Marie felt energy rushing toward her from everywhere.

The symbols on the ground all blazed simultaneously. Network of light connecting every person, every spirit, every contributor across Eastern Hesod.

The gathered power became a torrent, a flood, a tsunami of magic and will pressing through her consciousness.

The sphere expanded violently, reaching twice the size of the house before then bursting to three times and growing to four times. The growth accelerated as Forerunners' contributions further rushed towards her like streamers and swirled upwards.

The golden lights entered the expanding sphere and allowed it to be pushed further against the barrier, leading to more cracks appearing.

Then Marie felt additional energy arriving. It was a different quality than human magic, more wild and more primal.

Her eyes widened with recognition, and then her eyes lit up with a massive grin.

It was the Phantasm Beasts.

Across the continent, the Phantasm Beasts were responding. Forest Roots is placing wooden hands on glowing symbols while Kungala presses their massive forms against golden light. Tetan kneeling with moss-covered limbs touching radiance, and Kabas lowering mushroom shells to make contact.

They gave what they had, sending their magic over as they too wanted to protect this place they called their home.

Marie received it all.

All living humans, the dead Forerunners and Precursors, and the Phantasm Beasts. Every source of power in Eastern Hesod contributes to a single purpose.

The sphere finally smashed through the barrier overhead. The golden cage shattered completely with the patterns exploding into fragments that dispersed like glittering rain. The sphere continued rising unimpeded, growing larger still as final contributions arrived.

Marie grinned, grew even more as her expression displayed a mixture of triumph and exhaustion. "It's enough!"

Her consciousness reached toward a sphere floating far above. Her will shaped gathered power, transforming raw energy into a specific form. The sphere compressed violently, and density increased as volume decreased.

It became a spear.

A massive weapon stretching a hundred feet long, shaft thick as an ancient tree trunk. The blade was pure gold and white colors mixed so thoroughly that they appeared unified rather than separate.

It blazed with intensity that would blind normal vision, radiating heat that should incinerate everything nearby.

Marie's mental voice reached across the distance toward Reinhard.

Rein, we have enough light to destroy the tide! Where do we aim it?

Response came immediately, transmitted through their shared connection.

Aim it toward the Northeast part. Send it through the air, I need it for a second.

Marie blinked in surprise as the instruction was unexpected since she'd assumed a direct attack on the tide would be the optimal strategy. But she trusted Reinhard's judgment despite confusion.

With a roar that emerged from throat and spirit simultaneously, Marie hurled the spear.

Her entire body moved with her arms extending, back arching, and legs bracing. Every muscle engaged in the throwing motion, augmented by Beast Spirit's power and gathered magic still flowing through her.

The spear launched.

It blasted through the air with a velocity approaching light speed. Visible golden lights erupted from the departure point, shockwaves rippling outward in visible waves.

The weapon's passage created a vacuum that pulled debris into the trail, leaving a temporary crack in the atmosphere.

It smashed through the remaining barriers. Charles had created dozens of golden cages, segmenting Eastern Hesod into controlled sections. The spear punched through each one without slowing and continued shattering the patterns like glass struck by a hammer.

Wherever the spear rushed past was illuminated. Not simple light but transformative radiance with the landscape becoming golden, shadows banished completely. Even the sky itself turned gold, clouds changing color as weapons passed beneath them.

The crimson-black tide far below seemed to recoil. Corruption is drawing away from the spear's trajectory as if recognizing an antithesis approaching.

The malevolent flames flickered, dimmed, trembled under the pressure of gathered belief made manifest.

The spear continued its flight toward the Northeast section of Eastern Hesod. Toward where Reinhard battled Charles amid the ruins of the first Seeker base. Toward a collision that would determine whether three centuries of suffering ended in salvation or oblivion.

…

Reinhard and Charles continued their battle.

Swords clashed in rapid succession, black-blue blades meeting black and white weapons. Sparks erupted with each collision, metal screaming against metal.

The tide swirled around their feet, responding to Reinhard's unconscious commands while avoiding Charles's negation sphere.

Reinhard smiled.

The expression appeared suddenly, not a grimace of exertion but a genuine smile carrying satisfaction. His lips curved upward despite exhaustion weighing on every muscle, despite magic reserves burning through the tide's supply faster than sustainable.

Charles's mask tilted slightly. The featureless surface revealed nothing, but his combat rhythm faltered for a single second. Confusion registered in a minute pause before the next strike.

Reinhard capitalized on the hesitation, leaving the guard open in exchange for an aggressive thrust. Zenuken drove toward Charles's chest with force, suggesting commitment to attack rather than feint.

Charles's blade smacked Reinhard's arm back before he stepped forward and plunged the black weapon towards Reinhard. The sword pierced flesh, sliding between ribs with precision, and penetrating three inches into Reinhard's left side. It missed his vital organs but created a devastating wound nonetheless.

Reinhard's smile never wavered.

His free hand shot out, releasing his sword mid-motion before his Fingers wrapped around Charles' wrist, the one holding the sword currently embedded in Reinhard's flesh. His grip tightened until he felt bone beneath skin, until escape would require breaking his own fingers.

He latched onto Charles completely, and then his other arm wrapped around the First Ancestor's shoulders, pulling their bodies close despite the sword still piercing his side. Blood soaked into the white robe and black shirt indiscriminately.

"What are you-"

"Hahaha."

The tide responded to an unspoken command.

Crimson-black flames rushed around both figures, forming columns that enclosed them completely. The corruption swirled with increasing velocity, creating a vortex that pulled debris inward. The rotational force built rapidly under their feet before it erupted.

The column contracted violently before releasing upward. Both figures were hurled toward the sky with force that sent them smashing through an already-damaged ceiling, stone exploding around the impact point. They continued rising through the second floor, third floor, and the collapsed roof sections.

They emerged above the ruined structure.

The sky opened around them as they ascended.

The force still carried them a hundred feet up, two hundred, and three hundred. Wind screamed past while the ground fell away rapidly, building shrinking down.

At the apex of the trajectory, Reinhard pushed off Charles and kicked him off. His boots planted against First Ancestor's chest, legs extending explosively. The force pushed Charles downward while propelling Reinhard higher through their bodies, swiftly separated.

Sorrow Conversion.

A crimson light shone around his hand, and all the negative emotions in the area rushed towards his hand. The corruption Charles had inflicted, the pain radiating from the pierced side, the exhaustion accumulated through sustained combat, all converted into the crimson light.

Then Reinhard crashed the light onto his body and felt the healing light flooding his body. Then he felt the wound closing up, the flesh mending, and he was no longer spilling out blood rapidly.

Charles furrowed his brows behind the mask. The gesture was invisible but suggested through subtle head tilt and posture shift. His body began falling, gravity reasserting authority over brief flight.

"What is your purpose… Wait." Charles paused before his gaze shifted past Reinhard.

Reinhard chuckled as he turned his gaze towards something in the distance that was approaching fast and was bright.

Light erupted across the horizon.

Not gradual dawn but instantaneous illumination, as if a second sun had been born and rushed toward them. The radiance was pure gold and white, so bright it painted everything in monochrome.

Shadows disappeared completely, consumed by overwhelming brilliance.

The spear arrived.

A massive weapon stretching a hundred feet long blasted into their airspace. It moved at a speed approaching light itself, creating a sonic boom that shattered what remained of the structure's walls below.

The spear blasted through the air, leaving a glowing trail marking its trajectory.

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