The storm above the Storm Shrine refused to calm.
Rain lashed the ancient ruins as thunder rolled across the dark skies. Lightning flashed again and again, illuminating shattered pillars and the flooded stone bridges that stretched across the lagoon.
The shrine had once been a place of worship.
Now it had become a battlefield.
At the center of the broken bridge, Preye faced Commander Barator once more.
The air between them vibrated with tension.
Behind Barator, the remaining Tide Reapers stood silently, watching. None dared interfere anymore. Their commander had made it clear—this fight belonged to him.
Across the bridge, Kuro stood beside Timi, both watching closely.
Timi wiped rain from his face nervously.
"I'm just saying," he muttered, if storms and rivers start fighting, shouldn't we be somewhere far away?
Kuro did not look at him.
"Running would not help."
Timi sighed, I hate it when you say logical things.
Back on the battlefield, Preye flexed her fingers.
Lightning crawled across her skin like living threads.
But something had changed.
The storm was no longer chaotic.
It listened.
She could feel it in the air, in the wind brushing past her skin, in the thunder echoing across the sky.
For the first time since her power awakened…
The storm felt like an ally.
Barator studied her carefully.
"You have grown," he admitted.
Preye tilted her head slightly.
Was that a compliment?
Barator ignored the comment.
The storm is loud. Violent. Unpredictable.
The river behind him began to stir again.
Water rose slowly around the ruins.
But the tide, he continued calmly, "is patient."
The lagoon churned.
Water spiraled upward behind him, forming a massive rotating wall.
"Tides wear down mountains."
The water surged higher.
"They erase storms."
Preye cracked her neck.
"Let's test that theory."
Lightning burst around her body.
The wind answered.
Rain began to swirl violently across the bridge.
Barator raised his blade.
The river answered him.
Then both moved.
Barator struck first.
His blade sliced through the air, guiding a massive surge of water toward her.
The wave roared like a charging beast.
Preye stepped forward.
Lightning exploded beneath her feet.
THUNDER STEP
She vanished.
The wave crashed through empty air, smashing against the shrine wall in a thunderous explosion.
A heartbeat later—
Preye appeared behind Barator.
Lightning blazed across her fist.
She swung.
Barator reacted instantly.
His blade rose.
Steel and lightning collided.
CRAAAAACK
Energy exploded across the bridge.
The shockwave shattered nearby stone and sent rain spraying in every direction.
Barator slid backward several steps.
Preye landed smoothly.
Timi's eyes widened.
"She pushed him again!"
Kuro nodded slightly.
The storm grows stronger with every battle.
Barator steadied himself.
His calm expression remained unchanged.
But his eyes had sharpened.
You learn quickly.
Preye grinned, I had good motivation.
Barator's gaze hardened.
The Order warned us this would happen.
Preye frowned slightly.
The Order?
But Barator did not elaborate.
Instead he raised his blade again.
The river behind him erupted.
Dozens of thin water streams shot into the air like spears.
Preye's eyes widened.
Oh come on.
The water spears launched toward her.
She moved instantly.
Lightning burst beneath her feet again as she dashed sideways.
One spear slammed into the bridge beside her, shattering stone.
Another sliced through the air toward her shoulder.
Preye twisted mid-run and blasted it apart with a lightning strike.
Water exploded into steam.
But more spears followed.
Barator controlled them effortlessly, guiding each strike with precise movements of his blade.
Preye leaped onto a broken pillar to avoid another attack.
The moment she landed
Three water spears shot toward her simultaneously.
She raised both hands.
Lightning burst outward.
BOOM
The blast destroyed two spears.
But the third struck the pillar beneath her.
The stone exploded.
Preye lost her footing.
She fell toward the flooded lower walkway.
Barator saw the opening.
He moved instantly.
His blade flashed downward as he lunged toward her falling body.
But before he could strike
A spear intercepted him.
CLANG
Steel met steel.
Kuro stood between them.
His expression remained calm.
Barator frowned slightly.
You interfere.
Kuro held his stance.
She needs time.
Barator's voice was cold.
You always did enjoy defiance.
They clashed again.
Their weapons moved with incredible speed.
Timi stared wide-eyed, wait, you two trained together?
Kuro blocked another strike.
"Yes."
Barator countered instantly.
He was once a promising student.
Their weapons locked for a moment.
Before he betrayed the Order.
Kuro pushed him back.
I left, there is a difference.
Meanwhile, Preye pulled herself up from the lower platform.
She wiped water from her eyes.
You could've warned me he was that strong, she muttered.
She climbed back onto the main bridge.
Just in time to see Kuro pushed backward by Barator's relentless attacks.
Barator struck again.
Kuro blocked—but barely.
The force sent him sliding across the stone.
Preye's eyes narrowed.
Lightning exploded around her.
Oh, no, you don't get to beat my teammates.
Wind roared suddenly across the bridge.
Barator turned just in time to see her charging toward him.
Lightning blazing.
He swung his blade toward her.
Preye ducked beneath the strike.
Her fist slammed into his side.
Electricity exploded outward.
Barator staggered.
The blast forced him back several steps.
Timi jumped excitedly.
"YES!"
But the celebration was short.
Because the river behind Barator suddenly roared louder than before.
The entire lagoon began to churn violently.
Barator straightened slowly.
Lightning scars crackled across his armor.
But his expression remained calm.
You are dangerous.
He raised his blade toward the river.
The water responded with terrifying force.
A massive whirlpool began forming around the shrine ruins.
The water level started rising rapidly.
Timi's excitement vanished.
That seems bad.
Kuro's eyes darkened.
He's summoning the Deep Current.
Preye frowned.
The what?
Kuro spoke quietly.
A forbidden technique of the Order.
Barator lowered his blade toward them.
The whirlpool roared louder.
If I cannot capture the storm, he said calmly, "I will drown it."
The water surged upward.
Preye stared at the rising flood.
Then she looked at the storm above.
Thunder rolled across the sky.
Lightning flashed.
The wind roared louder.
The storm was answering her again.
She slowly smiled.
Barator mistook the expression for desperation.
"You laugh?"
Preye cracked her knuckles.
"No."
Lightning blazed brighter around her body.
I just realized something.
The wind exploded across the bridge.
Rain spun violently around her.
You keep talking about tides.
Lightning surged across the sky.
But you forgot something.
Thunder crashed overhead.
Preye raised both hands.
The storm answered.
When storms arrive...
Lightning struck the lagoon.
The water exploded in blinding light.
They don't ask permission.
And the battlefield erupted into chaos once again