40- Together we Stand

Sam’s head lay on the ground, separated from his body.

A short distance away, Sara was lying motionless. Her pale face still carried the traces of her final moments, with blood filling her mouth.

Mark and Adam were trying to wake the other elemental users who had lost consciousness because of Sam’s seal.

As for Elyes, he was unable to move. Void Chains had pierced his legs, and the lingering effect of their energy continued tearing through his body whenever he tried to move.

Bahaa stood some distance away from Wail, wanting to intervene in the fight, but Amin stopped him.

“Leave him.”

Bahaa looked at him in confusion.

“What?”

Amin looked toward Wail.

“This is his fight. We have to respect his feelings.”

---

The scene returned to Wail.

His crimson aura was rising around his body, while Noel’s dark-blue aura grew denser as Dark took complete control of his body.

Dark gave him a provocative smile.

At that exact moment, crimson electricity erupted beneath Wail’s feet and spread across the ground, restricting his movement.

Wail charged at Dark and struck him, sending him into the air.

Then he gathered energy between his hands, forming a massive sphere of electricity, and hurled it toward him.

The sphere exploded upon impact, covering the area in smoke.

Wail remained where he was, watching the smoke cautiously.

Dark emerged from within it.

A black aura had surrounded his body, protecting him from the explosion.

He smiled.

“Good... Show me everything you’ve got, boy.”

Wail charged toward him again.

But this time, Dark was ready.

A wave of dark energy appeared in front of him.

Wail charged straight through it, forcing his way forward with the power of his transformation.

He managed to reach Dark and threw a direct punch.

But Dark raised his arm and blocked it.

At the same moment, gravity intensified around Wail, slowing his movements for a few moments.

Dark took advantage of the opening and punched him in the face.

Wail staggered backward, but vanished in a flash of electricity and reappeared behind him.

Dark turned quickly, but Wail had already delivered a powerful kick to his side.

Dark staggered several steps backward.

Crimson electricity surged around Wail.

Then he charged again.

The two began exchanging blows.

Punches.

Kicks.

Brutal collisions.

Every time Wail tried to rely on his speed, Noel’s gravity slowed him down.

And every time he tried to close the distance, Dark’s energy blocked his path.

But Wail refused to retreat.

He continued vanishing and reappearing, striking once before disappearing again, avoiding Dark’s attacks.

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At one point, Wail appeared directly in front of him and drove a lightning-charged punch into his chest.

Dark staggered.

Wail seized the opportunity and unleashed an electrical explosion at point-blank range.

Dark was sent flying.

But before Wail could catch his breath, a massive gravitational wave surged toward him.

He planted his feet and resisted it for a moment.

Then black hands emerged from the shadows behind him and grabbed his body.

Wail tried to cut them apart with electricity, but Dark had already reached him.

Wail broke free from the black hands, only to find another attack of dark energy coming straight at him.

He raised both arms and tried to block the attack, but its force sent him flying.

He regained his balance in midair.

Wail was fighting with everything he had.

His speed.

His electricity.

His Power Pulse.

His transformation.

But little by little, the difference in power began to show.

Every time Wail used his speed, gravity slowed him down.

Every time he tried to get closer, the dark energy stopped him.

Eventually, Dark managed to grab him.

Gravity intensified around Wail’s body, then Dark hurled him toward the ground.

Wail crashed into the ground with tremendous force.

Before he could get back up, Dark had already reached him.

He struck him again.

Then sent him flying.

Wail crashed into the mountain, and a section of rock shattered around him.

He slowly stood up.

Blood ran down his face, but his eyes remained fixed on his opponent.

He charged forward again.

But Dark had begun to take complete control of the battle.

Wail took blow after blow, yet continued resisting until he finally fell to one knee.

He was breathing heavily.

Dark landed in front of him.

“It’s over, boy.”

Wail’s transformation and aura began to fade.

His body lowered, and his muscles began convulsing violently.

A sharp pain spread throughout his entire body.

These were the aftereffects of Power Pulse.

Dark smiled as he approached him.

“You fought fiercely... but your opponent is the Spirit of Darkness.”

He laughed quietly.

“And now... I’ll take you with me and finish what I came here to do.”

Dark’s eyes suddenly widened.

Wail slowly stood up.

His body was trembling from the pain, but his Golden Transformation erupted around him.

His aura was unstable, surging and falling erratically.

Wail raised his head and glared at Dark.

“As long as I can still fight... this isn’t over.”

Dark smiled.

“Your determination is impressive... But do you really think it’s enough to defeat me?”

Wail charged forward.

But before he could reach him, dark hands emerged from his shadow and restrained his body.

Dark appeared in front of him and punched him several times before raising his hand.

Gravity surged around Wail and hurled him toward the mountain.

He crashed into the rocks once again.

But the gravity returned and pulled him rapidly toward Dark.

Wail used the momentum to his advantage.

He grabbed Dark by the neck, lifted him into the air, and slammed him into the ground.

Then again...

And again.

Wail stopped for a moment.

Dark lay on the ground, smiling.

“Do you see?”

