Chapter Twelve: Mara Nova Burn

  May 12th, 2029 – Mara, T.LAC , and Yozora , Age 10

  The air in the room was light and filled with a rare sense of joy as Mara twirled around, her excitement bubbling over. "T, isn’t this nice?" she asked, her eyes wide with happiness. "Ever since passing the Control Test, we actually got real living quarters!" She paused, thinking for a moment, her fingers tracing the edge of the room. "How many missions has it been now? Twenty, maybe?"

  T.LAC, leaning casually against the doorframe with his usual air of confidence, nodded. “Yeah, it’s freakin’ awesome. Who would’ve thought we’d get an upgrade after becoming Tuners?” He smirked, though his expression darkened slightly as he recalled their past. "Remember that depressing white box we used to live in? All those endless tests, the tissue samples they took from us, the needles... every single day."

  His voice grew quieter, his eyes dimming as he looked down, memories weighing heavy on him for a brief moment. But then he shook it off, flashing his usual grin. “Anyway, where’s Zora? Shouldn’t he be back by now?”

  Just as he finished speaking, the temperature in the room dropped slightly. The air felt colder, familiar.

  “Oh, never mind. I can feel that cold little shit right now,” T.LAC said with a laugh, shaking his head. “Typical Zora.”

  The door creaked open, and Yozora stepped in, his presence instantly noticeable. His eyes were low, his demeanor quiet but intense. The chilly air that always seemed to follow him filled the room.

  “Mara, T,” Yozora said in his usual flat tone. “We have a mission. Let’s go.”

  Mara groaned, her earlier excitement vanishing in an instant. “We just got back, what the hell!” Her hair began to float slightly, a sign her powers were stirring in frustration.

  T.LAC quickly stepped in, chuckling. “Yo, Mara, chill. Chill.” He walked over and gently patted her head, his hand moving rhythmically. The moment his fingers touched her hair, she seemed to calm down, almost like a cat falling into a trance. She let out a small, contented sigh, her hair settling back down.

  Yozora watched them, his normally stoic expression softening just a little as a slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He let the moment pass before speaking again, his tone more serious. “Guys, a breach has been opened. Location: Eye of the Sahara.”

  T.LAC raised an eyebrow, still casually petting Mara’s head. “Like... the Sahara Desert? That Sahara?”

  Yozora nodded, his face blank. “That’s the place.”

  T.LAC’s usual carefree grin faded slightly. “So... what’s the deal this time?”

  Yozora calmly answers, “In the center of the Eye, a large breach has opened. We’ve been tasked with eliminating all threats emerging from the portal. The priority is to shut it down before higher-level threats come through.”

  Mara, now fully out of her trance, straightened up, the weight of the mission starting to settle in. “How long do we have?”

  Yozora glanced at the clock on the wall. “We leave in an hour.”

  The room grew quiet for a moment as the gravity of the mission set in. This wasn’t a game or another routine task—it was something far more serious. Mara, T.LAC, and Yozora exchanged looks, they knew what needed to be done.

  T.LAC stretched his arms, his confidence back in full force. “Alright then. Let’s handle this, just like always.”

  Mara nodded, as she stood up cracking her knuckles above her head, “We’re ready.”

  Yozora gave them both a small nod, his cold demeanor unshaken, though beneath the surface, a quiet fire simmered. "Let’s end this before it gets out of hand," he said firmly. "Meet at the mission desk in forty-five minutes."

  Mara and T.LAC immediately sprang into action, quickly getting ready for the mission while Yozora stayed behind, mentally mapping out the plan. His focus was unwavering, each step of the mission running through his mind like clockwork.

  A sharp knock on the door broke the silence. “Oh, so you’re not going to answer me now, T?” Mara’s voice called out, playful and impatient. She pounded on the door again.

  With a faint swoosh, the door slid open to reveal T.LAC standing on the other side, his expression blank, his eyes squinting slightly at Mara. “I’ve already told you, don’t bang on my door like that,” he said, his voice calm but with a hint of annoyance. “I’m usually waiting on you.”

