the codex of realms

"Doesn't this place look familiar?" Soren wakes up from his imagination.

"Now you're talking; it does."

"…Wait, so my testing was not real but my stone activating?"

"I guess so."

"Man, this sucks! I thought this was a result of my hard work."

"By the way, what's your name, and where's Darkest Hell?"

"I'm Asura, a living—"

As Soren tries to hear, it's as if he's kind of deaf to it.

"I don't understand— a living what?"

"A living—"

As Soren keeps trying to hear what it's saying, he thinks it isn't important.

"Alright, so where's Darkest Hell? I wanted to ask for help on how to get out since this is my second time using reality sp—"

Asura opens up a portal.

"I guess I don't need him," Soren says to himself as he walks through the portal, entering his—

"This is weird," Soren says. "I don't understand."

"How many of you are there? Because I only have a contract with Darkest Hell. How come you're here?" Soren asks.

"There are two of us. He's a bond, but I'm your father's will. Your father was the one who sealed me inside you when you were born."

"I'm a—" Asura tries to say, but it's as if a barrier of sound is blocking him. Now Soren is more interested in what he's trying to say, but doesn't think it's important.

"And I'm also your parents' blood will, which means I'm your guardian who's supposed to help you," Asura says. Soren understands and looks up at the endless sky, thanking the gods for the wonderful parents he has.

"So you're kind of like a mixture of my parents' blood. Am I wrong?" Soren asks.

"Yes, you're right about it," Asura replies.

Soren starts to walk to his house but stops by a 7-Eleven to grab something to eat. While he's eating, the cashier says, "Hello there, sir. Will this be all?"

"Yes," Soren replies.

"Alright, sir, that will be $15.55."

Soren checks his pockets but his wallet isn't there. He keeps searching but can't find it.

"Sir, can you please hurry? There are people waiting in line," the cashier says. Hearing that, Soren decides to walk out of the 7-Eleven since he forgot his wallet at home.

Soren curses his luck for forgetting his wallet again and decides to walk home hungry. After arriving, Soren opens his door only to see his little brother holding a cake made for him. But then he sees his brother lying on the ground in a pool of blood.

As Soren knelt beside his brother, desperation coursing through him, he noticed the flicker of consciousness still lingering in his brother's eyes. He leaned closer, willing him to stay awake.

"Please, just hold on! I can fix this!" Soren urged, his voice trembling with emotion.

His brother's lips moved weakly, struggling to form words. "Soren… listen… I saw them. I saw the group…"

Soren's heart raced. "What group? Who did this to you? Who did this to Mom and Dad?"

"*The one that... killed our parents...*" His brother gasped, blood staining his lips. "They're back... they're the ones who did this. They want you… they want to finish what they started."

Soren felt a cold dread wash over him. "What do you mean? What do they want with me?"

His brother struggled to breathe, each word a monumental effort. "They think… you're the key. You have to be careful… they're coming for you."

Soren's mind raced as the weight of his brother's words sank in. The group responsible for their parents' deaths was still out there, and they were hunting him down. "I won't let them take you. I'll make them pay for what they've done!"

"Promise me..." his brother whispered, his voice barely audible. "Promise me you'll stop them. Don't let their darkness win. You're stronger than you know."

Soren felt tears streaming down his face as he held his brother's hand tighter. "I promise. I swear I'll do everything I can."

But as his brother's strength faded, Soren felt the warmth leave his body. The flicker of life in his brother's eyes dimmed, and Soren could only watch in horror as the last breath escaped his lips.

"No! No! Please!" Soren cried, shaking his brother gently. "You can't leave me! You can't!"

But it was too late. His brother lay still, the light in his eyes extinguished forever. Soren felt a hollow ache in his chest, a devastating emptiness that threatened to consume him.

Asura's voice rang in his mind, filled with urgency and sorrow. "Soren, we must move. The darkness is upon you, and you need to be ready for what comes next."

Soren pulled himself together, wiping his tears as he stood up, his heart heavy with grief and anger. "I will find them. I will stop them. For you and for Mom and Dad."

The pain of loss fueled his resolve, igniting a fire within him. He would not let his brother's death be in vain. He would unearth the truth about the group that had shattered their family and ensure they paid for their crimes.

With a determined nod, Soren stepped through the portal created by Asura, ready to face the darkness that awaited him and to uncover the truth behind the group that had taken everything from him.

