Age of Powers X DC Universe crossover : Guardians Beyond Time.

Chapter 32: Echoes of the Awakening.

The trembling within the Library grew more violent, books snapping shut and shelves collapsing into fragments of glowing energy. The team exchanged quick glances, their instincts screaming danger.

Kei, clutching the celestial tome tightly, shouted over the cacophony, "This place is coming apart! We need to get out of here—now!"

Ignis, flames sparking at her fingertips as she steadied herself, nodded. "Agreed, but how? The entrance is gone!"

Lucifer, his wings extending in a commanding flare of golden light, surveyed the chaos. "We don't need an entrance. I'll create an exit."

Before anyone could respond, the air in the Library cracked with a piercing sound. A void of pure darkness began to form, pulsating with malevolent energy. The team turned to see a rift similar to the one that had dragged Kei and Ignis into this dimension, but this one was different. It felt alive.

Wonder Woman, her voice sharp, said, "That's not from the Library. Something else is here."

The Rift Stirs

The rift expanded, its edges crackling with energy as a shadowy figure emerged. Its form was indistinct, a swirling mass of darkness punctuated by glowing red eyes.

Shadow Being: "You have taken what is not yours. The knowledge within that tome was never meant for mortals."

Kei, stepping forward with the tome clutched to her chest, retorted, "We didn't come here to steal. We came to protect everything this knowledge is tied to."

The shadow let out a low, guttural laugh. "Your actions have consequences. You have awoken me, the Sentinel of Forbidden Truths. And now, you must face the cost."

Flash, always quick to act, zipped to Kei's side. "I'm all for a good fight, but maybe we can skip the whole 'angry guardian' routine? No? Thought so."

A Battle for Survival

The Sentinel attacked without warning, its form expanding and shifting like a living storm. Tendrils of shadow lashed out toward the team, forcing them to scatter.

Kei dodged a strike and summoned a wave of frost, freezing one tendril mid-swing. She shouted to the others, "Its core is unstable! Aim for the center!"

Ignis, already in motion, launched a blazing inferno directly at the Sentinel's core. The flames collided with the darkness, causing it to shriek in pain, but the Sentinel quickly adapted, absorbing part of the energy and redirecting it as a devastating shockwave.

Lucifer, unfazed, rose into the air with his blade of light, slashing through the shadows with precision. "This creature thrives on chaos. We must outmaneuver it."

Wonder Woman spun her lasso, capturing one of the shadowy tendrils and pulling with all her might. "Then let's bring some order to this fight."

The battle was fierce, the team working in perfect harmony despite the Sentinel's overwhelming power. But every strike seemed to fuel the creature's resilience, the rift behind it growing larger with each moment.

A Risky Plan

As the team fought, Kei noticed something about the rift. It pulsed in time with the Sentinel's movements, as if they were connected.

Kei, dodging another attack, called out, "That rift—it's feeding off the Sentinel's energy! If we can sever their connection, we might stand a chance."

Ignis, launching another wave of fire, replied, "And how exactly do we do that without getting swallowed by it?"

Lucifer, descending beside Kei, offered a grim solution. "We could overload the rift, force it to collapse on itself."

Wonder Woman, still grappling with the Sentinel's tendrils, glanced at him. "That could work—but at what cost? Overloading it might take us with it."

Flash, zipping to their side, grinned. "Hey, we're heroes. If we're not risking our necks, are we even doing this right?"

Sacrifice and Resolve

The team quickly devised a plan. While Kei and Ignis would focus on destabilizing the Sentinel, Lucifer and Wonder Woman would channel their combined power into overloading the rift. Flash would act as the decoy, drawing the Sentinel's attacks away from the others.

Lucifer, turning to the group, said, "If this doesn't work, know that you fought valiantly. Whatever happens, the knowledge you've gained must not fall into the wrong hands."

Kei, her voice firm, replied, "We're not losing anyone today. Let's do this."

The Final Blow

With precision and determination, the team executed their plan. Ignis unleashed a massive inferno, combining her fire with Kei's frost to create a devastating blast of opposing energies. The Sentinel howled in agony as its form began to unravel.

Meanwhile, Wonder Woman and Lucifer stood before the rift, their combined energy surging into it. The rift trembled violently, its edges cracking as it struggled to contain the overload.

Flash, darting around the battlefield, shouted, "Anytime now, guys! This thing's getting mad, and I'm running out of tricks!"

Finally, with one last surge of power, the rift collapsed in on itself, taking the Sentinel with it. The resulting explosion sent shockwaves through the Library, knocking everyone to the ground.

A Narrow Escape

As the dust settled, the team slowly rose, battered but alive. The Library, now eerily silent, began to stabilize.

Kei, holding the tome tightly, looked at the others. "We did it. But this is only the beginning."

Lucifer, his wings folding back, added, "The forces we've awakened will not rest. We must prepare for what's to come."

Wonder Woman, placing a reassuring hand on Kei's shoulder, said, "We'll face it together. That's what we do."

The team exchanged nods, their bond stronger than ever. With the tome in hand and new challenges ahead, they knew their journey was far from over.

To Be Continued