The world bent around them.
Not slowly.
Not subtly.
Violently.
The tear in the sky widened.
Reality cracked like glass.
Juvy stood still.
Her light flickering—
Not from instability.
From hesitation.
"…Same origin…"
The words echoed in her mind.
Maxruell stood beside her.
Silent.
But his shadows—
Reacted.
Not aggressive.
Not defensive.
Uneasy.
"…That thing's lying," he said.
Juvy didn't answer.
"…It has to be."
A pause.
"…Right?"
The entity stepped forward.
"Denial…"
The pressure increased.
"Common response…"
Juvy clenched her fist.
"…Shut up."
Her light flared—
Not calm this time.
Not balanced.
Disturbed.
Maxruell glanced at her.
"…You're letting it get to you."
Juvy didn't look at him.
"…Aren't you?"
Silence.
For the first time—
Maxruell didn't answer.
— The Clash Resumes —
The entity moved.
Faster.
More aggressive.
Juvy reacted—
Light formed instantly—
But her timing—
Slightly off.
The attack broke through.
Maxruell stepped in—
Shadows blocking—
But unstable.
They were slower.
Not physically—
Mentally.
The doubt—
Was affecting them.
The entity struck again—
Juvy was forced back—
Maxruell followed—
"…Focus!" Maxruell snapped.
Juvy steadied herself.
"…I am—"
Another attack—
They barely avoided it.
— The Truth Presses —
The entity stopped again.
Watching.
"Connection… confirmed…"
Juvy's light flickered.
Maxruell's shadows surged.
For a brief moment—
They reacted to each other.
Not consciously.
But instinctively.
Juvy moved—
Maxruell adjusted.
Maxruell attacked—
Juvy followed.
Perfect timing.
They both froze.
"…Did you just—"
"…Yeah."
Silence.
The realization hit harder than any attack.
— The Entity Advances —
"Unity increases output…"
It stepped closer.
"Separation decreases survival…"
Maxruell's expression hardened.
"…We don't need that."
Juvy shook her head.
"…No."
But their voices—
Didn't sound certain.
— Forced Cooperation —
The entity attacked again.
Stronger.
Faster.
This time—
They didn't think.
They reacted.
Juvy created a barrier—
Maxruell reinforced it—
Without being told.
Maxruell attacked—
Juvy adjusted the angle—
Perfectly.
The hit landed.
Again.
The entity staggered.
More than before.
"…Increase detected…"
Juvy stepped back.
"…We're stronger together…"
Maxruell looked away slightly.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…Still hate it."
Juvy almost smiled.
— Escalation —
The entity's form twisted again.
"Correction required…"
Its power surged.
Beyond before.
Reality collapsed further.
The tear in the sky expanded.
The city couldn't hold much longer.
Juvy's eyes widened.
"…If this keeps going—"
Maxruell finished it.
"…Everything's gone."
— Final Build-Up —
They stood side by side again.
But this time—
Different.
Not denying.
Not rejecting.
Understanding.
Juvy's light flowed.
Maxruell's shadows stabilized slightly.
Not merged.
But aligned.
"…One more time," Juvy said.
Maxruell smirked faintly.
"…Don't slow me down."
The entity raised its hand.
"Finalization…"
The storm reached its peak.
The world trembled.
And the final clash—
Was about to begin.