Soren stepped through the portal, the vibrant colors swirling around him before spitting him out into an unfamiliar yet strangely inviting landscape.

The sky above was an endless expanse of soft purples and blues, dotted with stars that shimmered like diamonds. He felt the weight of his brother's last words pressing on his heart, but he clenched his fists, determination hardening his resolve.

"Asura," Soren muttered, his voice echoing in the strange stillness. "Where are we? This doesn't look like anywhere I've been before."

"This is the in-between," Asura replied, his voice calm but commanding. "A realm between your world and the deeper layers of reality. Your awakening begins here."

"My awakening?" Soren furrowed his brow. "What does that even mean? I didn't ask for this. I just want to go home and make sure those bastards pay for what they've done."

Asura materialized beside him in a semi-transparent form, his presence both ethereal and imposing. "Your father sealed me inside you for a reason, Soren. There's more to you than you realize.

You are not an ordinary human—you carry the bloodline of warriors, of guardians who've been fighting the forces of darkness for generations."

Soren shook his head. "That sounds like something out of a bad movie. I'm just a guy who can barely keep his life together, let alone fight some ancient evil."

Asura's piercing gaze locked onto Soren's. "You don't have a choice. Your family's bloodline is why they're after you. They see you as the key to breaking the balance, and if you don't awaken your true potential, they will destroy everything you love."

Before Soren could respond, the ground beneath him rumbled. A thick mist rolled in, and shadows began to coalesce into humanoid figures. Their eyes glowed crimson, and their movements were jerky, as if they were marionettes controlled by an unseen hand.

"What the hell are those?" Soren demanded, instinctively taking a step back.

"Shadow Wraiths," Asura said grimly. "They're drawn to your growing power. You'll need to fight them."

"Fight them? With what? I don't even have a weapon!"

"You are the weapon," Asura said, his voice firm. "Focus. Feel the energy within you. Let it guide you."

Soren closed his eyes, though his heart pounded with fear. He tried to focus, reaching deep within himself. At first, there was nothing but the sound of his own panicked breathing. Then, he felt it—a flicker of warmth in his chest, a spark that grew stronger the more he concentrated.

When he opened his eyes, his hands were glowing faintly with a bluish light.

"What… what is this?" Soren asked, staring at his hands in disbelief.

"Your awakening," Asura said. "Now use it."

The first Shadow Wraith lunged at Soren, its claws aimed for his throat. Acting on instinct, Soren thrust his glowing hand forward, and a burst of energy shot out, slamming into the creature and disintegrating it on contact.

The others hesitated, but only for a moment. They rushed at him in unison, forcing Soren to dodge and counterattack. His movements were clumsy at first, but as he fought, something deep within him took over—a primal rhythm, a knowledge that felt ancient and instinctive.

One by one, the Wraiths fell, until the mist cleared and the realm was silent once more.

Soren collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. "That… that was insane. I can't believe I just did that."

"You're stronger than you know," Asura said, his voice filled with approval. "But this is only the beginning. You'll need to grow much stronger if you're going to face the group that's after you."

"Who are they, anyway?" Soren asked, standing shakily. "What do they want with me?"

"They are known as the Covenant of Veil," Asura explained. "A secretive group that worships the void—the force of nothingness that seeks to consume all creation. They believe you are the vessel that will unlock the gates to the void's power."

Soren felt a chill run down his spine. "Why me? I didn't ask for this. I just wanted to live a normal life."

"Your bloodline makes you special, Soren," Asura said. "But your choices from here will determine your destiny. Will you run from this, or will you rise to the challenge?"

Soren clenched his fists. He thought of his brother, his parents, and the life that had been ripped away from him. "I'll fight," he said, his voice steady. "Not just for me, but for them. For everyone they've hurt."

Asura nodded. "Good. Then let us continue. There are allies you must meet, and trials you must face. Your journey is far from over."

The portal shifted, revealing a sprawling city bathed in golden light. The architecture was a mix of ancient and futuristic, with towering spires and intricate carvings. The streets buzzed with activity as people from all walks of life moved about, their faces a mixture of determination and hope.

"This is Haven's Reach," Asura said. "A sanctuary for those who resist the darkness. You'll find allies here—if you prove yourself worthy."