  This time, however, his tone changed, and with a loud, exaggerated voice, he added, “I had to use the bathroom! Jeez!”

  Mara, unable to contain herself, burst out laughing, covering her mouth with one hand as she did. “Oh no, he’s upset!”she teased, waving her hands dramatically in the air as if mocking a temper tantrum.

  T.LAC rolled his eyes, but something in Mara’s expression made him glance down. His face instantly turned red. “Uh, uh... crap,” he stammered, realizing in his rush he had forgotten to put on his pants.

  Mara leaned against the doorframe, laughing even harder. “If you’re so ready, where are your pants, genius?” she teased, clearly enjoying the moment.

  T.LAC gave her a sheepish grin, trying to play it cool. “One sec,” he muttered, darting back inside to fix his mistake, his embarrassment clear.

  Mara stands there, still giggling, a fleeting smile lingering on her lips. Despite everything—the battles, the danger, the uncertainty—moments like this keep them grounded. A reminder that even in a world spiraling into chaos, they can still be kids, even if only for a fleeting second.

  The moment shatters as a sharp transmission crackles through their comms.

  "Tuners Mara, T.LAC, and Yozora, report to the mission counter for departure."

  Yozora responds without hesitation, his voice steady. "En route."

  A few moments later, Mara, T.LAC, and Yozora arrive at the mission counter, their expressions shifting from lighthearted to focused.

  Yozora activates his comms. "Comm Specialist Lena Martinez, open Port Gate Three to coordinates 21.1202° N, 11.4007° W—Eye of the Sahara."

  Lena’s response is crisp. "Roger. Porting you now."

  A low hum vibrates through the air as energy gathers around them.

  High above the Eye of the Sahara, Mara, T.LAC, and Yozora hovered, their clothing glinting in the moonlight, their presence a stark contrast to the serenity of the desert.

  The moon, a pale sentinel, hangs low in the vast sky, casting its cold, silver light over the endless ocean of sand. The dunes stretch out like frozen waves, their ridges sculpted by the restless wind. The desert, ancient and silent, breathes only through the faint scurrying of nocturnal creatures hidden beneath its shifting sands. Overhead, the Milky Way spills across the heavens, a river of light stretching into infinity. Its reflection shimmers faintly upon the undulating dunes—a silent testament to the forgotten histories buried beneath the sands.

  “This is Communications Specialist, Officer Lena Martinez. I’ll be handling comms for tonight’s mission,”.

  Mara, T.LAC, and Yozora listened in silence as they awaited their final briefing.

  “Tuner Mara, do you copy?”

  “Copy,” Mara responded, her tone serious.

  “Tuner T.LAC, do you copy?”

  “Yeah,” T.LAC answered, his usual casual demeanor coming through.

  “Lead Tuner Yozora, do you copy?”

  “Reading,” Yozora replied coldly, his voice calm.

  “You three will be our mission strike team today. Your objective is to shut down the breach portal before a Beta-level threat or higher emerges. According to our Field Agent, Alex Reyes, this should be an easy night. Let’s get in, get it done, and go home. Lead Tuner Yozora, Initiate Mission: Storm Chaser.”

  Mara and T.LAC turned toward Yozora, awaiting his plan. Despite their youth, the trio had learned to trust one another completely. The bond between them was unshakable.

  Yozora, quick to act, spoke without hesitation. “According to our Field Agent, the cave has a single entrance and exit. We’ll use Kakusu to suppress our Hindo and approach undetected. If the intel is correct, we should be able to stay cloaked the entire time and eliminate all threats before they know what hit them. Precision and speed are key.” He paused, making sure both Mara and T.LAC were following. They nodded, already mentally preparing themselves. “Once inside, we’ll see three tunnels,” Yozora continued, his voice calm and focused. “The middle and left tunnels are dead ends. We take the tunnel on the right to reach the breach. Once we’re inside the cave, we move fast and strike hard. Let’s approach from the top of the cave and avoid detection from the ground.”

