more defined the shapes became—spindly legs, crystalline bodies moving in eerie unison.

Nyx gasped softly, her breath fogging in the cold air. “I see them,” she uttered, her voice barely above a whisper, but filled with certainty.

“Good.” Drac’s gruff voice rumbled beside her, a deep sound that seemed to vibrate through the cavern. “Let’s go.”

With Drac’s command, the group moved forward. They ventured deeper into the Crystalfang dungeon, where the cavern gleamed with an almost otherworldly light. The walls were embedded with jagged crystals, their sharp edges catching the sparse light and casting fractured reflections. Every glint made the cave seem alive, as though the stone itself were watching them.

The cold air pressed in on them, biting at their skin, and each step echoed faintly against the cavern’s floor, the sound growing distant as if swallowed by the cave itself. Nyx’s heartbeat synced with the faint hum that vibrated through the stone beneath her feet. The hum was unsettling, like the dungeon itself was alive, pulsing with energy that only added to the tension in the air.

Her awe was slowly replaced by a sharp focus. This was unlike any dungeon she’d faced before. It felt different. Dangerous. She knew she would need to be vigilant, to keep her senses sharp.

The atmosphere shifted as they trudged through the winding path, the air growing thicker, almost oppressive. Nyx’s hand tightened on her weapon, her eyes darting around, waiting for something—anything—to emerge.

“Stop,” Drac’s voice cut through the cold air like a blade. His tone was commanding, leaving no room for hesitation.

Nyx froze, her senses on high alert. She felt it too—the shift in the air, the subtle flicker of movement just beyond the edges of her vision. The faint sound of legs scraping against stone.

From the shadows, they emerged. The Crystalfang spiders. Their bodies shimmered like polished gemstones, their exoskeletons refracting the light from the crystals embedded in the walls. They were beautiful in a way—if beauty could be found in something so deadly. As they moved, the air around them crackled with energy, their crystalline legs glowing faintly as they pulsed with elemental power. Ice, fire, and lightning coiled inside their bodies, waiting, building, ready to strike with devastating fury.

Nyx’s gaze shifted upward, her heart pounding as the spiders gazed down at them from their high perches. They moved with calculated grace, their many eyes gleaming, tracking every movement of the group below.

Without hesitation, Nyx handed Airy to Len, her hand steady despite the growing tension. She reached for her weapons, feeling the comforting weight of them in her hands, and took a deep breath. She focused, her mind centering as her gaze locked onto the spiders’ cores, faintly glowing within their crystalline forms.

Drac’s voice rumbled again, low but commanding, filled with the calm authority of someone who had faced countless battles. “Remember,” he began, “to use Solar Aegis in this cavern. Activate the radiant shield to block their elemental attacks. Fire, ice, or lightning—whatever they strike with, the shield will absorb it. And when they hit, it’ll release bursts of light energy that can damage their exoskeletons.”

Nyx nodded, summoning the magic to her fingertips. She could feel the power of Solar Aegis building inside her, the warmth of the radiant shield as it shimmered to life around her, ready to protect and retaliate.

“And,” Drac continued, his eyes shifting toward the jagged crystals lining the cave walls, “use Lightning Mastery in tandem with it. These spiders are made of crystal—their bodies conduct electricity. Channel your lightning through the cavern’s crystals. Chain the attack between multiple spiders. Take advantage of their susceptibility to electricity.”

Nyx exhaled slowly, her breath steadying as she prepared herself for the battle ahead. She could feel the energy humming through her, the magic swirling in her veins as she readied herself to combine both abilities. The Crystalfang spiders watched from above, their legs twitching with anticipation.

This was it—the moment of challenge she knew was coming. And she was ready.

***********************************************

Nyx tried her best to follow Drac’s guidance, focusing on her breathing, steadying her hands, and recalling every piece of advice he had given her. She summoned Solar Aegis, watching as the radiant shield formed around her, shimmering with magic. She blocked the first wave of elemental attacks from the Crystalfang spiders, feeling the impact as fire and lightning struck the shield, the energy absorbed into its protective glow. Her heart pounded in her chest as she prepared her counterattack, unleashing bursts of light energy that cracked against the spiders’ crystalline exoskeletons.

But it wasn’t enough. As quickly as she struck, the spiders retaliated. Their elemental fury was relentless—ice slicing through the air, flames licking at the edges of her shield, lightning crackling between the crystals embedded in the cave walls. Nyx struggled to keep up, each movement becoming more difficult as the battle wore on. She was trying to combine Solar Aegis with Lightning Mastery, just as Drac had taught her, but the spiders were too fast, their attacks too coordinated.