As Soren stepped into the city, he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. He didn't know what lay ahead, but for the first time, he felt like he might have a chance to fight back.

Little did he know, his arrival would set off a chain of events that would change the course of his destiny—and the fate of the world—forever.

Soren stepped through the portal, vibrant colors and swirling shapes blending together as he entered a new realm.

When he landed, the air shimmered with energy, and the sky stretched endlessly in hues of blue and gold.

The weight of his brother's final words still pressed on his chest, but the Crimson Stone in his pocket pulsed warmly, grounding him.

Asura floated beside him, a faint glow radiating from his translucent form. "Welcome to the In-Between," he said, his voice calm but firm. "A realm between realities. This is where your journey begins."

Soren glanced at the strange terrain—endless fields of shifting light interspersed with towering crystalline structures. "This place feels... alive," he muttered, gripping the stone tightly.

"It is," Asura replied. "The Crimson Stone brought you here to awaken its true potential. But you'll need to train, Soren. The Covenant isn't the only threat—you must learn to master the stone before its power consumes you."

Soren frowned. "The Covenant wants this stone because it can split reality, right? What else does it do?"

Asura paused, his gaze heavy. "The Crimson Stone is more than a weapon. It's a key—one that can open pathways to other dimensions and command the energy of other stones. But power like this doesn't come without cost. You'll need to prove you're worthy of wielding it."

Soren felt a chill run down his spine. "And if I'm not?"

"Then the stone will reject you—and destroy you in the process."

Training in the In-Between

The next few days were a whirlwind of training as Asura pushed Soren to his limits. The Crimson Stone responded to his will, but its power was volatile, and every success seemed to come at the cost of exhaustion.

"Focus, Soren!" Asura shouted as Soren struggled to maintain a barrier of crimson energy. "The stone isn't just an object—it's an extension of you. You have to treat it like a part of your body."

"I'm trying!" Soren yelled, sweat dripping down his face. The barrier wavered before collapsing entirely.

Asura sighed. "You're overthinking it. Stop fighting the stone's energy—flow with it."

Soren took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He felt the stone's warmth in his hand and let its energy seep into him. When he opened his eyes, the barrier reformed, glowing brighter and more stable than before.

"There you go," Asura said with a nod. "But this is just the beginning. The Crimson Stone can do far more than create barriers."

Over time, Soren learned to manipulate the stone energy in increasingly complex ways. He created portals, altered gravity, and even slowed time in small bursts. Each new skill brought him closer to understanding the stone's true potential.

After weeks in the In-Between, Asura guided Soren to a new location—a sprawling city floating in the void. Its towers sparkled with runes, and its streets bustled with warriors and mystics.

"This is Haven's Reach," Asura explained. "A sanctuary for those who resist the darkness. You'll continue your training here."

Soren was led to the city's central fortress, where he met Selene, a silver-haired woman with piercing blue eyes and an aura of authority.

"So, this is the Crimson Bearer," she said, eyeing the stone in Soren's hand. "You've got power, but no discipline. If you want to survive, you'll need to fix that."

Under Selene's guidance, Soren's training intensified. She pushed him to refine his techniques, teaching him to balance offense and defense while conserving energy.

"The stone doesn't make you invincible," Selene said one day during a sparring session. "It's a tool, not a crutch. If you rely on it too much, it will consume you."

Soren gritted his teeth, blocking her strike with a shield of crimson energy. "You're starting to sound like Asura," he said, deflecting her next attack.

"Good," Selene replied with a smirk. "Then maybe you'll actually learn something."

The First Enemy

One evening, as Soren practiced opening small rifts in space, Selene entered the training grounds with a grim expression.

"We have a problem," she said. "One of the Covenant's scouts has found us."

Soren's heart skipped a beat. "A scout? Here? How?"

Selene shook her head. "The Crimson Stone's energy is powerful—it's like a beacon. The scout isn't a major threat, but if they report back, it will lead the Covenant straight to us."

Asura appeared beside Soren, his expression serious. "This is your first real test. You need to deal with the scout before they escape."

Soren followed Selene to the outskirts of the city, where a dark figure stood atop a cliff. The scout was humanoid but cloaked in shadows, their eyes glowing a sinister red.

"You must be the Crimson Bearer," the scout said, their voice a low hiss. "The Covenant will be pleased to know you're here."

