Lyra formed a plan.
"If it absorbs power… we overload it."
Rylan grinned.
"Finally. A reckless plan I like."
Kael nodded.
"I'm listening."
The stranger understood immediately.
"You'll act as the core."
Lyra nodded.
"I absorb what it takes. You feed me controlled energy. I redirect everything back."
Kael frowned.
"That's extremely dangerous."
Lyra smiled slightly.
"When has that stopped us?"
They took positions.
Rylan attacked first.
Lightning.
Lyra absorbed it.
Kael added fire.
She absorbed it too.
The stranger added shadow energy.
Her body began glowing with mixed power.
The creature attacked.
She absorbed that too.
Her body started cracking with light.
Too much power.
Her veins glowed gold.
Her eyes burned like stars.
"Lyra stop!" Kael shouted.
"Just a little more!" she answered.
The creature realized too late.
She released everything.
A beam of combined power struck it directly.
Reality shook.
Light swallowed everything.
Silence followed.
Then smoke cleared.
The creature was injured.
But not dead.
And Lyra collapsed.
Unconscious.
The creature began moving toward her helpless body.
Lyra floated in darkness again.
But this time she wasn't afraid.
She heard their voices calling her.
Kael.
Rylan.
The stranger.
Fighting for her.
Bleeding for her.
Refusing to give up.
Something inside her answered.
Get up.
Not power.
Not prophecy.
Choice.
Her choice.
Her eyes opened again.
On the battlefield, the three men stood between her and the creature.
All injured.
All exhausted.
Still standing.
The stranger was barely holding his weapon.
Kael was bleeding heavily.
Rylan could barely stand.
Yet none moved aside.
Lyra stood slowly.
Energy flowed differently now.
Stable.
Balanced.
Final.
Her ultimate form had awakened.No
Golden fire wings formed behind her.
Shadow patterns moved across her skin.
Light circled her like a crown.
Even the creature hesitated.
Lyra spoke quietly:
"You don't touch them."
Her final attack began forming.
For the first time…
Even the ancient monster looked afraid.