The ground buckled and trembled beneath Kei's feet as the Storm Guardian fully emerged, towering over the battlefield like a colossus. Lightning crackled around its enormous frame, and its glowing, storm-filled eyes locked onto Kei. She could feel the weight of its judgment pressing down on her, and the power of the Shivering Tempest surged dangerously within her, eager to meet this ancient force head-on.
Ignis, standing by her side, looked up at the towering figure, her fists igniting in a blaze of fire. "Kei, we can't take this thing on alone. Even with your power... we need a plan."
Kei's mind raced, but the storm's voice inside her had grown louder, more insistent. It urged her to let go—to release her restraint and unleash her full fury. But deep down, she knew if she did, there would be no turning back. She risked losing herself completely, becoming nothing more than a vessel for chaos.
"No," Kei muttered under her breath. "Not like this. I can't let it control me."
Varik and Selora, the chaos commanders, stood a distance away, watching the confrontation unfold with gleeful anticipation. Varik's sneer deepened as he spoke, loud enough for Kei to hear. "You're out of your depth, Kei. The Storm Guardian won't spare you. It'll crush you under its weight, and when it does, we'll sweep in and claim what's left."
Selora, her icy demeanor even colder under the stormy skies, folded her arms. "The balance must be restored. That thing will see to it. You were a fool to tamper with powers you couldn't possibly control."
Kei's eyes flicked between the chaos commanders and the Storm Guardian. Every muscle in her body tensed, the storm raging inside her, but she fought to stay in control. Her allies—the remaining Stras and Redlors—formed a defensive line behind her, ready to fight, but their faces were pale with fear. They were powerful, but this... this was beyond anything they had faced before.
Suddenly, the Storm Guardian raised its massive arm, dark clouds swirling violently above its head. The air itself seemed to groan under the pressure, and a massive bolt of lightning shot down, aimed directly at Kei.
"Move!" Ignis shouted, grabbing Kei by the arm and pulling her out of the way just in time. The ground where Kei had been standing exploded in a blast of ice and lightning, sending chunks of earth flying.
Kei stumbled to her feet, her heart pounding, but the storm inside her pushed harder, furious at her hesitation. Her breath came out in ragged gasps, frost forming on her lips. She looked at the Storm Guardian, then at her friends, and felt the weight of the decision she had to make.
Ignis glanced at her, eyes blazing. "You can't hold back, Kei. If you don't use that power, we're all dead."
"But if I do..." Kei trailed off, fear tightening her chest. "I'm afraid I'll lose myself."
Another voice broke through—the storm's voice, sharp and commanding. "You will lose yourself if you don't surrender. Let me take control, and I will show you true power. Only I can defeat this creature."
Kei pressed her hands to her head, trying to block out the voice. But it was too loud now, too strong. She could feel the Shivering Tempest pushing at the edges of her consciousness, wanting to take over. For a moment, she considered giving in—letting the storm consume her completely.
But then she remembered her promise. The faces of her allies, her friends—Ignis, the Stras, the Redlors—all of them depended on her. And deep down, beneath the storm's influence, she was still Kei. She couldn't abandon them.
"No," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm still in control."
The Storm Guardian let out a deafening roar, its massive form charging toward her, each step shaking the ground. There was no more time. She had to make a choice.
Kei closed her eyes, and for a brief moment, everything went still. The storm raged around her, but she reached deep inside herself, searching for that last shred of clarity—the part of her that was still human. The part that refused to give up.
She opened her eyes, a steely determination settling over her. The frost around her fingertips thickened as she tapped into the Shivering Tempest, but this time, she didn't let it consume her. She controlled it. The icy energy flowed through her, sharp and precise, as she began to rise into the air, the power radiating from her in waves.
Varik's mocking grin faltered. "What is she—"
Without warning, Kei thrust her hands forward, and a massive blast of icy wind and lightning shot toward the Storm Guardian. The creature staggered, caught off guard by the intensity of the attack. But Kei wasn't finished. She pushed harder, sending wave after wave of freezing energy into the creature, forcing it to its knees.
The storm inside her roared with approval, but Kei remained in control. She wasn't going to let it win.
Ignis watched in awe as Kei unleashed her power, her flames flickering uncertainly. "She's doing it... she's actually controlling it."
But it wasn't over yet.
The Storm Guardian, though wounded, was far from defeated. It let out a guttural growl, its body crackling with energy as it began to rise again. This time, it summoned a vortex of wind and lightning, swirling faster and faster, pulling Kei toward it.
Kei gritted her teeth, trying to resist the pull, but the force was too strong. She could feel herself slipping, the storm inside her raging louder, urging her to give in completely.
Just as she was about to lose her grip, a voice cut through the chaos—familiar and strong.
"Kei! Don't let it take you!"
It was Ignis, her eyes blazing with determination as she stood at the edge of the vortex, her hand outstretched. Kei's heart leaped. She wasn't alone in this fight. She had her friends—her allies.
With a final burst of strength, Kei tightened her grip on the Shivering Tempest's power and let out a cry, breaking free from the vortex's pull. She landed on the ground, panting, but still standing. The Storm Guardian faltered, its energy flickering.
Varik and Selora exchanged nervous glances. This wasn't the outcome they had expected.
The Storm Guardian, now weakened, took a step back, its towering form shimmering in and out of focus. But it wasn't defeated yet. Its glowing eyes locked onto Kei once more, and with a final roar, it charged.
Kei braced herself for the impact, but just before the Storm Guardian could strike, a new figure appeared on the battlefield—one cloaked in shadow and fire.
"Enough," the figure said, its voice calm but filled with power.
The Storm Guardian froze, its attack halted mid-strike. Kei's eyes widened in shock as the figure stepped forward, its features becoming clearer.
It was someone she hadn't seen in a long time. Someone she thought was lost.
"Teri?" Kei whispered, her voice trembling.
The figure smiled, the flames around her flickering softly. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Next time on The Showdown: Last part – Episode 13
Teri's return brings more questions than answers. How did she survive? And what is her connection to the Storm Guardian? As Kei grapples with her inner turmoil, an even greater threat looms on the horizon. Secrets will be revealed, alliances will shift, and the true enemy will finally be exposed.
Can Kei trust Teri, or is this just another deception in the chaotic game they've been pulled into?
Find out in The Showdown: Last part – Episode 13: The Return of the Flame.
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Age of POWERS.
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