The battle had stretched on for what seemed like hours, with no sign of respite. The shadow had grown stronger with every passing moment, its dark form pulsing like a heart of malevolent energy. It surrounded them all, creeping closer with each step, feeding off the fear and doubt that had begun to gnaw at the Guardians' resolve. The air felt thick, oppressive, suffocating. Every breath was a battle against the weight of darkness.

But Sarlon stood at the front, her resolve unbroken, despite the agony she felt in her body. She could hear the others fighting behind her, but her focus was singular: the shadow before them. She was the only one who truly understood its power, the force that had once consumed her, and the fear that had brought her to the edge of destruction. But she would not let that happen again. Not here. Not now.

The shadow lunged toward her with terrifying speed, tendrils of dark energy reaching for her, seeking to crush her. Sarlon raised her arms, her heart beating wildly in her chest. She called upon the dormant power she had once used, the energy that had been sealed away for so long. The stone at her chest flared to life, the fire within her burning brighter than it had ever done before. Her hands trembled as she extended them outward, and with a surge of raw power, she sent a wave of light crashing into the shadow.

It recoiled, but only for a moment.

The shadow was relentless. It twisted around Sarlon, weaving through the air like smoke, ever-present, suffocating. The energy from her fire began to flicker, threatening to extinguish. She gritted her teeth and dug deeper, forcing the light within her to burn brighter. The pain was unbearable, but she had no choice. She could not fail.

As she pushed forward, the shadow grew bolder, striking out with jagged tendrils of darkness, slashing at her body. Sarlon cried out as one of the tendrils pierced her side, her blood staining her robes. She stumbled but did not fall. The pain only fueled her determination.

"Help me!" she gasped, her voice ragged.

The Guardians, who had been fighting fiercely to hold their ground, rushed toward her, sensing the danger. Amaya, her fire bright and fierce, was the first to reach Sarlon. She reached out and grasped Sarlon’s hand, her red stone glowing with a steady warmth.

"Hold on, Sarlon," Amaya said, her voice fierce. "We're not letting you face this alone."

As her fire connected with Sarlon’s, the two forces combined, their energies melding together in a dance of flame and light. The shadow recoiled again, screeching as if in pain, but it was far from finished.

Lina was next, her emerald stone glowing as she placed her hand upon Sarlon’s other arm. The earth surged around them, rocks and soil shifting under her will. Her connection to the earth filled Sarlon’s body with strength, the raw power of the land grounding them both.

"We've got you," Lina said, her voice steady, despite the chaos. "We'll break through this, together."

The earth rumbled beneath them, and the shadow began to shrink, though it still fought to break free. But it was not enough. It was then that Kai and Reya arrived, their presence an unmistakable force of nature.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Kai’s blue-white stone flared to life as wind spiraled around him. He took a deep breath, exhaling as the winds surged forward, howling like a storm as they whipped through the air. The gusts seemed to cut through the shadow, pushing it back, its form faltering for a moment.

“We will end this now!” Kai shouted, his voice a force of nature all on its own.

Reya was the last to join, her deep blue stone glowing with a serene, powerful light. She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the pulse of the water within her, the connection to the flow of life. She raised her arms, summoning the power of the oceans, the depths of the seas, the calming but unstoppable force of water. Water surged in response to her call, crashing forward in waves of power that joined with the wind and fire, pushing back the shadow, drowning it in light and liquid.

Together, the Guardians formed a circle around Sarlon, their powers flowing into her like a river rushing toward the sea. Each of their energies heightened hers, pushing her own power to the limit. The light that surrounded them was blinding, so brilliant it burned the shadow from every corner of the battlefield.

Sarlon could feel their connection. It was more than just the power of the elements combined; it was the bond they had formed over their trials, their shared struggle, and their mutual understanding of what was at stake. This was what they had fought for. This was what they would die for.

The shadow screeched in fury, but its form began to falter as the combined might of the Guardians overwhelmed it. The tendrils that had once reached for them shriveled and burned, the darkness dissipating as light, earth, wind, and water tore it apart.

And then, in one final, explosive surge of energy, the shadow collapsed, disintegrating into nothingness.

For a moment, there was silence.

Sarlon, barely standing, trembled as the power within her began to ebb. The light faded, leaving them in the dim aftermath of the battle. She could feel the weight of the energy she had unleashed, the toll it had taken on her body.

She was barely conscious as she collapsed, her strength gone. Her injuries were too severe, and the force of the battle had drained her. Blood trickled from her side, staining the earth beneath her, but she didn’t care. They had won. The shadow was gone.

Amaya, Lina, Kai, and Reya rushed to her side, their concern evident on their faces. But Sarlon smiled faintly, her eyes heavy with the exhaustion of the battle.

“We did it,” she whispered, her voice hoarse.

The Guardians knelt beside her, each one silent, but filled with awe at the strength Sarlon had shown, despite the toll it had taken on her body.

As Sarlon’s eyes fluttered closed, the Guardians shared a moment of quiet understanding. They had faced the darkness, and together, they had emerged victorious. But even in that moment of triumph, they knew this battle was far from over.

There would always be more to fight for.

And as Sarlon’s fading voice echoed in the stillness, the Guardians knew they would stand together, no matter what came next.