The ground didn't stop shaking.
But now—
It wasn't from chaos.
It was from pressure.
Relentless.
— Overwhelmed —
Juvy slid back—
Her feet carving into the cracked earth.
Her light flickered violently.
"…Too fast…!"
Maxruell was forced back again.
His shadow shattered on impact—
Reforming slower than before.
"…They're synced perfectly…"
— No Openings —
The two Core Fragments moved as one.
Every strike covered the other.
Every gap closed instantly.
Juvy tried to redirect—
The second attack hit before she could finish.
Maxruell tried to counter—
The distortion warped his trajectory.
"…Tch—!"
— The Collapse Begins —
Behind them—
The freed users were falling back.
Some collapsed.
Others lost control again—
Not fully taken—
But shaken.
Lina struggled to maintain her light.
"…I can't hold all of them…"
Her voice trembled—
For the first time.
— Direct Hit —
The shadow Core struck again.
Maxruell blocked—
But this time—
It broke through.
The impact hit his side—
Hard.
He was thrown—
Crashing into the ground.
"…Maxruell!" Juvy shouted.
— Juvy Alone —
The distorted Core appeared in front of her.
No delay.
Strike after strike.
Juvy dodged—
Barely.
Her light couldn't keep up.
"…No…!"
— The Breaking Moment —
A hit slipped through.
Direct.
Juvy was sent flying—
Her light shattered outward.
She hit the ground—
Hard.
Silence.
— Lina's Cry —
"…Juvy!!"
Lina rushed forward—
But the distorted Core blocked her.
Effortless.
— Maxruell's State —
Maxruell pushed himself up.
Slow.
His breathing heavy.
Blood staining his side.
His shadow—
Unstable again.
"…This is… bad…"
— The Vessel Moves —
At the center—
The Vessel stepped forward.
For the first time since the split—
It advanced.
"…resistance… declining…"
— Final Collapse —
The two Core Fragments moved together again.
Toward Juvy.
Toward Lina.
Maxruell tried to move—
His body didn't respond fast enough.
"…Damn it…!"
Juvy opened her eyes.
Barely.
Her light flickered—
Weak.
"…Not… done…"
She tried to stand—
Fell again.
The Core Fragments raised their attacks.
Ready to end it.
The Vessel watched.
"…reclamation imminent…"
Everything slowed.
This was it.
The breaking point.