Chapter 28: Fractured Alliances
Zane could barely hold himself up, his vision blurring in and out as the battle unfolded around him. His body was weak, each breath a laborious effort, and the sounds of the fight were like distant echoes, muffled by the pain and exhaustion that gripped him. Kai's arm, looped under Zane's shoulders, was the only thing keeping him upright. But Kai's strength, while formidable, was being tested to its limits as chaos reigned around them.
The air was thick with fear, tinged with desperation, as the surviving children turned on each other. The ground beneath their feet was scorched and uneven, stained with blood and the remnants of their powers. Screams and the clash of abilities filled the air, mixing with the sharp crackle of Rowan's uncontrolled flames and the metallic screech of Ferris bending the metal around them. Zane had never felt so helpless.
"Kai…" Zane rasped, barely able to form words. "We… can't… stay here."
Kai tightened his grip on Zane, his jaw clenched, his eyes darting across the battlefield. His powers hummed faintly, manipulating the weight around them, allowing Zane to move more easily. But even with his gravity manipulation, there were limits to how long Kai could sustain both of them in the middle of this chaos.
"I know," Kai muttered through gritted teeth, sweat beading on his forehead. He shifted the gravity field just enough to destabilize an approaching attacker, sending the kid sprawling to the ground. "We'll find a way through."
Ahead, Ferris was already deep in battle, his metal manipulation bending the ground into jagged spikes and twisting barriers that shielded him from incoming attacks. The sound of groaning metal filled the air as he raised shards from the ground, sharp enough to maim but controlled enough not to kill. His focus was intense, every movement calculated as he fought off multiple opponents.
But it wasn't just Ferris. Not far from him, Kieran flickered in and out of sight, his light manipulation giving him an edge in the chaos. His body shifted between blinding bursts of light and shadowy invisibility, allowing him to disorient anyone who dared come close. The tension between him and Ferris was palpable—their rivalry from earlier battles now bubbling beneath the surface, threatening to resurface even in the midst of this desperate fight for survival.
Ferris sneered as his gaze briefly locked onto Kieran. "Don't get in my way," he muttered, his voice carrying over the din of battle.
Kieran's response was sharp, his pale eyes narrowing. "I'm not the one you need to worry about."
Despite their barbed words, both boys fought in eerie synchrony, their unspoken coordination keeping the waves of attackers at bay. It was clear that whatever grudges lingered between them had to be pushed aside if they were going to survive the chaos surrounding them. A boy with the ability to emit sonic waves lunged at Kieran, but before the sound could reach him, Kieran flickered out of sight, leaving the attacker momentarily disoriented. Ferris wasted no time, sending a jagged shard of metal flying through the air, striking the boy in the leg and incapacitating him.
For all their differences, they fought like two pieces of the same puzzle. Ferris's strength and control over the battlefield combined with Kieran's agility and disorienting light created a formidable defense. But even as they fought side by side, the tension between them simmered beneath the surface, threatening to crack at any moment.
Amid the fray, Rowan's fire surged, wild and untamed, consuming everything in its path. His fury had reached its peak, and the flames that licked across the battlefield were enough to scorch the very ground beneath them. His face was twisted in rage, and the air around him shimmered with heat. Kai threw up a gravity barrier just in time to deflect the worst of the flames, but the heat was intense enough to singe the edges of his clothes.
"He's going to lose control," Kai muttered, his eyes wide as he watched Rowan unleash wave after wave of fire, his body shaking with the strain of his power.
Zane could barely respond, but he nodded weakly, knowing all too well what it felt like to be on the edge of control. Rowan's power was volatile, fueled by the raw emotions of losing Aira, and if something wasn't done soon, he would burn everything to the ground.
Ferris and Kieran exchanged a glance. Despite the chaos, they understood that Rowan had become the greatest threat on the battlefield. His flames were growing more intense, and if they didn't stop him soon, no one would survive.
Without hesitation, Ferris bent the metal beneath their feet, raising a barrier to shield them from Rowan's flames. But Rowan's fire was too intense, the heat melting the edges of Ferris's shield and sending sparks flying in all directions.
Kieran acted quickly, his light flaring in a brilliant burst that momentarily blinded Rowan, causing him to stagger back. It wasn't enough to stop him, but it bought them time.
"We have to take him down," Ferris growled, frustration evident in his voice. He sent another shard of metal flying toward Rowan, but once again, Rowan's flames flared, incinerating the metal before it could reach him.
"Damn it!" Ferris shouted, his control slipping as Rowan's power continued to overwhelm them.
Kai, sensing that they were running out of options, stepped forward. He used his gravity manipulation to pull Rowan off balance, forcing him to his knees. The sudden shift in weight caused Rowan's flames to sputter, giving Ferris and Kieran a brief window of opportunity.
Ferris didn't hesitate. He sent another wave of metal shards flying toward Rowan, this time with Kieran's light creating a disorienting flare that momentarily trapped Rowan in place. The metal encased Rowan's arms, pinning him down.
Rowan struggled, his flames flickering wildly, but it was over. The battle, for now, had ended.
The four of them—Kai, Zane, Ferris, and Kieran—stood in the aftermath, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. The tension that had hung between them had shifted. Though Ferris and Kieran had fought side by side, their rivalry remained unresolved, simmering beneath the surface. They had won this fight, but the cost was steep.
Zane, barely able to stand, felt the weight of it all pressing down on him. The bonds they had once shared were frayed, perhaps beyond repair. The fight for survival had broken more than just their bodies—it had shattered the fragile alliances they had once relied on.
Kai's grip tightened on Zane's shoulder, his voice steady despite the exhaustion. "We made it through this one," he said, his gaze flickering between the others. "But there's more coming. We have to be ready."
Zane nodded weakly, his body screaming in protest. The fragment inside him pulsed, a reminder that the battle was far from over. And as he looked at the faces around him—Ferris, Kieran, Rowan—he knew that survival would come at a cost none of them were fully prepared to pay.
The fractured alliances that had kept them alive were fragile, and the path ahead was more uncertain than ever.