Her muscles began to ache, her focus faltered, and the air around her felt suffocating. She could hear the crackling energy of the spiders’ elemental attacks closing in, and despite her best efforts, she couldn’t seem to control the flow of battle. The crystals reflected her movements back at her in fragmented pieces, each one a reminder of how far she was from mastering the fight. The frustration began to build, gnawing at her resolve.

No matter what she did, it wasn’t working. The spiders weren’t falling as they should, and every move she made felt slower, weaker. Her thoughts were clouded with doubt, and she could feel herself losing control. After what felt like an eternity of struggle, her frustration finally boiled over.

In a surge of desperation, she activated Chrono Collapse. The familiar rush of power swept over her, bending the flow of time itself as everything around her slowed. The spiders’ movements became sluggish, their elemental energy suspended in the air like droplets frozen in place. For a brief, fleeting moment, Nyx felt a sense of control again.

But before she could act, Drac’s voice cut through the stillness with sharp authority.

“Stop!” His command echoed through the cave, snapping her out of her spell.

Nyx’s heart dropped as the spell faded, and she turned toward him, her pulse quickening with dread. She could feel the weight of Drac’s gaze, heavy with disapproval.

Drac crossed his arms, his stance unyielding. “Chrono Collapse? Now?” His voice was low and stern, each word carrying the weight of his disappointment.

Nyx’s throat tightened, and she swallowed hard, knowing she had overstepped. She dropped her gaze, her voice barely a whisper. “I couldn’t… I couldn’t keep up. I thought if I used it, I could end this.”

Drac shook his head, his gaze unwavering. “You can’t rely on your strongest ability every time you’re challenged. What will you do when you face someone who can counter it? You have to learn to use all of your skills, not just the ones that give you the most power.”

Nyx clenched her fists, her frustration simmering just below the surface. She knew he was right, but the sting of failure gnawed at her. She had wanted to win, to prove herself, but she had only proven that she wasn’t ready. “I understand,” she muttered, though the words came out harsher than she intended.

Drac’s expression softened, but his tone remained firm. “Your abilities aren’t just weapons. They’re tools. You have to know when to use each one. Some skills are meant for attack, some for defense. You have to be able to switch between them. Otherwise, you’ll leave yourself open.”

Nyx sighed heavily, the anger draining out of her, leaving only a hollow feeling of disappointment. She hated the sense of weakness that clung to her, the feeling that she had failed not just herself, but Drac as well. “I get it,” she said, her voice quieter this time, the edge of frustration gone.

Drac nodded. “Good. Now take a rest. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard.”

Reluctantly, Nyx sat down on a nearby rock, leaning against the cool surface of the cave wall. She closed her eyes, letting the icy air cool her skin as she tried to catch her breath. Her body ached, and her magic felt drained, but more than anything, she felt the weight of her own expectations bearing down on her. She had wanted to prove herself in this fight, to show that she was growing stronger, but instead, she felt as though she had only proven her own limits.

After a short while, Nyx stood again, her legs shaky but her resolve firm. She wasn’t ready to give up yet. She faced the dungeon once more, summoning her magic, but despite her best efforts, it wasn’t enough. The Crystalfang spiders moved with precision, their attacks coming faster than she could counter. The pressure mounted with every passing moment, and soon, the realization hit her like a wave.

She couldn’t do it.

Her heart sank as she turned to Drac, her voice small and filled with defeat. “I… I can’t do it. I’ve tried, but I can’t.”

The words tasted bitter on her tongue, heavy with the weight of failure. Nyx hated admitting it, hated the way it made her feel—weak, unworthy. She had always pushed herself to be stronger, to rise to every challenge, but today, she had fallen short.

Drac walked over to her, his towering form casting a long shadow over her, but his gaze was kind. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry,” he said, his voice steady and calm. “You’ve made progress. It’s not about winning every fight. Sometimes, you have to take a step back and try again later.”

Nyx nodded, though the disappointment still clung to her. “I just thought I’d be able to do it,” she muttered, the frustration still simmering beneath the surface.

“You will,” Drac said firmly, his confidence in her unwavering. “Next time. You’re learning, and that’s what matters. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

Nyx looked up at him, her resolve slowly returning. She couldn’t give up. Not yet. “I’ll defeat them next time,” she vowed, her voice steady with determination. “I won’t stop until I do.”

Drac nodded, his expression one of approval. “Good. We’ll try again when you’re ready.”

With that, Nyx took a deep breath, letting the tension ease from her body. She hadn’t won today, but she wasn’t finished—not by a long shot. She would return, stronger and more prepared, and next time, she would face the challenge head-on.