  T.LAC, ever the joker, chomped down on a piece of gum and gave a casual salute. “You got it, my guy,” he said, popping his gum with a grin.

  Mara, not in the mood for jokes, swiftly smacked the gum out of his mouth with the back of her hand. “T, take this more seriously, you jerk!” she snapped, though there was a touch of affection in her voice.

  Yozora, usually composed, couldn’t help but break character for a second. A small chuckle escaped him. “I told you not to bring that gum,” he said, laughing quietly. “Hahaha, now look.”

  T.LAC rolled his eyes but grinned. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll save the gum for after we kick some ass.”

  “All right, let’s go,” Yozora said, his laughter fading as he snapped back into mission mode.

  The three of them activated Kakusu, suppressing their Hindo completely, and in an instant, they vanished from sight, cloaked in invisibility. The desert winds swirled around them as they swooped down, gliding silently toward the top of the cave. Their movements were fluid and precise, the moonlight barely catching their silhouettes as they descended. They hovered above the entrance to the cave, the dark maw of the tunnel beckoning them into its depths. The air was heavy with anticipation, but they were ready. Without a word, Yozora signaled for them to move in. As they stepped inside the cave, the temperature dropped, the air growing cool and heavy with the scent of damp earth and ancient stone. The walls glistened faintly, the rough surfaces of the rock embedded with mineral deposits that sparkled like stars trapped within the stone. Shadows danced along the cave’s natural formations, giving the cavern a mysterious, almost otherworldly feel. The cave sloped downward, leading deeper into its labyrinthine passages. Before long, the trio reached a wider chamber where the path split into three. The intel from their field agent had been precise, and they knew which tunnel to take.

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  Yozora, his voice calm and authoritative, broke the silence. “We’re at the three-way split. From here, T, you take the lead. Your use your beads to scout head and spot traps. If you see any tangos, wait for my order before taking them out.”

  T.LAC nodded, his expression serious as he moved ahead, eyes sharp, scanning the path for any signs of danger.

  Mara, trailing behind Yozora, sighed with a whiny voice, clearly bored. “Zora, we’ve been moving through this chamber for like forty-five minutes. Why aren’t we there yet? I’m starving! Let’s get pizza from Warco’s when we’re done,” she added with a giggle, looking over at T.LAC, trying to lighten the mood.

  T.LAC glanced over at her, raising a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet. “Shhh, Mara,” he whispered, his voice soft but firm. “Zora, I’ve got eyes on four tangos up ahead, near the end of the chamber.”

  Yozora’s eyes narrowed as he processed the information. “Copy that, T. Use arc infused beads to stun them. Once they’re stunned, I’ll take them out.”

  With a steady hand, T.LAC waved his fingers pointing towards the four tangos, sending beads flying shocking them in place. They struck the cave floor between the four enemies. The tangos, noticing the blue beads, instinctively jumped backward, but they were already too late. The air around them became electricfied, trapping them in a arc bubble stunning their movement.

  Yozora whispered, “Illuminate the infinite sky, Sutā Geizā no Yaiba.” as it materialized in his hand. “Form One: Shūkaku (Harvest),” he murmured.

  With a single, sweeping strike, Yozora swung his katana cutting through the air in one fluid motion. The trapped tangos disintegrated into dust, their bodies vanishing as if they had never existed.

  “All tangos down,” Yozora said coldly, his eyes scanning the area. “Form up on me.”

  As they regrouped, they reached the end of the chamber. The ceiling rose high above them, forming a massive natural dome. The area was vast, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly off the stone. Standing between them and the portal was a sea of enemies—at least a thousand tangos, heavily armed and ready to defend the gate at all costs.

  T.LAC whistled, his tone sarcastic as he looked at the overwhelming number of enemies. “So, Zora, how do you want to handle this small situation?” he asked, chuckling as Mara, perched on his shoulders, leaned her elbows on his head and smiled playfully.