Soren stepped forward, the stone pulsing in his hand. "You're not going anywhere."

The scout laughed, their form shifting as tendrils of darkness extended from their body. "Do you really think you can stop me, boy?"

Soren's grip on the stone tightened. "I don't think—I know."

The battle was intense, with the scout using shadowy tendrils to attack from a distance. Soren countered with blasts of crimson energy, but the scout was fast, dodging most of his attacks.

"Focus, Soren!" Asura called. "The stone's power is vast, but you need to control it. Don't let your emotions cloud your judgment."

Taking a deep breath, Soren closed his eyes and centered himself. When he opened them, the stone's energy surged through him, and time seemed to slow. He dodged the scout's next attack with ease, closing the distance between them in an instant.

With a single, focused blast of energy, Soren struck the scout's core, dissolving their shadowy form. As the echoes of the battle faded, Soren felt a surge of pride—but also a deep unease.

Back in the safety of Haven, Selene approached Soren. "You did well," she said, her voice softer than usual. "But this was just a scout. The real threats are still out there."

"I know," Soren said, staring at the Crimson Stone. "But I won't let them win. I'll master this stone, and I'll stop the Covenant—no matter what it takes."

Asura nodded, his expression both proud and cautious. "This is just the beginning, Soren. The Crimson Stone's power is still awakening—and so are you."

With his training far from over and the shadow of the Covenant looming ever closer, Soren knew the road ahead would be long and dangerous.

But he was ready to face whatever challenges awaited him, armed with the power of the Crimson Stone and the knowledge that his family's legacy lived on through him.

After many training countless week soren begin to get tired he decided to take a break. Returning back to his word he decided why not go to school as he think he can learn to make new friends.

"I wonder how Darkest Hell is doi—" Just as he was about to finish that sentence, a black dragon appeared.

"And my name is not Darkest Hell. I have a name."

"What the! Who are you? Why are you talking to me as if you know me?" Soren asked, startled as he had never seen something like this happen.

"Hmph! Anyway, human, Darkest Hell is a title. My name is Fang."

"I guess this is my life," Soren said with a joking expression of sadness. After talking for hours, Soren decided it was time to take a break from training.

As a new day dawned, he woke up from his sleep realizing he was late. He quickly put on his clothes and grabbed a banana to eat on his way to school. He ran out of his house while eating the banana, making it just in time.

"Hey... Wait up..." Soren shouted at the person who was closing the gate.

"Since it seems like you're new, I'll let it slide," the guy said as Soren ran past him into the school hall.

"Oh man, I wonder where the principal's office is. I don't know what class I have," Soren said as someone touched his shoulder.

"Hey, you seem lost."

Soren turned around to see a tall guy with white hair and green eyes.

"Yeah, actually I'm looking for the principal's office," Soren said.

"Oh, well, follow me," said the guy. They began to walk together. "Hey, so what's your name, and what's your stone color?"

"My name's Soren. Soren Asura. And uh, I prefer not to share that information."

"Oh, why not?" asked the guy.

"I don't really think it's necessary. But what's your name?" Soren asked.

"I'm Arata Holloway," he replied.

"Oh, cool name," Soren said. As they continued talking, they finally arrived at the principal's office.

"Well, thanks for guiding me here," said Soren.

"It's nothing. Well, I've got to get going," said Arata.

"Yeah, see you around," said Soren. As he finished speaking, he knocked on the principal's office door and walked in.

"Hello sir, I am here to get my schedule for today," said Soren.

"Oh yes, you're the new student. I just finished your schedule. Here," said the principal. "The classes should be numbered so you'll be able to locate them."

"Thank you, um..." said Soren, trying to figure out the principal's name.

"Cinder. Name's Cinder. Well, you better get going," he said as the bell rang.

Soren walked out of the principal's office and looked at the schedule. "Hmm."

A dark dragon appeared next to him. "You may be smart, but you're still stupid. You have math, dummy," Fang said.

"I know I have math, but it's the teacher's name that's confusing. Nevertheless, it doesn't matter," Soren said as he began walking to math class, making it just in time. He knocked on the door.

"Yes, you may enter," said the teacher.

Soren opened the door and walked in. "Hello, is this class A5?" he asked.

"Oh, you must be the new student, right?" said the teacher.

"Yes, sir," Soren replied.

