Alexandra stood alone at the center of the barrier control station, the lifeless bodies of Finn and Darius bearing silent witness to their failed mission. The Duke's massive hybrid form filled the shattered doorway, opalescent fluid flowing around him as his crystal appendages extended into the chamber. Homunculi poured in behind him, their silver bodies forming intricate patterns across the floor.
"A commendable effort," the Duke's layered voice resonated through the chamber. "But ultimately futile. The Convergence has progressed too far to be halted by simple desynchronization."
Alexandra raised her cyan-infused blade, its glow dimmer than before as her core energy depleted. Blood streaked her uniform from numerous wounds, but her stance remained defiant. She was the last survivor—the only one who could carry warning of what had happened here.