  Yozora’s expression remained stoic, unfazed by the odds. “T, stay in Kakusu and use Kyn’tralis Retsuran: Koyu throughout the battlefield to slow them down.”

  T.LAC grinned, popping another piece of gum into his mouth. “You got it, my guy,” he said with a smirk.

  “Mara,” Yozora continued, turning to her, “fly above and stay cloaked in Kakusu until I give the signal to go Nova. We’ll need your full power when the time comes.”

  Mara, still playing with T.LAC’s hair, giggled. “T, when we get back, I’m so washing your hair. I’ve been telling you to wash it more often, and you never listen!”

  T.LAC sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, you got it, Mara. We’ll do hair care later. Let’s focus on not dying first, okay?”

  With their plan in place, the three of them activated Kakusu, their bodies fading from sight as they became invisible to the naked eye. Together, as a team, they moved silently into position, ready to strike down the enemy forces.

  Yozora summoned Junikagami, “Compress the universe into singularity Jūnikagami! Kagami no Koshikage (Mirror of Star Shadows) Sutā Geizā no Yaiba” his eyes glowing a fierce, blood-red hue. With a cold breath, he whispered, "Sutā Geizā Fumi: Form Five—Reikon no Shinigami (Dani Phantom)."

  From the shadows, ghostly reapers began to emerge, their forms barely more than wisps of darkness given shape. Each figure was cloaked in ragged, ethereal robes that flowed like smoke, the edges dissolving into nothingness, as though their very existence was only half-bound to the physical world. Their faces were hidden beneath deep, shadowy hoods, but the faint glow of hollow, spectral eyes flickered from underneath—cold embers burning in the void. They wielded scythes forged from the same dark essence as Yozora's Sutā Geizā, their presence filling the battlefield with an ominous chill.

  The ghostly reapers stood silently, awaiting Yozora's command, their scythes shimmering like death’s promise.

  “T, bring the rain!” Yozora said, his voice calm yet commanding.

  T.LAC grinned, already prepared. He drew back his bow, “Kyn’tralis Fumi: Form One, Enrai Retsuya (Infernal Arc Fragment).” channeling Fire Hindo into the arrow, its core burning like molten embers. As he releases, the projectile fractures mid-flight, igniting into dozens of smaller Arc Hindo-infused arrows, cascading down like a violent, electrified storm. Each arrow strikes the ground with explosive impact, sending shockwaves of fire and lightning, stunning and incinerating enemies caught within the radius.

  Yozora’s red eyes gleamed as he raised his hand. "Phantoms, Hell’s Harvest."

  At his command, the phantoms surged forward, their spectral scythes cutting through the air with deadly precision. They moved like shadows, silently reaping the slowed enemies, turning them into dust in a matter of seconds. No scream or cry could escape their victims as they vanished into nothingness.

  Above, Mara hovered, pouting with frustration as she watched the battle unfold below. She crossed her arms, feeling as though she was missing out on all the fun. "Come on, Zora," she muttered to herself.

  On the ground, the surviving enemies began to regroup, scattering into smaller formations. Wards, the enemy’s defensive mages, raised energy shields, attempting to protect their dwindling numbers from the relentless phantoms. The battlefield shifted as the enemies tried desperately to hold their ground, but Yozora remained calm, waiting for the right moment.

  He gave T.LAC the signal.

  T.LAC’s grin returned as his excitement bubbled over. “Finally!” he shouted. “I’ve been waiting for this!” He raises his bow, the air around him igniting with an ominous crimson glow as he channels Hell Fire Hindo into his arrows. "Kyn’tralis Fumi: Form Two—Kien no Ya (Demon’s Ember)!" The arrow crackles with an unnatural intensity, its core burning with the flames of the underworld. As he releases, the projectile streaks across the battlefield like a falling star, splitting into countless blazing meteors that rain down in a relentless storm of fiery destruction. Upon striking, each arrow erupts into a volatile Hell Fire web, trapping enemies in a burning cage of flame. The explosive chain reaction turned into a chaotic web of explosions, the fires spreading like a virus through the enemy forces.

