Chapter 4: Aftermath and Reflection

The battlefield fell eerily silent, broken only by the sound of labored breathing and the distant crackle of dissipating energy. The last demon crumbled to the ground, its grotesque body twitching one final time before lying still. For a few heartbeats, none of the chosen moved. The adrenaline of battle still pulsed through their veins, their senses heightened from the transformations.

Slowly, one by one, they began to revert to their human forms. The horns that had jutted from their foreheads receded, muscles relaxed, and the aura of demonic energy that had surrounded them faded away. It was as if the masks, satisfied with the fight, had withdrawn their power, leaving the group standing in the wasteland once more—normal, human, and utterly exhausted.

Serena let out a shaky breath, her twin-bladed spear lowering to her side. The crackling lightning that had danced along its edge had vanished, and her body returned to its natural state. She glanced around at her companions, still gripping the spear tightly, her body trembling from the exertion.

"Back to normal…," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

Noah let his warhammer rest against the ground, feeling the weight of his human form return. His massive frame shrank slightly, the gravity manipulation he'd been using so effortlessly fading away. "We should get moving. That... could've been worse."

Adrian, who had teleported to avoid the last few strikes, reappeared beside Serena, his blade still drawn. The red glow in his eyes dimmed as the horns disappeared from his head. "They're not going to be the last," he said quietly, his voice laced with fatigue.

Jax sheathed his daggers, rolling his shoulders as his predatory reflexes dulled and his body relaxed. He wiped a trickle of sweat from his forehead, offering a wry grin. "Well, that was fun. Remind me to thank the demons for a good workout."

Mira said nothing, her bow slung over her shoulder as she returned to normal. She simply nodded, eyes still scanning the horizon, as if expecting another attack at any moment.

Sunny, however, stood apart from the group. Unlike the others, he hadn't transformed during the fight. His mask had remained dormant, and though he had fought fiercely with his scythe, there was a sense of frustration that gnawed at him. Watching the others revert back to their human forms only deepened the quiet doubt building inside him.

Serena approached him, her eyes softening. "You did good, Sunny," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Even without transforming, you held your own."

He managed a nod, though the doubt still lingered. "Thanks… I guess."

Before moving toward the vehicle, Serena knelt down beside one of the fallen demons, her eyes narrowing as she extended her hand. A faint, almost imperceptible wisp of dark energy began to rise from the demon's body—a swirl of its very essence. She focused, drawing the demonic soul essence toward her, letting it absorb into her palm. The process took only a moment, and as the essence was harvested, the demon's body seemed to lose some of its lingering malevolence.

Noah, noticing her actions, followed suit, kneeling beside another demon's corpse. "Their soul essence… It's weak," he muttered, collecting the wisps of energy into his body. "But it'll do. We can meditate on it later."

Adrian nodded, already absorbing the energy from his fallen foe. "They were low-level demons, so their soul essence isn't strong enough to craft into masks. But it'll still strengthen us, if only a little."

Jax chuckled, standing up after gathering essence from two demons at once. "Every little bit helps. Besides, who knows when we'll get our next chance to recover? Best to take it all while we can."

The group followed suit, gathering the remaining soul essence from the fallen demons. Though small, the bits of essence they collected would aid them in their meditation later, providing a minor but much-needed boost in strength. They would meditate on it when they found a safe place, channeling the demonic energy to empower their own abilities.

The bodyguards, battered but alive, stumbled back to the group. The scarred one wiped a trickle of blood from his forehead, his rifle slung over his shoulder. "We need to keep moving," he said, his voice hoarse. "Demons don't travel alone in these parts. They're likely just scouts."

The group exchanged glances, knowing he was right. The battle had drained them, but they couldn't afford to linger in the wasteland any longer.

Adrian stepped forward, sheathing his blade. "Let's go," he said, voice steady but edged with urgency. "We need to get to New Eldra before anything else finds us."

With a few nods of agreement, the chosen began to make their way back to the armored vehicle. Their steps were slower, weariness hanging over them like a shroud, but there was a renewed sense of unity among them. They had fought together, trusted one another in battle, and survived.

The vehicle's doors creaked open, and they piled inside once more. The bodyguards took their places at the front, eyes scanning the horizon as the convoy started moving again. The crunch of wheels over cracked earth was the only sound for several minutes, the tension from the battle still lingering in the air.

Sunny sat near the window, staring out at the barren landscape. He clenched his hands into fists, frustrated at how slow his awakening had been. His friends had already started bonding with their masks, tapping into powers that seemed almost natural to them. But for him, it still felt… distant.

Mira, sitting across from him, noticed his quiet brooding. "You did well back there, Sunny," she said softly. "Don't be so hard on yourself."

He looked at her, surprised. "It didn't feel like it. My mask barely responded."

"It's not a race," she replied, her voice calm and measured. "We all unlock our powers at our own pace. You'll figure it out."

Sunny didn't respond, but her words offered some comfort. He knew Mira was right. It would take time. But as the journey continued, a small seed of doubt still lingered in his heart.

The landscape blurred outside the window, and the ominous mountains in the distance grew closer. New Eldra Academy awaited them—a sanctuary, but also a place of trials that would test them in ways they hadn't yet imagined.

Serena leaned back, her twin-bladed spear resting across her lap, her mind still replaying the battle in her head. "Whatever's waiting for us at the academy," she said aloud, though mostly to herself, "I hope we're ready."

The others shared her sentiment, each lost in their thoughts as they pressed forward, unsure of what the future held but determined to face it together.

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