Age of Powers.

The Showdown: Last Part - Episode 22: After the Storm

The battlefield was eerily quiet in the aftermath of the Guardian's defeat. The once raging storm had dissipated, leaving behind a world transformed by the clash of elemental forces. Snow-covered ground stretched as far as the eye could see, mingling with scorched earth where Teri's flames had burned through. Now clear of dark clouds, the sky revealed a pale sun shining weakly above.

Kei stood in the center of it all, her breath visible in the cold air, her heart still pounding from the intensity of the fight. She glanced at Teri, who was slowly extinguishing the last flickers of fire around him, his chest rising and falling with exhaustion. They were victorious, but the weight of the battle still lingered in the air. Something felt unfinished, as if their victory came with a cost they couldn't yet see.

Kei walked over to Teri, resting on one knee, his hand pressed to the ground to steady himself. He looked up at her, his face streaked with soot and sweat, but his eyes were calm.

"You okay?" Kei asked, her voice soft but filled with concern.

Teri nodded, though the tiredness in his expression was unmistakable. "Yeah. Just... a little burnt out. That was close."

Kei knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You did great," she said, her voice filled with admiration. "I couldn't have done it without you."

Teri chuckled, though it was weak, his energy spent. "Same here. We make a pretty good team, don't we?"

Kei smiled, but her mind was already drifting. The Storm Guardian's defeat should have felt like the end, but it didn't. There was something still out there, something hidden in the aftermath of the battle that made her uneasy.

Before she could voice her thoughts, a soft hum filled the air. It started faintly, a barely perceptible vibration in the ground, but it soon grew louder, resonating from deep within the earth. Kei's eyes widened as she stood, her senses on high alert. Teri, noticing the sudden change, struggled to his feet, his flames flaring slightly.

"What now?" he muttered, frustration and concern mixing.

The ground beneath them began to tremble, and suddenly, a bright light burst from where the Storm Guardian had fallen. The light was blinding, forcing both Kei and Teri to shield their eyes as a powerful force surged from below. The air crackled with energy, and the remnants of the Guardian's power gathered in a swirling vortex, spinning rapidly before them.

"What... is that?" Kei asked, her voice tense as she lowered her hand to get a better look.

From within the vortex, a figure began to emerge. It was neither human nor beast, but something in between. It floated in the air, its form made of pure light and shadow, constantly shifting as if struggling to maintain its shape. Its eyes—glowing orbs of radiant power—locked onto Kei and Teri, and for a moment, the world seemed to freeze.

Teri's flames flickered dangerously as he stepped forward, instinctively readying himself for another fight. "Is this... part of the Guardian?" he asked, his voice low.

"No..." Kei whispered, her eyes narrowing as she studied the figure. "It feels... different."

The figure didn't attack but radiated an immense presence, an ancient power unlike anything Kei had ever felt. It had a strange calmness, as if it wasn't here to destroy but to communicate.

The light-and-shadow was slowly raised one hand, palm open, and spoke in a voice that seemed to echo from all around them.

"Heroes of fire and ice, the storm has passed, but the true test begins now."

Kei felt a chill run down her spine at the words. She had no idea what this being was, but its message was clear. Their battle was not the end, but merely a prelude to something far greater.