"Well, welcome to the class. I'm Mr. Thorne. Please introduce yourself to your classmates," the teacher said, gesturing to the front of the room.

Soren turned to face the sea of curious faces. Some students looked bored, others intrigued. He spotted Arata in the back row, who gave him a small wave.

"Hi, I'm Soren Asura. I'm new so ye" He kept it simple, not wanting to draw too much attention to himself. After everything that had happened, normal felt good.

"You can take the empty seat next to Maya," Mr. Thorne said, pointing to an open desk beside a girl with white-colored hair who was sketching in her notebook.

As Soren made his way to his seat, he could feel the weight of the Crimson Stone in his pocket. He'd considered leaving it at home, but after the scout incident, he didn't dare part with it.

Maya barely looked up as he sat down, completely absorbed in her drawing. Soren caught a glimpse of intricate patterns that seemed to shift and move on the page.

"Today we'll be covering dimensional mathematics," Mr. Thorne announced, writing equations on the board. "This will be essential for understanding how to calculate energy transfer between different planes of reality."

Soren perked up. Maybe this wouldn't be useless after all. He noticed Maya had finally stopped drawing and was watching him with curious golden eyes.

"You're different," she whispered, so quietly he almost missed it. "Your energy... it's not like the others."

Before Soren could respond, Mr. Thorne called on Maya to solve an equation. She stood up smoothly, walked to the board, and solved it with practiced ease.

The rest of class passed in a blur of numbers and theories. Soren found himself actually enjoying it – the mathematical principles behind dimensional transfer weren't too different from what he'd been learning with the Crimson Stone.

When the bell rang, Maya turned to him again. "You should be more careful about hiding your stone's energy. It leaks out when you concentrate too hard."

Soren stiffened. "How did you—"

"I can see energy patterns. It's my gift," she said simply, gathering her things. "And yours is... interesting. We should talk more at lunch."

Before he could reply, she was gone, leaving only the faint scent of autumn leaves in her wake.

"Well, that was cryptic," Fang materialized beside him, invisible to everyone else. "But she's right about your energy control. It's sloppy."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Soren muttered under his breath as he checked his schedule. "History of Magical Warfare next. Great."

The history classroom was smaller, with artifacts displayed in glass cases along the walls. Weapons, stones, and ancient scrolls created an atmosphere that was part museum, part battlefield memorial.

Their teacher, Ms. Blackwood, was a stern-looking woman with silver streaks in her dark hair and a scar running down her left cheek. She didn't waste time on introductions.

"Today we'll be discussing the First Stone War," she announced. "Can anyone tell me what triggered the conflict?"

A few hands went up. Soren noticed Arata among them, but Ms. Blackwood called on someone else – a serious-looking boy with rectangular glasses.

"The discovery of the Prime Stones in 1875 led to a power struggle between different factions who wanted to control their energy," the boy answered.

"Correct, Mr. Chen. The Prime Stones were thought to be the source of all stone power in our world. Their discovery changed everything we knew about reality manipulation."

Soren found himself leaning forward, hanging on every word. This was his history – the history of the stones, of power like what he now possessed.

"The Crimson Stone was among them," Ms. Blackwood continued, and Soren felt his heart skip a beat. "Though it vanished during the final battle, some say it still exists, waiting for the right wielder."

Fang chuckled beside him. "If they only knew."

The rest of the class was equally fascinating, but Soren couldn't shake the feeling that Ms. Blackwood kept glancing his way, as if she knew something.

When class ended, Arata caught up with him in the hallway. "Hey, want to grab lunch together? I can introduce you to some people."

Soren hesitated, remembering Maya's request to talk. But before he could decide, an alarm blared through the school's speakers.

"ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. PLEASE PROCEED TO THE NEAREST SAFETY BUNKER IMMEDIATELY."

The hallway erupted into controlled chaos as students moved quickly but orderly toward predetermined exits. But Soren felt it – a familiar darkness pressing against his senses.

"They're here," Fang growled. "The Covenant found you."

Soren clutched the Crimson Stone in his pocket, its warmth pulsing in response to the threat. He had to make a choice – run with the other students or stay and fight.

"You can't hide forever," Fang said, reading his thoughts. "Sometimes the best defense is a strong offense."

Before Soren could respond, he spotted Maya standing at the end of the hallway, her golden eyes glowing with an inner light. She nodded once, and he knew she could help.

