A figure stood on the edge of the decaying platform, her silhouette bathed in the crumbling shadows of the Obliteri domain.

Maera Nihilus' cold, expressionless gaze swept over the landscape, watching as structures decayed and reformed in an endless cycle.

Her presence felt like a quiet whisper of inevitability, as if the world itself was on the verge of collapsing under her will.

A spherical disc hovered silently above her hand, consuming small particles of debris that floated too close.

From behind, a servant approached cautiously. His voice was hesitant but respectful. "Apex Nihilus, the elders await your decision regarding the Veriataga Nexus."

Maera didn't turn to face him. Her cold, white eyes remained fixed on the crumbling horizon, her voice distant. "The Nexus… what a pointless gathering."

The servant's throat tightened under the pressure of her presence. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "The other Apexes are preparing. They'll be expecting—"

"They'll expect nothing," she interrupted, her voice sharper than before. "I will participate, but not for them. The Nexus means nothing. It's the other Apexes participating that matter."

The servant nodded, bowing his head lower. "Of course, Apex. But the elders… they wish to know your plan."

Finally, Maera turned her head slightly, just enough to meet his gaze. There was no arrogance in her expression, only cold certainty. "Plans?" She stepped forward, causing the servant to flinch. "I have no need for plans. We act when necessary and nothing more."

The servant swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper. "As you wish."

Without another word, Maera turned her back to him and walked into the decaying mists of the realm, the spherical disc swirling and vibrating with intensity.

The Obliteri race.

The Obliteri were a race built around entropy and decay, not in a philosophical sense, but in their very nature.

Their cities and domains never remained whole for long, constantly crumbling and being rebuilt in endless cycles.

For them, it wasn't about achieving power or control—it was about enduring. To outlast what would eventually claim everything.

Maera Nihilus was the embodiment of this truth—apathetic to victory or defeat, focused only on survival in a world that was always on the verge of collapsing.

…

Through the thick, towering jungle of the Evolari realm, a figure moved with speed, her body shifting with every step to match the ever-changing environment.

The leaves seemed to lean toward her as if in reverence, and the creatures of the forest twisted and morphed, their forms adapting to her presence.

This jungle was alive in more ways than one—constantly evolving, constantly changing.

Beside her, another figure struggled slightly to keep pace. His form rippled and shifted with the terrain, just like hers, but there was a hesitation in his movement.

The figure leading the way was Kynara Flux, Apex of the Evolari, the embodiment of adaptation and evolution.

The scout walking alongside her, his skin shifting from rough, bark-like armor to sleek, agile muscle, finally spoke, his voice carrying a hint of frustration.

"Apex Flux, the elders grow concerned. This jungle… it's evolving too rapidly. The flora, the creatures—everything seems to be in a constant state of change. If it continues at this pace, we won't be able to maintain control."

Kynara's sharp eyes flicked toward the scout, her body already adapting to a new patch of terrain without conscious effort. She didn't stop moving as she responded, her voice calm yet commanding. "The jungle is doing what it's meant to do—adapt. The problem isn't the jungle. It's us."

The scout hesitated. "What do you mean?"

"We've grown complacent. We've been the apex predators of this domain for too long, forgetting that evolution never stops. Now, the jungle is reminding us that even we aren't immune to change."

Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to quake, and massive roots erupted from the earth, twisting and writhing like serpents. The scout stumbled back, his body struggling to adapt quickly enough. "What the hell—?!"

Kynara didn't flinch. With a flick of her wrist, a whip coiled around her arm shot out, slicing through the writhing roots with ease.

The whip's form shifted from a thin, agile weapon to a broad, heavy blade in an instant, severing the massive vines that threatened to engulf them.

The scout, panting and wide-eyed, said, "How did you—?"

"We evolve, or we die," Kynara said, her voice cold and steady. "This jungle is evolving to test us. And we either adapt faster than it can change, or we fall."

The scout's brow furrowed, still unsure. "But the higher-ups… they fear this rate of change. They think it's unsustainable."

Kynara's lips curved into a faint smile. "Sustainability is for those who fear the unknown. Fear is for the weak. The jungle is changing because it senses what's coming."

The scout's face paled slightly. "You mean… the Nexus?"

For the first time, Kynara stopped moving entirely, her gaze narrowing. The wind shifted, and for a brief moment, the jungle fell eerily silent.

Her body seemed to ripple with anticipation, her eyes sharp as they stared into the distance.

"The Nexus," she murmured, her voice low. "The others think it's simply a competition for dominance. But it's something far more. It will decide so many things."

The scout frowned, unsure how to respond, but Kynara didn't elaborate. Instead, she turned her back to him, her form shimmering as the whip coiled itself tightly around her arm once more.

The jungle around them began to shift again, but this time, it was as though the landscape was bowing to her, acknowledging her as its rightful ruler.

The scout hesitated, still confused. "What do you think the Nexus represents, Apex Kynara?"

Kynara smiled faintly, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "The ultimate test."

Before the scout could ask further, Kynara moved again, effortlessly gliding through the dense jungle as it reshaped itself around her.

The Evolari race.

The Evolari were a race born of constant change. Their bodies, their minds—everything about them was built to adapt.

In the Evolari realm, nothing stayed the same for long. The environment shifted daily, the creatures evolved with every breath, and the people were no different.

From birth, an Evolari learned to adapt to their surroundings, their bodies morphing and shifting to survive whatever threat appeared. They were a race that believed in one truth: change or die.

Their power lay in their ability to evolve in real time, making them nearly impossible to predict in battle.

The Evolari didn't believe in perfection because perfection was stagnation. For them, life was a constant cycle of adaptation, a race to stay one step ahead of whatever came next.

The Evolari were one of the superior races of Eldoralth, and their Apex, Kynara Flux, was prepared for the Veriataga Nexus.