The air between them is electric, the tension so thick it feels like it could snap at any moment.
Ace's flames flicker weakly around his hands as he steadies himself, his chest heaving with labored breaths.
Beside him, Kieran stands tall, his golden eyes locked on Lila, who radiates dark energy like a storm waiting to break.
Lila's smirk returns, sharper and more sinister now.
She holds the anchor aloft, its runes pulsing with an eerie black light that casts grotesque shadows over her face. "You think you've won?" she sneers. "This is only the beginning."
Ace grits his teeth, his fingers twitching as he struggles to summon the strength to stand firm. "We're not letting you hurt anyone anymore," he says, his voice shaking but resolute.
Kieran steps forward, his presence a steadying force. "You've lost, Lila. Let this end now."
