The roar of the Void King faded across the mountains.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Evans looked around.
The battlefield was covered in dust and broken stone.
Everyone was still standing.
But barely.
Leon leaned against his sword, breathing heavily. His uniform was torn at the shoulder, and several bruises covered his arms. Faint sparks flickered around his fingers.
"I'm fine," he said before anyone could ask.
Aria glanced at him.
"You're obviously not fine."
Leon sighed.
"I'm mostly fine."
Aria herself wasn't much better.
Her cloak was torn, one sleeve was scratched, and a bruise was forming along her shoulder. She flexed her arm carefully before reaching for another arrow.
Kael noticed.
"Don't force it."
Aria shook her head.
"We still have a battle to finish."
Kael looked down at his own armor.
Several pieces were cracked, and his breathing was heavier than before.
"I know."
Nearby, Olivia was kneeling beside Evans.
"Evans, look at me."
He looked up.
A cut marked his cheek, and his clothes were covered with dust. His Shadow Power flickered around him instead of flowing smoothly.
"I'm okay."
Olivia frowned.
"You always say that."
Evans tried to stand.
His legs nearly gave way.
Olivia caught his arm.
"See?"
Evans sighed.
"Okay. Maybe I'm a little tired."
"A little?"
She pointed toward the ground.
"You almost fell."
Evans looked at his hands.
They were trembling.
"My Shadow Power is running low."
Olivia's expression softened.
"Then don't use everything at once."
She placed her hand over his.
A small amount of Light flowed into him.
Evans felt his strength return slightly.
But Olivia suddenly winced.
Evans noticed.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
"Just exhausted."
The Lumina Mark on her palm was glowing faintly.
Kael approached them.
"Your powers are draining each other."
Evans looked at him.
"What?"
"Light and Shadow can synchronize," Kael explained, "but your bodies aren't yet strong enough to handle that much power repeatedly."
Olivia looked at Evans.
"So if we keep doing it…"
"You could both collapse," Kael said.
The Shadow Sovereign walked toward them.
He looked at every member of the group.
Leon.
Aria.
Kael.
Olivia.
Then Evans.
"You have all been fighting beyond your limits."
Leon straightened.
"We're still standing."
The Sovereign looked toward the Void King.
"For now."
Everyone turned.
The enormous creature had not moved.
It was watching them.
Waiting.
Evans slowly stood.
His injuries hurt.
His body was exhausted.
His Shadow Power was unstable.
But he raised his blade anyway.
"We don't have a choice."
The Shadow Sovereign looked at him.
"Yes, you do."
Evans paused.
"You can choose to survive this battle."
The Sovereign pointed toward the others.
"Strength is not pretending you aren't hurt."
He looked at Evans.
"Strength is knowing your limits and trusting your allies."
Silence followed.
Leon smiled faintly.
"So… we fight smarter."
Aria nodded.
"Together."
Olivia stood beside Evans.
"Together."
Kael raised his sword.
The Shadow Wolf stepped forward and growled.
Evans looked at his friends.
Then he tightened his grip.
"Together."
The Void King suddenly lifted its head.
The ground began trembling again.
The Sovereign's expression hardened.
"Rest while you can."
The creature took one enormous step forward.
BOOM.
Evans raised his Shadow Blade.
Olivia's Light began glowing.
Leon gathered the last sparks of lightning around his hands.
Aria drew her bow.
Kael prepared his sword.
The group was wounded.
Exhausted.
Outmatched.
But they were still standing.
And this time, they would not fight alone.
To be continued…