The air felt different.
The pressure that had pressed from all directions was beginning to weaken.
It did not mean safety.
In fact, it was more dangerous.
Because now.
Everything was unstable.
Adrian Blackwood stood amidst the remnants of the energy waves.
His breathing was heavy.
His eyes remained focused.
No hesitation.
Before him, Marcus Sterling no longer looked perfect.
His smile was still there.
But not as calm as before.
"Interesting," he said softly.
Adrian took one step forward.
"This is the end of your game."
Marcus laughed softly.
"Game."
He shook his head slowly.
"This is only the middle part."
Silence fell.
Briefly.
On the other side.
Leonard Graves scanned his surroundings.
Many opponents had already fallen.
Some still stood.
He exhaled.
"It is not over yet."
His movements remained fast.
He closed the gaps.
Blocking anyone who tried to approach.
Above.
Sophia watched the screen, breathing slowly.
The numbers were starting to stabilize.
The system was not completely dead.
Daniel monitored every change.
"We have cut off most of the flow."
Sophia nodded.
"But not all of it."
Daniel turned.
"What do you mean."
Sophia pointed at the screen.
"There are still reserves."
Silence.
Daniel took a breath.
"He has a second system."
Sophia nodded slowly.
"And possibly more."
On the field.
Marcus took one step back.
Deliberately.
Adrian noticed.
His eyes narrowed.
"You are retreating," he said.
Marcus smiled faintly.
"Strategy."
He raised his hand slightly.
In the distance.
Several structures began to activate.
Lights turned on again.
Different from before.
Dimmer.
Colder.
Leonard saw it.
"He is not finished."
Adrian did not answer.
He was already moving.
Marcus did not wait.
He attacked.
Fast.
But this time.
Wilder.
Adrian blocked.
The pressure shifted.
Marcus was no longer fighting cleanly.
He attacked with full force.
Without pattern.
Without a rhythm easily read.
They clashed again.
More brutally.
On the other side.
Leonard began pushing the remaining enemies back.
One by one.
"You are running out of time," he said casually.
But deep inside.
He knew.
They didn't have much time either.
Above.
Daniel saw new movement.
"Reserves are activating."
Sophia stared at the screen.
Her eyes sharp.
"How long."
Daniel answered quickly.
"Less than three minutes."
Silence.
Sophia gritted her teeth.
"He is trying to restart everything."
Daniel nodded.
"If that happens."
He paused.
"We are back to the beginning."
Sophia shook her head.
"No."
She delved deeper into the screen.
"We won't give him the chance."
Below.
Adrian began to press back.
Even though Marcus was more aggressive.
There were now openings.
Marcus was losing small amounts of control.
But it was enough.
Adrian struck precisely at that moment.
A heavy impact occurred.
Marcus was pushed back again.
He truly lost his defensive position.
Leonard saw it.
"Now," he said.
Adrian did not wait.
He advanced.
Directly.
Marcus tried to block.
But this time.
He wasn't fast enough.
Above.
Sophia saw the moment.
Her heart beat faster.
"Adrian."
Her voice came through the comms.
"Don't give him time."
Adrian heard it.
And he did not hesitate.
His attacks grew faster.
Sharper.
Marcus began to be cornered.
Stepping back.
One by one.
His smile did not fade.
"Good," he said.
Adrian looked at him.
"It is finished."
Marcus laughed softly.
"Not yet."
He raised his hand once more.
Energy from the reserves began to flow.
But it was unstable.
Because the main system was already damaged.
Leonard cursed quietly.
"He is insane."
Adrian felt the wave.
He did not stop.
He knew.
This was the last chance.
Above.
Daniel shouted.
"Two minutes."
Sophia held her breath.
Her eyes unblinking.
"Almost there," she whispered.
Below.
Adrian and Marcus clashed again.
Harder.
More brutal.
No one held back.
Because they knew.
This was no longer about winning.
It was about who would endure until the end.
And who would fall along with everything they built.
The reserve energy was unstable.
It pulsed irregularly.
As if forced back to life without sufficient foundation.
Sophia watched the screen with bated breath.
Graphs spiked then dropped drastically.
Repeatedly.
Faster and faster.
"It will collapse on its own," Daniel said.
Sophia shook her head slowly.
"Not fast enough."
Her eyes remained focused.
Searching for one more point.
One last opening.
"He is holding it together by force," she continued.
Daniel looked at the data.
Nodding.
"If he keeps this up."
He paused.
"The explosion cannot be controlled."
Silence.
Sophia took a deep breath.
"Then we have to force him to stop."
On the field.
Adrian Blackwood felt the new pressure.
The energy was no longer directed.
But still dangerous.
Before him, Marcus Sterling stood with slightly heavier breathing.
His gaze was still sharp.
Still full of conviction.
"You see," Marcus said softly.
"Even in destruction."
He smiled faintly.
"I still have control."
Adrian looked at him coldly.
"Not anymore."
He stepped forward.
Directly.
Without pause.
The attack came fast.
Faster than before.
Marcus blocked.
Not as cleanly as before.
A loud impact echoed.
Marcus stepped back.
Leonard on the side saw the change.
Leonard Graves smirked.
"He is starting to waver."
He seized the moment.
Taking down another opponent.
Then moved closer.
"We are almost done," he said.
But the sound of cracking was heard.
From below.
From all around them.
The ground shook.
Stronger.
Above.
Daniel tensed.
"The structure is starting to collapse."
Sophia understood immediately.
"He doesn't care anymore."
Daniel stared at the screen.
"He is ready to destroy everything."
Silence.
Sophia gritted her teeth.
"Then."
She looked deeper into the display.
"We make sure he falls first."
Below.
Marcus raised his hand again.
Energy gathered around him.
This time it was unstable.
Vibrating.
Adrian did not wait.
He moved.
Directly.
His strike pierced through the pressure.
Marcus tried to block.
But this time.
He was too late.
A heavy collision occurred.
Marcus was pushed back further.
His breathing was no longer steady.
He looked truly strained.
Leonard approached.
Closing all paths.
"There is no way out," he said calmly.
Marcus laughed softly.
Despite his unsteady breath.
"There is always a way."
But this time.
His words lacked their former strength.
Above.
Daniel watched the numbers plummet.
"One minute."
Sophia held her breath.
Her eyes fixed on the screen.
"Adrian."
Her voice transmitted clearly.
Below.
Adrian heard.
"Now."
No long explanation.
No need.
Adrian understood.
He stepped forward.
Closer.
Marcus tried to resist.
His body reacted too late.
Adrian struck.
Directly at the center of his defense.
Impact.
Harder than ever before.
Marcus retreated.
Almost losing his balance.
Leonard held the flank.
Giving no space.
"This is the end," he said.
Marcus looked at them.
His gaze still sharp.
Something had changed.
Not fear.
But realization.
That everything was no longer going according to plan.
Above.
Daniel shouted.
"Thirty seconds."
Sophia held her breath.
Her hands clenched.
"Almost there," she whispered.
Below.
The energy around them began to shatter.
Sparks appeared.
The sound of cracking grew louder.
Adrian did not stop.
He attacked again.
Marcus blocked.
Slower now.
Collision after collision took place.
And every time.
Marcus retreated further.
Until finally.
He stopped.
No longer retreating.
No longer attacking.
He stood.
Looking at Adrian.
His smile returned.
But it was different.
"If this is my end."
He paused.
"You will remember it."
Adrian looked at him coldly.
"No."
He stepped forward.
"This is only the end for you."
Silence fell.
And in that final second.
Before everything collapsed.
The battle reached its peak.