With a roar, she unleashed a technique she had been refining in secret—a spinning vortex of fire, wind, water, and earth, each element amplifying the other. The vortex struck the mastermind directly, enveloping him in radiant light, shaking the very air with the force of unleashed power.
For a moment, time seemed to pause. Lira could feel his hatred, his centuries of family legacy aimed to annihilate her kind. And then—she pushed harder, merging her intent with her elements, forging a blade of pure, multielemental force that struck through the shadows, through his defenses, and into the heart of his fury.
The mastermind screamed, a sound of disbelief and rage, as the vortex swallowed him, light piercing the darkness. And then… he vanished.
Silence fell across the ravine. Smoke and dust drifted from the edges of the battle, and the remaining scouts, terrified and leaderless, froze in place.
Renkai exhaled, lowering his fire-wreathed hands. "Did… did we do it?"
