The pressure kept rising.
Not just from the battle.
But from the time running dangerously thin.
Sophia stood firm in front of the screen.
Even as her body began to feel weak.
Her eyes remained sharp.
There was no room for error.
Daniel beside her moved swiftly.
His hands never stopping.
Keeping the system flow under control.
"Four minutes," he said.
Sophia nodded slowly.
"Keep pushing."
On the screen.
The energy flow grew increasingly unstable.
Small ripples were turning into massive surges.
This was no longer just interference.
It was becoming a threat.
On the field.
Adrian Blackwood did not stop.
His attacks grew faster.
Sharper.
Before him.
Marcus Sterling was starting to lose his rhythm.
Not by much.
But enough to be seen.
"You are playing with fire," Marcus said.
Adrian stared at him coldly.
"We are burning it down."
Another heavy collision occurred.
Marcus stepped back.
This time, more clearly.
On the other side.
Leonard Graves continued to hold the line.
Now, he too began to push forward.
"Finish it quickly," he said.
Adrian did not answer.
But his movements became even more aggressive.
Above.
Daniel saw a major shift.
"The system is starting to collapse."
Sophia watched the screen.
Her heart beating faster.
"Not yet."
She pointed to a single spot.
"He is still holding the core."
Daniel nodded.
"If that falls."
Sophia continued.
"It's all over."
Silence.
Below.
Marcus sensed the change.
His eyes narrowed.
He glanced around briefly.
A small mistake.
But fatal.
Adrian seized it instantly.
His strike pierced the defense.
Marcus blocked.
Half a second too late.
A loud impact echoed.
Marcus was thrown further back.
For the first time.
He truly lost his balance.
Leonard saw it.
His smile widened.
"Now."
Above.
Daniel shouted.
"Three minutes."
Sophia gripped her device.
"Adrian."
Her voice came through the comms.
Adrian heard it.
He didn't reply.
He just moved.
Faster.
Sharper.
Marcus tried to adjust.
The system around him began to glitch.
Energy was no longer stable.
"You are ruining everything," he said.
Adrian looked at him.
"That is the goal."
Collision after collision took place.
Faster than ever before.
Leonard held the flank.
But now he advanced as well.
Cutting off all possibilities of aid.
"No one gets in," he said.
Above.
Sophia stared at the screen.
Unblinking.
Two minutes.
"Almost there," she whispered.
Daniel kept working.
The strain on the system was immense.
"If this fails."
He paused.
"We lose everything."
Sophia did not answer.
Her eyes said it all.
There was no other choice.
Below.
Adrian finally found the opening.
Tiny.
But enough.
He moved.
Directly.
Marcus tried to block.
But this time.
He wasn't fast enough.
The final clash happened.
Harder than anything before.
Marcus was pushed back several steps.
His breathing changed.
He looked strained.
A moment of silence.
Adrian stood before him.
His gaze cold.
"It is finished."
Marcus lifted his head.
The smile was still there.
But different.
"Not yet."
He raised his hand.
The energy around them surged again.
Wilder.
More unstable.
Above.
Daniel was shocked.
"He is trying to hold it together."
Sophia understood immediately.
"He is going to blow everything up."
Silence.
"One minute," said Daniel.
Sophia held her breath.
"Adrian."
Below.
Adrian heard it.
He knew.
Time was almost up.
He stepped forward.
Without hesitation.
Marcus looked at him.
His eyes now sharper.
More dangerous.
"If I fall."
He paused.
"You fall too."
Adrian did not stop.
"If you fall."
He answered coldly.
"It is all over."
The final collision took place.
Amidst the collapsing energy.
Amidst the running clock.
The two forces clashed once more.
And this time.
No one held back.
The energy around them turned uncontrollable.
The faint vibration that was barely felt before became a tangible wave.
The air pulsed.
The ground beneath their feet felt alive.
Adrian Blackwood did not retreat.
Instead, he stepped closer.
Breaking through the mounting pressure.
Before him, Marcus Sterling stood tall.
Now his breathing was no longer as calm as before.
A change.
Small.
But real.
"You won't make it in time," Marcus said.
Adrian stared at him.
His gaze colder than ever.
"Try me."
They clashed again.
Harder.
More brutal.
Marcus attacked faster.
More aggressive.
No longer holding back.
Adrian blocked.
The pressure was immense.
His body was pushed slightly.
But he did not stop.
He struck back.
Sharper.
Deeper.
On the other side.
Leonard Graves began to feel the energy's effect.
His movements were still fast.
But the weight around him increased.
"Damn."
He took a short breath.
Yet he kept moving.
Taking down another opponent.
Then another.
"Hurry up," he shouted.
Above.
Sophia watched with bated breath.
Data spiked wildly.
Numbers were no longer stable.
Daniel gritted his teeth.
"I can't hold it much longer."
Sophia nodded.
She already knew.
"How long."
Daniel swallowed hard.
"Thirty seconds."
Silence fell.
Brief.
Sophia took a deep breath.
Her focus returned.
"Enough."
She delved deeper into the screen.
Searching for one thing.
One point.
And she found it.
"Adrian."
Her voice cut through the comms.
Below.
Adrian heard it.
Even over the roar of battle.
"What."
Sophia spoke rapidly.
"The spot to your right."
Adrian didn't turn his head.
He felt it.
"A small fracture."
Marcus narrowed his eyes.
He knew.
He felt something shift.
"Don't listen to her," he said.
Adrian didn't answer.
But his stance shifted slightly.
Sophia continued.
"That is the center of balance."
Daniel added.
"If you destroy it."
Sophia finished.
"The energy will implode inward."
Silence.
Marcus laughed softly.
"You think it is that simple."
Adrian finally glanced aside.
Just for a moment.
Enough to see.
The crack.
Tiny.
Almost invisible.
But real.
Marcus moved faster.
Trying to block the view.
Adrian had already moved first.
A violent impact.
Marcus tried to hold.
But it was too late.
Adrian broke through the defense.
Straight for the point.
Leonard saw it.
"Now."
Above.
Daniel yelled.
"Ten seconds."
Sophia held her breath.
Her eyes fixed on the screen.
Adrian raised his hand.
Feeling all the pressure around him.
He did not hesitate.
Marcus tried to stop him.
His steps were halted.
For the first time.
He wasn't fast enough.
"Five seconds," shouted Daniel.
Adrian locked onto the target.
One last check.
Then.
He struck.
The hit was precise.
Direct.
Without doubt.
The fracture shattered.
In a single second.
Everything changed.
The energy that was spinning outward.
Reversed direction.
Pulling inward.
A massive shockwave erupted.
Shaking the entire area.
Marcus was thrown backward.
His eyes widened slightly.
He was truly shocked.
Leonard braced himself.
"This is it."
Above.
Daniel stared at the screen.
The numbers began to drop.
"It worked."
Sophia finally exhaled.
But her eyes remained on the display.
Because she knew.
It wasn't truly over yet.
Below.
The energy began to die down.
One by one.
The systems that were active.
Started to shut down.
Marcus stood.
His aura shifted.
No longer fully in control.
Adrian stood before him.
His gaze cold.
"Now."
Silence fell.
The balance had truly shifted.
And this time.
The advantage was theirs.