The battlefield didn't notice break with explosion again.
That was the strongest attack..!
After the clash, after the impossible halt, after the elders hesitation —
Everything held on the spot.
Limbo remained standing, but his body screamed, even the mana was replenishing, he still getting overwhelmed and facing someone who have gone through many battles.
He was unpredictable, calmed, and his movements were cleaned.
The lightning around his spear dimmed, no longer roaring, only whispeing. His grip was steady, yet the tremoe in his arm and fatigue betrayed the truth—another strike like that, and he would not block it cleanly
The elder noticed.
Of course he did.
That dammed!, old eyes never missed anything, like they keep an close eyes on their prey..
And suddenly silence broke,
"You're reaching your limits," the elder said, it was not mocking tone — but stating the fact and condition.
"You're stance remains... But your core wavers. "
Limbo didn't answer, he somewhere agreed.
He can replenished mana to generate strong attack combos, but he's strength and health recovered slowly unlike the mana.
He couldn't afford for words.
Behind him— Gaja took a step forward.
Just one.
The movement was small, almost insignificant, but the air reacted.
Rin also felt it first, witnessing everything from back.
Her vine reinforced unnaturally, not responding to her will, but to something else—something heavier, denser.
"Gaja..." She whispered.
But the sound couldn't reached the Gaja's ears. Gaja's eyes we're fixed at Limbo's back, and ongoing clash.
The boy was still standing, holding a ground strongly.
Still shielding.
Refusing to fall.
That was enough, Gaja's jaw clenched.
"I don't like this," he muttered.
Watching Someone else carry everything.
His blades vibrated, not from the heat, even not from the mana release.
But from the rising pressure inside.
The ground beneath his feet cracked softly, spiderwebs like lines spread outward around the surrounding as he walked.
One of the soldier noticed the changes.
Several soldiers shifted uneasily, as something was rising.
That one... Someone murmured.
His presence changed.
Sambha felt it too.
The shaking in his hands slowed. His breathing began to stabilize.
He looked at Limbo, then slowly shifting gazed towards the elder.
Then—at his own chest....
Thump... Thump...
The sound wasn't loud, but it was clear.
Sambha swallowed all his hesitation and odd feelings.
He stepped forward.
He knew elder is not the one he can match, but Limbo's action pushed him to abandon the feelings holding him back.
Rin felt the change and turned sharply, "Sambha —dont!"
He didn't stop, or rather something inside ignored the warning.
Each step was small but precise and careful.
But his fear—had abandon him the moment Limbo clash against elder. Who's the one of the strongest warriors of village.
I... don't want brother... To fight... alone, Sambha replied to Rin.
His voice wavers but didn't break.
Elder noticed the changes in Sambha presence, his gazed snapped at them.
For the first time something flickered, not just an authority, but rather...
"Recognition."
"That stance..." The elder murmured.
"No... impossible."
Sambha raised his head.
He didn't roar, nor anything glowed. But something answered him.
The tear crystal, which was Hidden beneath his clothes quietly upuntil now, pulsed once softly.
Not an activation.
Nor the something Awaken, but rather...
A response.
The air surrounding the child thickened.
Rin felt it and froze.
I can't... She whispered.
"This presence it's not...like a human.."
I can't move.
Not by fear.
Not even by the suppression.
Something else was shaking her more.
The feeling...
The feeling of left behind.
The shadow exhaled slowly.
"So," he said voice low and heavy.
"This is what the ****** chose."
High above the battlefield.
The mysterious shadow leaned forward.
Just slightly, filled with intense emotions.
His claws flexed.
"Oh?"
"That's new."
For the first time since arriving, the shadows intrest sharpened.
He had a thoughts,
If needed he had intervene.
And stop the elder.
To end the unnecessary bloodshed of a child.
But now —
He waited.
"Show me," the shadow murmured.
"Not by your strength...but the reason. And values that pushing you, to stand against your own people.."
Below—
Gaja stepped fully beside Limbo.
Not in front, not in the behind.
But —
Beside.
His blades lowered— not in surrender, but in alignment and preparing to launch.
"If you're standing," Gaja sadi quietly, "then I will not stand by."
Limbo's eyes widened a fraction.
"S-stop!"
Don't, Gaja cut in.
Just don't fall.
Sambha reached out.
His small hand touched Limbo's sleeve.
Warm and steady.
I'm here, big bro... Sambha said.
Not by a roar.
Not by the command.
"But to respect the resolve that keeping the promise."
The elder raised his staff again.
But this time —
He did not strike.
Instead he smiled, but hide behind the cape.
The old man spoke.
"Very well," he said.
"Let's us see how far your resolve carries you... Before the power demand it's price."
"The will alone can't change anything, to change the things according to you, you must carry the power."
The valley breathed in.
The tensed air scattered throughout the soldier's.
The shadows grin widened.
And deep within the gaja—
And within the smabha—
Something old, something strange began to rise.
Limbo's action pushed them even to the extent they didn't care about,
Their lives.
Their fear.
Their shackles and pain.
Something deep.
Shifted within them.
Not awakening.
But beware...
"Intresting..!" Shadow skip the blink.
And with wide eyes opened he kept a close eyes on the situation, that turned in an bizzare and strange ways.
"So it begins earlier than expected," he murmured, ember-like eyes narrowing beneath bone and fur. "The land reacts. The blood responds. And the old laws… bend."
"Show me what can you do!"
He's gazed linger on the child.
Not on Sambha's body, but something behind.
Something faint, something coiled.
That is still dormant, not fully awake but just tap.
"Intresting," the shadow as aid softly,
"Very interesting."
"It's much better to witness by own eyes than, heard by someone else mouth."
"I made the right choice!"
This situation is far surpassed the trespass and authority and pressure.
This has become what would rise if pushed too far..