  Before the enemies could even think of escaping, Yozora’s cold gaze swept over the battlefield. “Mara, you can cut loose now.”

  A grim smile stretched across Mara’s face as if possessed by a sudden, wild energy. Her body ignited, flames swirling around her like a blazing inferno. Her hair and eyes burned as bright as the sun, her power building to an uncontrollable peak. "Keijo! Táwa’ke Thunder Fumi: Form One—Nail of Apollo!" she cried out, her voice filled with fiery passion.

  In a flash, a gigantic flaming nail, glowing with the intensity of the sun, materialized in front of her. With a wink and a playful kiss, she fired the nail straight into the heart of the battlefield. The colossal nail slammed into the center of the enemy forces with devastating force. The heat was so intense it scorched the earth itself, turning everything in its path into ash. Enemies vaporized in an instant, reduced to nothing more than shadows in the inferno. The battlefield, once teeming with foes, was now a wasteland of scorched earth and blackened remains. Mara hovered in the air, her flames slowly dissipating as she admired her handiwork. "Your screams… they were beautiful. Like a hymn in the fire’s embrace." she said with a satisfied smile.

  Yozora scanned the battlefield, his sharp eyes taking in the scorched earth and the blackened remains of what was once a sea of enemies. The eerie silence that followed the destruction confirmed it—all clear. Sutā Geizā, dimmed as the red glow faded from his eyes. “It's over,” he muttered. “Let’s close this gate and go home.”

  Just as Yozora, T.LAC, and Mara moved toward the portal to seal it, something changed. A shift in the air—a sinister presence that hadn’t been there before. Yozora’s body tensed, the fine hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. He sensed it immediately, a malevolent force emanating from the portal.

  His eyes flashed with urgency. “T, Mara, step back! Now!”

  Before they could react, a voice hissed through the gate, dripping with malice. It was a voice that chilled them to the bone, as if it were carried on the wind from the darkest corners of the universe.

  “Oh, did you really think it would be that easy?” the voice sneered, echoing in the cavern like nails scraping against stone.

  Out from the swirling depths of the portal stepped a figure cloaked in shadow and menace—a woman, her presence commanding and dark. Her long, flowing robes billowed around her like smoke, and her piercing eyes glowed with an otherworldly light. The very air around her crackled with malevolent energy, as if the universe itself recoiled from her power.

  The Witch Circe, an Alpha-level threat—a being far more dangerous than anything they had faced before. Her lips curled into a wicked smile, her voice a snarl as she addressed them.

  “You poor, foolish children,” Circe said, her tone mocking. “Did you really believe it would be so simple to close this gate? You've only scratched the surface of what’s to come.” The ground trembled beneath her feet as she stepped fully into their world, her eyes gleaming with cruel delight. Dark energy swirled around her like a vortex.

  Mara, her face pale, hovered back, her fiery confidence replaced by a rare moment of apprehension. “Zora, this... this isn't normal. How is she here?” she whispered, eyes wide as she gripped her fist tightly.

  T.LAC, typically cool and collected, clenched his jaw, his usual cockiness gone. He nocked an arrow in his bow, but his eyes betrayed the uncertainty he felt. “Zora, orders?”

  Yozora, though calm on the surface, felt the weight of this new threat bearing down on him. He could feel the power radiating from Circe, stronger than anything they'd encountered. His mind raced, calculating their next move. “We’re going to have to take her down,” Yozora said, his voice steady despite the tension. “Stay sharp, keep your distance, and don’t underestimate her. Circe isn’t just another enemy—she’s Alpha level. We can’t afford any mistakes.”

  Circe’s laugh echoed through the cavern, dark and taunting. “Oh, you won’t get the chance to make any mistakes, little Tuner. I’m going to end you all here... slowly.”

  The battle wasn't over—it had only just begun.

