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Chapter 36: The Light's Precision (Part 2) – Tactical Collapse
The battlefield was chaos—energy pulses, shattered terrain, and searing pressure from both sides. Unit 06, led by Kayden's sharp commands, had begun overwhelming Unit 02's defenses. Mirrors cracked. Walls collapsed. The tide was turning.
But Lexa—Unit 02's calm and calculating captain—hadn't played her full hand.
As Unit 06 moved in for the final strike, Lexa's light aura expanded. Her eyes gleamed. "They think we're done," she whispered to herself.
From her position, she touched the last remaining shard of her Radiant Convergence and redirected its energy not outward—but inward. A sudden pulse erupted.
Flash Reversal.
A blinding wave surged across the field—not light for destruction, but light that carried signals. Pre-coordinated frequencies. A tactical reactivation.
Her team responded instantly.
"Talon—now!"
The earth beneath Devin's feet rose sharply—Talon had been hiding part of his energy reserve. The spike launched Devin into the air—straight into Kael's waiting Wooden Vines, which slammed him into the wall, eliminating him.
"Eira!" Lexa shouted.
The frost user, still dazed, managed to regain balance just enough to freeze Henry's leg mid-air. Mira redirected the frozen terrain into a trap—wind and water locking around him before slamming him to the ground. Out.
Kayden charged forward with Storm Hammer—but Lexa was faster. She anticipated his move, dashing past him and sending a beam of concentrated light through his side, not lethal—but powerful enough to knock him out of the ring.
Kira tried to snipe her with Frost Arrow, but Kael's vines intercepted. A second later, Rhea's wind-enhanced kick swept her into the edge zone.
Only two remained—Zane and Elliot.
Zane's Scorch Fang raged, a desperate blaze fighting to hold off the tide of enemies. But even he was breathing heavily now, surrounded by three opponents.
Lexa turned to face Elliot, who stood still in the chaos. "You've been hiding something," she said.
The battlefield fell quiet.
Zane glanced at Elliot. "If you're gonna use it... now would be a damn good time."
Elliot's breath slowed.
He looked down at his hand—faint black sparks danced along his fingers. Something raw. Something ancient. Something not of this world.
He stepped forward, eyes shadowed, and whispered something only Lexa could hear:
> "You wanted to see the real me?"
His shadow bent unnaturally. The air grew cold.
From beneath his feet, tendrils of black soul energy coiled upward like living smoke. Lexa's confident expression faltered.
Instructor Leo in the lounge stood up.
"That energy… it's not just shadow."
Another inspector whispered, "What… is that?"
Elliot raised his hand, and with a roar that wasn't entirely his own, unleashed it—
> Bloodform: Soul Veil – First Descent.
His body shimmered in a ghostly armor, half-shadow, half-spirit. A black wing of pure energy formed behind him, flickering like broken flame. His eyes glowed deep violet, and for a moment, time seemed to stop.
Lexa's team froze.
Zane smirked. "About damn time."
Elliot vanished—and reappeared directly behind Talon.
To be continued...
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