Mary's breath hitched as Nethra's voice echoed through the forest like a phantom's whisper. Her heart pounded in her chest, the feeling of dread creeping in like cold fingers across her spine. She had thought that the end had come. But this—this was far from over.
The wind picked up again, swaying the trees and carrying with it an ominous chill. Mary's eyes darted around the clearing, every shadow seeming to stretch unnaturally long. The air was thick with dark energy, and she could feel it pressing against her, suffocating her. But there was something else beneath it—a pulse. The shard within her responded, humming with energy, urging her to stand firm.
Nethra's laugh sliced through the quiet, cruel and mocking. "You still don't understand, do you, Mary? You think you've won? That you can destroy me? I am the darkness that binds this world. I am the void that consumes all things."
Mary clenched her fists, the power of the shard surging through her veins. The pain that had once been unbearable was now a distant memory, replaced by something sharper—something more dangerous. She was no longer just fighting for survival. She was fighting for the future. The lives of her friends, the world she had come to love, and her own humanity.
"You're wrong, Nethra," she said, her voice steady and full of conviction. "You may be darkness, but that doesn't mean you can swallow everything. There's light in this world. And it's stronger than you think."
She couldn't afford to let doubt seep in now. Not when the battle had reached its peak. Her hand instinctively moved to the shard embedded in her chest, feeling its warmth pulse beneath her fingers. She knew it was her only chance. This was it.
Suddenly, a shadow lunged toward her from the dark. She barely had time to react before Nethra appeared, his eyes glowing with malice as he swung a jagged blade of shadow at her. Mary ducked, narrowly avoiding the strike, and twisted out of the way. The blade cut through the air with a terrible hiss, its darkness leaving a trail of frost in its wake.
She didn't have time to think. She had to act.
Mary raised her hands, gathering the energy of the shard, and released a blast of pure light. The beam shot forward, bright and intense, but Nethra was ready. He deflected the attack with a wave of his hand, sending the light scattering into the trees, where it exploded in a shower of sparks.
"You really think that weak little light can stop me?" Nethra sneered, his laughter echoing through the clearing. "You've only just begun to understand the power I wield."
The air vibrated with the force of his words as he advanced on her again. But Mary wasn't backing down this time. She wouldn't let him intimidate her. She was done running.
Nethra's next attack came in a blur of shadows. His blade slashed through the air again, but this time, Mary was ready. She dodged, moving faster than she had ever thought possible, the shard's energy guiding her movements. With each dodge, she could feel the connection between herself and the shard growing stronger, more instinctive. She was learning how to control it—not just as a weapon, but as an extension of herself.
She twisted in the air, landing on her feet just as Nethra swung again. This time, she didn't retreat. She surged forward, using the power of the shard to propel herself toward him. She could see the shock in his eyes as she closed the distance between them, her energy surging with a force that even he hadn't expected.
Nethra's blade swung for her throat, but Mary raised her hands just in time, creating a barrier of light that deflected the blow. The clash of light and shadow sent a shockwave through the forest, rattling the trees and shaking the ground beneath them.
For a brief moment, the world seemed to stand still.
Mary's heart raced, her chest heaving as she struggled to maintain her concentration. Nethra was powerful, but he was also desperate. She could feel it. His attacks were becoming more erratic, his movements less precise. The darkness that once felt so overwhelming was beginning to waver, crackling at the edges. She could win this.
She had to.
Gathering her remaining strength, Mary channeled the full force of the shard into her arms, her body glowing with radiant light. She charged forward again, faster than ever, and struck. Her fist collided with Nethra's chest, sending a shock of energy through him, and for the first time, she saw the true fear in his eyes.
"No…" Nethra gasped, stumbling back. "This… this can't be!"
But Mary didn't stop. She pressed her attack, her hands blazing with light, each strike more powerful than the last. The energy of the shard flowed through her like fire, each pulse of light pushing Nethra further and further back. His dark power was no match for the purity of the light she had become.
And then, with one final, earth-shattering blow, Mary released everything she had. The light exploded from her hands in a brilliant, searing blast, engulfing Nethra entirely. His scream echoed through the forest, but it was quickly drowned out by the deafening roar of the explosion. The force of it knocked Mary to the ground, sending her skidding across the earth, but she didn't feel the pain. She couldn't.
All she could hear was silence.
When the light faded, the forest was still. The air was thick with the aftermath of the battle. Mary lay on the ground, her chest heaving as she tried to regain control of her breath. Her body ached, every muscle screaming in protest. But she had done it. She had won.
For a moment, she let herself savor the victory. She had faced the darkness and emerged victorious. She had stopped Nethra.
But as she lay there, she could feel it—something was wrong. The silence was too complete. The world felt… empty.
Her hand moved instinctively to her chest, to the shard that had once burned with such fierce power. It was cold now, its glow dimming, fading.
She didn't know why, but a cold sense of dread settled over her. She pushed herself to her feet, scanning the clearing, her heart pounding once more.
And then she saw it.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flicker of movement.
It wasn't Nethra.
It was something else. Something worse.
The earth beneath her began to shake again, and the sky above darkened, the clouds swirling as though being pulled by some unseen force.
And in the distance, a figure appeared—draped in shadow, eyes glowing with an unnatural light.
It wasn't over.
It was only just beginning.