The sentinel's blade descended again, splitting the air with enough force to rip through steel. Sparks cascaded as Reinhardt's sword locked against it, but his arms were screaming, bones rattling from the sheer weight behind every strike.
The storm construct's voice boomed once more:
> "Unworthy… You lack the strength to ascend."
Reinhardt's knees buckled. He could feel the ground crumbling beneath him. Any longer and the sentinel would crush him where he stood.
"Elira!" Reinhardt gasped.
Her spear shot forward like lightning itself, knocking the sentinel's shield just enough to break its stance. Alden followed with a furious war cry, slamming his axe into its torso.
The sentinel reeled, but instead of falling, it roared. Lightning erupted from its body, blasting them back. Reinhardt's vision swam, the world spinning as he collapsed to one knee.
Damn it… At this rate, we'll lose.
His chest burned. The crystal embedded within his body pulsed violently, resonating with the storm around them. He clutched at it, gritting his teeth.
"Reinhardt!" Callen shouted from the side, his blade glowing red with flame. "Whatever's happening—USE IT!"
The sentinel charged again, its eyes glowing brighter than ever.
And then—something within Reinhardt snapped. Or perhaps… awakened.
The crystal's light exploded outward, flooding the battlefield with a searing brilliance. The storm's power clashed with it, lightning coiling around Reinhardt like serpents, but instead of burning him—he felt them flow into his veins.
The sentinel's strike came down—Reinhardt caught it with one hand.
The others froze. Even the sentinel itself seemed stunned, its thunderous blade locked against the glowing aura now surrounding Reinhardt.
"I see it now…" Reinhardt whispered, his voice trembling yet steady. His eyes burned with the same stormlight. "This trial isn't just about strength. It's about whether we can withstand the storm itself."
With a surge of will, he pushed back. The sentinel staggered. Lightning erupted from Reinhardt's blade, clashing with the storm's fury. For the first time—it was the sentinel that faltered.
Alden laughed, wild and exhilarated. "HAH! That's it, boy! Burn him down!"
Elira's spear glowed, infused by the sparks leaping off Reinhardt's aura. Callen's flames roared higher, feeding off the energy.
Together, the four of them surged forward.
The storm sentinel raised its weapon, but for the first time… it looked defensive.
The battle had turned.