The mountain exploded into chaos.
Dark spears rained from the sky like meteors, tearing through stone, trees, and ancient ruins alike. Fire and shadow erupted across the battlefield.
Frank grabbed Elara and threw both of them behind a shattered pillar just as three spears crashed nearby.
The impact shook the ground violently.
"We can't keep dodging this!" Elara shouted over the destruction.
Nearby, Rhea raised a magical barrier, shielding herself from falling debris. Even Caelum had been forced backward by the Hollow King's assault.
The creature towered over all of them, glowing eyes burning with ancient rage.
Another wave of spears began forming overhead.
Frank clenched the artifact tightly. "There has to be a way."
Then the voice returned.
Clearer than ever before.
Your bond remains incomplete.
Frank froze.
Visions flashed through his mind again—ancient wielders fighting side by side, their energy fully intertwined with the artifacts.
Not separate users.
One force.
Elara suddenly grabbed his arm. "Frank… I can feel what it wants."
Their eyes met.
And for the first time since finding the artifact, there was no fear between them.
Only trust.
Rhea noticed immediately. "Wait… you're not thinking about full synchronization, are you?"
Caelum's expression sharpened instantly. "If they attempt that without preparation—"
"We don't have time!" Frank snapped.
The Hollow King roared again, charging another devastating attack.
The ruins around them were collapsing.
If they failed now, everyone in Aurenfall—and beyond—would die.
Frank looked at Elara. "Do you trust me?"
She stepped closer without hesitation. "Always."
The artifact blazed with golden light.
Energy spiraled around them violently as Frank and Elara placed their hands on the artifact together. Their magic and life force began merging completely, faster and deeper than ever before.
Pain hit instantly.
Frank staggered as memories not his own flooded into his mind—wars, lost civilizations, ancient guardians falling one after another.
Elara gasped as glowing markings spread across her arms.
Rhea looked terrified. "Their souls are synchronizing…"
Caelum watched silently, but for the first time, uncertainty crossed his face.
The Hollow King sensed the surge of power and turned toward them fully.
Too late.
A massive explosion of light erupted from the artifact, blasting away every falling spear in the sky.
Silence followed.
Then Frank slowly rose to his feet.
But something had changed.
Golden energy flowed across his body like living armor, while silver runes glowed along Elara's skin. Their movements synchronized perfectly—even their breathing matched.
They could feel each other's thoughts.
Every instinct.
Every heartbeat.
Elara looked at him in awe. "Frank…"
"I know," he said softly, already understanding her without words.
The artifact had fully awakened their connection.
The Hollow King attacked instantly.
This time, Frank didn't dodge.
He vanished.
A shockwave burst across the battlefield as he reappeared above the creature's arm, moving faster than human eyes could track. Elara's magic flowed through him seamlessly, amplifying every strike.
He drove his blade downward.
Golden energy exploded on impact, cracking the Hollow King's armor for the very first time.
The creature roared in pain.
Caelum stared upward, stunned.
"They actually achieved it…"
The Hollow King retaliated with a massive blast of dark energy.
Elara raised her hand calmly.
A glowing barrier appeared instantly around Frank before the attack could touch him.
Perfect synchronization.
Attack and defense as one.
The artifact pulsed brighter than ever before.
Then, deep beneath the battlefield, another pulse answered it.
Everyone froze.
Because this pulse did not come from the Hollow King.
It came from deeper underground.
And whatever was beneath them…
Was waking up too.