Dark slowly stood up.

“Standing up again and again won’t change the difference in power between us.”

A fist made of shadow struck Wail in the stomach, forcing him down onto one knee.

Dark looked at him.

“You’re making this harder for both of us... Just surrender.”

Wail was breathing heavily.

“Then... I’ll stand again.”

He raised his head.

“And again... until this difference disappears.”

Dark’s expression changed.

Wail’s words had provoked him.

Suddenly, Dark seized Wail with dark energy and hurled him toward the ground.

Wail crashed into the earth.

Dark lifted him with gravity and slammed him back down again.

He continued smashing Wail into the ground several times before finally throwing him away.

Wail rolled hundreds of meters across the ground before finally coming to a stop.

Silence fell.

Then he stood again.

But he could no longer attack.

Anger ignited in Dark’s eyes.

“Damn you... You’re incredibly stubborn!”

The ground beneath Dark rose.

A massive rock emerged and gradually took the shape of a stone spear.

Dark aimed his hand toward Wail.

The spear shot toward him at tremendous speed.

Everyone’s faces were filled with shock.

Even Amin was about to intervene.

But suddenly...

The spear stopped before reaching Wail.

Dark froze.

So did Wail.

Then the ground trembled.

Someone landed heavily in front of Wail, shattering the ground beneath him.

It was Mark.

Anger filled his face.

“Finally... It’s my turn.”

His brown aura erupted as he raised his fist toward the sky.

A moment later, a gigantic stone fist emerged from the ground beneath Dark and struck him with tremendous force.

Mark appeared directly behind him.

A punch.

Then another.

Dark took both blows and coughed up blood, but he grabbed Mark’s foot and pulled him closer.

Mark quickly broke free and delivered a powerful kick, forcing Dark backward.

Dark raised his hand.

Several dark spikes shot toward Mark.

Before they could reach him, they were sliced apart and disappeared.

Dill was hovering in the air, his wind cutting through the spikes.

Dark attempted to attack him.

But plants erupted from the ground and wrapped around his legs.

Zaki stood in front of Wail, his hand raised.

Dark broke free from the plants.

But then a massive shadow covered the ground.

He raised his head.

A gigantic sand warrior stood before him.

A massive wave of sand surged toward Dark and struck him with tremendous force.

Dark staggered backward, wounds appearing across his body.

That was when everyone realized what had happened...

All the elemental users had arrived on the battlefield.

Wail looked at them in disbelief.

Adam approached him.

“Are you okay?”

Then he looked toward the others.

“We came to help.”

Anger burned in Wail’s eyes.

He punched the mountain rock behind him.

“I don’t want your help... This is my fight.”

Mark appeared directly in front of him and slapped him hard.

Then he grabbed him by his clothes.

“I see you want to carry all this burden alone.”

He stared directly into Wail’s eyes.

“Listen to me carefully. Yassin was the trainer of all of us, and we all respect him. It’s our duty to fight for him.”

Wail looked at him.

“This isn’t only about Yassin...”

He paused for a moment.

“It’s about me too.”

Bahaa approached calmly.

“Maybe... but we’re not here to understand everything going on inside you.”

He looked steadily at Wail.

“We’re here because we’re your friends.”

Amin stepped forward.

“At first, I stopped Bahaa from interfering because I believed this was your right... but what’s happening now is no longer about revenge.”

He paused briefly.

“If you insist on carrying this burden alone... you won’t be brave.”

“You’ll be selfish.”

Wail’s fingers trembled slightly as he lowered his gaze toward the ground.

Images of Yassin...

Then Sara...

Then Sam’s head lying on the ground...

His heart tightened.

The pain had not disappeared.

It had not become any lighter.

If anything, it felt heavier than ever.

“I thought ending this fight alone was the least I could do.”

His voice was exhausted.

“I thought it was my responsibility, but...”

He looked at everyone.

The scars of battle covered all of them.

Every one of them had risked their lives for him...

And for Yassin.

Wail closed his eyes for a moment, then slowly exhaled.

“I still can’t accept what happened.”

“And I won’t get over it that easily.”

He glanced at Sara’s body for a moment, then looked away.

“But... you’re right.”

“It’s not my right to decide the fate of this battle alone.”

He looked at them seriously.

“Help me.”

There was no relief or reassurance in his voice.

They were simply the words of someone who had realized that his stubbornness could never bring back the people he had lost.

Bahaa gave him a faint smile.

“That’s enough for us.”

Wail looked toward Dark.

“I’m counting on you to weaken him.”

“I think I can get Dark out of Noel’s body.”

Bahaa looked at him.

“Do you have a plan?”

Wail shook his head.

“No.”

Everyone looked at him in surprise.

Wail continued:

“Just weaken him.”

Then he looked toward Noel.

“Restrict his movements... and I’ll see what I can do.”

The others exchanged confused looks.

But Bahaa did not hesitate.

“Alright.”

He turned toward Dark.

“We’ll do it.”

Wail stood beside his friends.

But his heart...

remained standing there.

Beside Yassin...

And Sara...