The city block shuddered with chaos. Car alarms screamed, people ran in every direction, and at the center stood Jaro — or what was left of him — lifting cars and debris with a flick of his hand. The fragment inside him crackled with dark energy, his eyes glowing like oil set on fire.
Zindra, Kethra, and Liyaya crouched behind an overturned taxi. Zindra peered over the edge, his markings already flickering with light. Kethra adjusted the cracked mask over her face, her eyes narrow and sharp.
"He's feeding on their fear," Kethra murmured. "Every scream, every panic makes him stronger."
Zindra clenched his jaw. "Then we silence the fear."
But before he could move, a piece of concrete smashed into the car next to them, sending shards everywhere. Jaro's distorted voice echoed across the street. "Zindra! The traitor sentinel! Come see what you abandoned!"
Zindra looked at Liyaya. "Stay here."
Liyaya grabbed his arm. "No."
He shook his head. "This thing—"
"—Is hurting innocent people. If I stay here, what was the point of learning to fight beside you?" Her voice was low but fierce.
Kethra's eyes flicked to Zindra. "She's right. You hold him. We protect the people."
Zindra hesitated — then nodded. "Don't get close to him. He's not Jaro anymore."
He rose from cover, runes blazing. In an instant, Jaro turned, grinning like a wolf. With a roar, Zindra charged. Energy lashed out — a bright arc that slammed into Jaro and hurled him through a storefront window.
But the fragment was cunning. Jaro rose from the broken glass, laughing, hands swirling with shards that lifted and spun like knives.
Meanwhile, Liyaya bolted across the street. She spotted two trapped children behind an overturned delivery truck. Concrete chunks hovered above them — ready to crush. She ducked low, crawled through broken glass, and grabbed them.
A piece of debris slammed down just as she shoved the kids free. A sharp edge scraped her arm, drawing blood, but she didn't stop. She pushed the children toward Kethra, who pulled them into the protective circle she'd drawn in the street with chalk from her pouch.
Back at the battle, Zindra and Jaro clashed like thunder and lightning — energy exploding in bright flashes against the night. The cars and debris floated and fell around them like a storm frozen mid-motion.
Liyaya's breaths came hard and ragged, but she ignored the pain. She ducked behind a streetlight and yelled to Zindra, "Do it now!"
Zindra caught her eyes — and understood. He slammed his palms together, runes blazing. The force blast hit Jaro square in the chest, pinning him to a wall.
Liyaya sprinted forward, her palm outstretched. Kethra's voice echoed behind her: "Strike the mark!"
At the last moment, Liyaya pressed her bloody hand over Jaro's chest, right where Zindra's runes had cracked open the fragment's hiding place. Her touch flared with green light — Earth's energy answering her will.
Jaro's eyes widened — for a heartbeat, his own voice broke through: "Help… me…" Then the darkness hissed, shrieked — and burst into smoke.
The possessed man collapsed in Liyaya's arms, unconscious but breathing.
Zindra caught Liyaya before she fell too. He held her tight, her forehead pressed to his. "You did it. You stood your ground."
She smiled, exhausted but burning with pride. "So did you."
In the distance, sirens wailed. But for tonight — the hunters of the shadows had won.