  The air crackled with tension, as though the very atmosphere around them was about to shatter. Circe's presence weighed down on the cave, creating an oppressive pressure that made it hard to breathe. The ground beneath Yozora’s feet trembled, and the space around the portal twisted and warped. Dark magic seeped into every crack and crevice. Her cold, glowing eyes locked onto Yozora, Mara, and T.LAC, and a cruel smile spread across her lips.

  “Fools,” Circe whispered, her neck cracking grotesquely as she twitched, her voice full of hostility. “You little Tuners have no idea what’s coming.”

  Yozora’s eyes tapered as he stared her down, his mind racing. “What does she mean?” He spoke firmly. “What do you mean by that, witch?”

  Circe tilted her head unnaturally, a twisted grin spreading across her face. “It doesn’t matter. You’ll all be dead soon!” she screeched.

  Yozora’s thoughts immediately shifted to protecting Mara and T.LAC—his best friends, his only family. This wasn’t going to be an ordinary battle. He could sense Circe’s power; it was far greater than anything they had faced before. One wrong move, one mistake, and they would all be dead.

  He turned to his team, his voice sharp and commanding. “We stick to the plan. No mistakes. Mara, stay cloaked. T, get into position and prepare Arrow of the Watchers. We can’t let her regain control of the battlefield.”

  T.LAC gave a grim nod, his usual humor gone. He melted into the shadows, activating Kakusu to cloak himself from view. Mara suppressed her flames, becoming invisible as she silently flew above, her eyes locked on Circe, waiting for the right moment to strike.

  Yozora stepped forward, his face cold and focused. He could feel Circe’s bloodlust radiating off her, like a predator toying with its prey. “If we mess up, we die.”

  Circe raised her hands, her power swelling as boulders and debris began to levitate, dark tendrils of magic spiraling outward. The sand beneath her feet lifted into the air, twisting and morphing into shadowy, snake-like creatures that hissed and writhed with malicious intent. Her laughter echoed through the cavern, low and menacing. “You’ll be the first to fall, baby Tuners,” Circe spat, her glowing eyes narrowing on Yozora. With a snap of her fingers, the shadow serpents lunged toward him, their bodies writhing with dark energy.

  But Yozora was ready. His eyes flashed red as he disappeared from sight. “Sutā Geizā Fumi: Form Five—Reikon no Shinigami."

  From the darkness, his ghostly reapers emerged, their ethereal forms moving alongside Yozora, slashing and cutting through the shadow serpents. One serpent managed to slip through, darting toward Yozora with deadly intent. In a flash, a phantom blocked the serpent’s strike, launching Yozora into the air, evading the attack.

  Circe, seeing the opening, unleashed all her serpents at Yozora, their massive forms swarming the air. Yozora deflected one, but the others closed in. He allowed himself to free fall, his Phantoms forming pillars for him to bounce off, intercepting the serpent’s mid-air and slashing them into nothingness. The collision of dark energy and phantoms sent shockwaves through the cave.

  Perched high on a ridge, T.LAC watched the chaos below with sharp eyes. He smirked, shaking his head. He raises his bow, the weapon humming with an overwhelming presence as celestial energy begins to coalesce. In a single motion, he notches an enormous, radiant arrow. “This guy’s showing off.” He whispered softly, "Kyn’tralis Fumi: Form Three—Kanshisha no Ya.”

  A massive arrow is released with unfathomable velocity, tearing through air, striking Circe in the center of her chest. Chains of celestial Hindo burst from the arrow, wrapping around Circe locking her in place. Blades of pure hindo rain down slicing through Circes barrier. As each slash accumulates into Circe, in a climax the arrow detonates sealing her in a pillar of light.

  “Now!” Yozora commanded.

  Mara, hidden in the shadows above, emerged. Her body ignited with flames as she whispered, "Keijo! Táwa’ke Thunder Fumi: Form Two—Darakush no Saien (Scourge of the Fallen)." A vortex of white phosphorus erupted around Circe.