"Arata, go with the others," Soren said firmly. "I'll catch up."

"But—"

"Please. Trust me."

As Arata reluctantly joined the evacuation, Soren turned to face whatever was coming. He'd wanted normal, but normal wasn't an option anymore. It was time to embrace who he really was – a wielder of the Crimson Stone, and perhaps the only one who could stop the darkness from consuming everything.

Maya moved swiftly to his side, her copper hair now seeming to flicker like actual flames. "Three of them," she said tersely. "Dark energy signatures, moving fast through the east wing."

"You don't seem surprised," Soren noted, rolling the Crimson Stone between his fingers.

"Let's just say I've been waiting for someone like you to show up," she replied. "The energy patterns have been shifting for weeks. Something big is coming."

A crash echoed through the hallway, followed by the sound of shattering glass. Dark mist began seeping under classroom doors, carrying with it the chill of ancient malice.

"Show yourself, Crimson Bearer!" a voice called out, deep and distorted. "We can sense your power!"

Fang materialized fully now, his black scales gleaming. "They're trying to corner us. We should—"

But before he could finish, Maya had already sprung into action. She pulled what looked like a simple pencil from her hair, but as she gripped it, it transformed into a staff marked with glowing runes.

"You're not the only one with secrets," she said, catching Soren's surprised look. "Now, are we going to fight or what?"

The dark mist coalesced into three figures – Covenant agents wearing masks of bone-white material that seemed to shift and change in the light. Their hands crackled with void energy.

"The girl is irrelevant," one of them said. "Take the stone carrier. Kill the rest."

Soren felt anger surge through him, mixing with the Crimson Stone's power. "You know what? I'm getting really tired of you people ruining my day."

He channeled energy into his hands, creating the barrier Asura had taught him, but this time he modified it. Instead of just defending, he pushed outward, sending waves of crimson force that slammed into the first agent.

Maya moved like a dancer, her staff leaving trails of golden light as she engaged the second agent. Her fighting style was fluid and precise – clearly, she'd trained for this.

"Your left!" Fang called out, and Soren ducked just as the third agent's void-blast passed over his head. He countered with a reality-splitting punch, something he'd been practicing but hadn't quite mastered.

The agent's mask cracked, revealing inhuman features underneath – skin like ash and eyes that seemed to swallow light.

"You don't even know what you possess," the agent hissed. "The stone's true power—"

"Is not yours to take," Soren finished, focusing his energy into a concentrated beam. The agent tried to dodge, but Maya's staff caught them in the back, disrupting their movement.

The beam hit true, and the agent dissolved into shadows with a haunting scream.

Maya had already dispatched her opponent, leaving only the first agent, who was struggling to stand after Soren's initial attack.

"This isn't over," they snarled, pulling something from their cloak – a black stone that pulsed with negative energy.

"A Void Stone," Maya gasped. "They shouldn't have those!"

The agent crushed the stone in their hand, and reality seemed to bend. A portal of pure darkness opened behind them, but instead of escaping, they began to change. Their form grew, twisted, became something monstrous.

"Oh, that's not good," Fang commented dryly.

The transformed agent now towered over them, their mask fused to flesh that writhed with dark energy. Tentacles of void-stuff whipped through the air, leaving scorch marks on the walls.

"Any ideas?" Soren asked, backing up slightly.

Maya twirled her staff. "Just one. But you'll need to trust me. Can you create a reality pocket? Like a bubble where normal physics don't apply?"

"Maybe? I've done it in training, but—"

"Do it now!" she commanded as a tentacle smashed through the space where they'd been standing.

Soren focused, channeling power through the Crimson Stone. A sphere of altered reality formed around them, making the air shimmer like heat waves.

Maya began to spin her staff faster and faster, golden energy building up around her. "When I say now, drop the bubble and hit it with everything you've got."

The monster that had been a Covenant agent roared, void-energy pouring off it in waves. It struck Soren's reality bubble repeatedly, each hit making it harder to maintain.

"Almost..." Maya's voice was strained as her staff became a blur of light. "Now!"

Soren dropped the bubble just as Maya released her built-up energy. Golden light exploded outward, and Soren added his own crimson blast to it. The combined energies spiraled together, forming a helix of power that struck the transformed agent dead center.

There was a sound like reality itself tearing, and then... silence.