Chapter 28: Overwhelming Might
The heart of Shinya's Holy Sanctuary trembled violently, dust and shards of crystal raining from the vaulted ceilings. Flames from broken torches flickered wildly, casting shadows that danced across the marble floor. Moro, Kaya, and Hanks stood at the center of the chamber, battered but resolute, their auras colliding in a vivid display of elemental fury.
Moro's Matrix glowed brighter than ever, blue light radiating across the hall, illuminating the devastation wrought from the trio's earlier assaults. Kaya's water energy surged, forming a protective shield around her allies, cascading like a living river of force. Hanks' Colossum aura expanded, the very air trembling under his colossal presence. Together, they were a force to be reckoned with—yet what faced them was beyond reckoning.
The Celtic High Council, seated in their elevated dais, rose simultaneously. Each member emanated an aura that distorted reality itself. Their combined energy warped the air, creating gravity waves that pushed debris and weakened the floor beneath the trio's feet. With synchronized precision, the council unleashed a flurry of attacks.
Moro's Matrix flared as he dashed forward, striking the nearest council member with a barrage of punches that resonated like thunderclaps. Each blow sent ripples across the chamber, shattering crystal and marble alike. Kaya followed, her torrents of water slicing through shadows, forcing two council members to momentarily retreat. Hanks roared, his Colossum strength shattering pillars, sending shockwaves that buckled the floor beneath their opponents.
For a brief moment, it seemed the trio's combined assault was making progress. But the council's counterattack was instantaneous. A single sweep of dark energy flung Moro across the chamber, blue light dimming under the sheer force. Kaya's water shields were shredded, leaving her exposed to a barrage of piercing strikes. Hanks' massive fists, powered by Colossum energy, collided with an invisible barrier, sending him skidding across the hall with bone-jarring impact.
The council moved as one, strikes faster than thought, their energy warping the very fabric of the chamber. Light clashed with darkness, water with fire, brute force with psychic precision. The trio found themselves pushed to the brink, forced into desperate defensive maneuvers just to survive.
Moro's mind raced. This is it… this is what Father warned me about. His hands glowed as he summoned the full potential of his Matrix, aiming to overwhelm even a fraction of the council's defenses. He struck again and again, the energy spiraling outward, illuminating the chamber with searing brilliance.
Kaya, channeling all her rage and frustration, created a massive water pillar, launching it like a spear at the council. Her attack forced a few members back, but the remaining members responded with a synchronized energy wave that pulverized the ground, sending shards of rock and crystal flying toward her. She barely managed to shift her stance, countering with a water shield that absorbed some of the impact but left her fatigued.
Hanks, feeling the sting of repeated strikes, unleashed a devastating Colossum slam. The chamber shook violently as his fists collided with the floor, but even this show of strength barely staggered the council. They moved around him with unnerving coordination, hitting him with strikes that seemed to bypass all his defenses.
The battle intensified. Sparks of energy collided, shattering the chamber's delicate structure. The trio's combined aura illuminated every corner, revealing the council's mastery over the elements and dark energy. The air hummed with tension; the ground beneath them splintered into a jagged wasteland. Every strike, every block, every counterattack demanded all of Moro, Kaya, and Hanks' focus, yet still they were pushed to the edge of exhaustion.
Minutes stretched like hours. Moro's Matrix flared uncontrollably, his body glowing as he tapped deeper into his power. Yet, even with this surge, the council's combined force seemed insurmountable. Kaya's water torrents roared in defiance, but fatigue tugged at her limbs. Hanks' Colossum aura pulsed violently, but each strike was met with a superior countermove.
Suddenly, a coordinated strike from the council hit all three simultaneously. Matrix energy, water torrents, and Colossum force collided with a single, devastating dark wave from the council. Moro was flung into the wall, the blue aura flickering; Kaya crashed into a shattered pillar, water dispersing into mist; Hanks slammed to the floor, struggling to rise. The chamber echoed with the impact, dust and debris filling the air.
The council advanced, aura blazing. They were relentless, each movement precise and calculated. Moro, summoning the last reserves of his Matrix, struggled to stand. Kaya's water flared briefly, trying to shield him, while Hanks gritted his teeth, shaking off the impact. But even together, they could not withstand the relentless assault.
Every second was agony. Every movement required extreme effort. The trio gave everything—their strength, their skill, their determination—but the council's might was absolute. Each attack they launched was either blocked, redirected, or absorbed. The realization hit them: the Celtic High Council was on an entirely different level.
Moro's thoughts turned inward, recalling lessons from his father, training sessions that tested his limits, and every hardship endured to reach this point. He pressed on, Matrix energy flaring brighter, but even as he struck with renewed determination, he felt the crushing weight of the council's power.
Kaya, rage fueling her attacks, launched torrents that carved through the air, but the council's movements anticipated every strike. Hanks, Colossum energy at maximum, struck with colossal force, yet the council's energy shields absorbed it like it was nothing.
Finally, after a continuous onslaught of strikes and counterstrikes, the council delivered a synchronized blow. Matrix energy, water, and Colossum strength were all caught and neutralized by a single, overwhelming wave. Moro, Kaya, and Hanks were hurled across the chamber, battered, bruised, and barely conscious.
The chamber fell into eerie silence. The trio lay on the broken marble floor, energy flickering, wounds bleeding, and hearts racing. They had fought with everything, yet the Celtic High Council remained standing, unbroken, and unyielding.
From the dais, the council members radiated dark, incomprehensible power. They were an immovable force, a reminder that Moro and his allies had only just begun to challenge the world's true rulers. Outside, the rebellion raged. Herbet and the insurgents clashed with royal guards, but the council's aura loomed, oppressive and omnipresent.
Moro, struggling to rise, glanced at Kaya and Hanks. Their eyes met, unspoken acknowledgment passing between them: they had survived, but they were far from victory. The council's strength was a barrier they had barely begun to understand.
The chamber's shadows stretched long as the council turned away, leaving the trio wounded but alive—a grim warning of what was to come. Their defeat was temporary, but the price of underestimating their opponents had been made clear.
As Moro, Kaya, and Hanks struggled to their feet, battered and exhausted, they knew one thing: this battle had ended, but the war for Shinya—and the rebellion—was far from over. They would rise again. They had no choice.
Outside, the streets of Shinya burned with conflict, Herbet's rebellion gaining momentum, but the shadow of the Celtic High Council hung heavy over every soldier, every insurgent, every citizen. The true fight for freedom had only just begun.
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