  “Pathetic!” Circe growled, raising her hand to block the to pass though Mara attack. But the phosphorus scorched her skin, forcing her back, her snarl turning into a pained hiss.

  Yozora seized the moment. He moved in, slicing through the air, “Sutā Geizā: Form Ten—Shinigami no Kuchizuke (Kiss of the Reaper).” The blade gleamed like a wave of stars in the night sky, and he aimed a deadly strike at Circe’s midsection.

  But Circe was fast—too fast, even in her slowed state. She twisted her body, barely dodging the lethal edge of Yozoras blade, and with a flick of her wrist, sent a wave of dark energy crashing toward Yozora. He deflected the blast with his katana, but the force sent him skidding backward across the cavern floor.

  Circe let out a violent scream, freeing herself from T.LAC and Mara attacks. “You thought that would be enough?! You’ve barely scratched the surface of my power!” The ground trembled violently as Circe raised her arms, dark energy swirling around her, warping the very battlefield. The portal behind her pulsed, drawing more and more power into her body.“Now, witness true power!” Circe bellowed, her voice booming with fiery.

  “Zora!” Mara called out, her voice tinged with panic. “She’s pulling power directly from the portal! If we don’t stop her now, we’re done for!”

  Yozora’s mind raced. Circe was siphoning energy from the portal—giving her an endless supply of power. They had to sever that connection. “T, it’s time!” Yozora shouted, locking eyes with T.LAC.

  T.LAC let out a shaky laugh, trying to mask his fear. “Right, let’s show this witch what we’ve got!” He drew his bow with an eerie stillness, focusing his hindo as he whispered, Kyn’tralis Fumi: Form Four, Daihachi no Shōheki no Ya (Arrow of the Eighth Barrier).” The arrow’s tip gleamed with a void-like blackness, glowing ominously as he aimed at Circe.

  With a sharp release, the arrow struck directly above Circe, splitting the air with a deafening crack. A dome of gravity formed around her, trapping her within its pull, holding her in place as the pressure built.

  “Mara, you can cut loose!” Yozora called out.

  Mara soared high above, gathering hindo as her body burned with a brilliant light. Her eyes began to glow with a deep, unnatural glow. "Keijo! Táwa’ke Thunder Fumi: Form Three, Nova Burn," she whispered. With a snap of her fingers the air ignites, in an inferno of purple flames.

  Circe’s eyes widened in horror as she felt her connection to the portal sever. “No!” she screamed, her form disintegrating in the maelstrom of energy, her body reduced to ash as the final attack consumed her.

  Yozora landed on the scorched ground, his breathing heavy. He glanced around at the destroyed battlefield. “It’s over,” he muttered quietly.

  But something was wrong. The gravity field that T.LAC had created began to distort, warping the air further. A dark, swirling vortex started to form—a black hole, rapidly pulling in everything around it.

  Circe’s voice echoed faintly, hauntingly. “The last attack... was brilliant but flawed. I’ve tweaked its function, using what you Tuners call Fumi. This cave, you, and everything in it... will collapse.”

  Mara turned to T.LAC, panic in her voice. “You idiot! Why didn’t you seal the attack when you formed it?!”

  T.LAC scratched his head, flustered. “Uh, well... I don’t know! Maybe because you rushed me!”

  The two bickered for a moment until Yozora cut them off, his voice calm but urgent. “Guys, stop. The only way out has already collapsed, and I don’t have enough Hindo left to portal us out.” He clenched his fist, his mind racing for a solution. “We have no choice... We have to go through the portal. It’s the only way to survive.”

  Mara and T.LAC exchanged a glance, then looked back at Yozora, grinning despite the danger.

  “Awesome,” T.LAC said, excitement returning to his voice. “We always wanted to try this!”

  With one last breath, the three of them ran toward the portal, ready to face whatever lay on the other side.

  Hey everyone, Noctis Flame here!

  What did you all think?

  Presence Zero!