Smoke curls through the shattered cityscape. Rubble litters the streets, and faint traces of Hollow and Vein energy shimmer like ghostly afterimages. The battle's echoes hang heavy in the air, a silent reminder of the destruction.
Kai stands in the center, stitches from Rei's attack crisscrossing his torso and arms. Each movement sends a twinge of pain through him, but his Embraced power glows faintly, stabilizing his body. His eyes sweep over the team, reading exhaustion and injuries etched on each face.
Noa leans against a crumbled wall, fingers pressing gently to her bandaged ribs. Her light flickers faintly from her hands, illuminating the faint bruises on her arms. For a moment, a shadow of childhood fear crosses her face—but she exhales and steadies herself.
Vee crouches nearby, blood trickling from her nose, her aura faintly red and swirling. She presses a hand to her chest, feeling the lingering heartbeat of the heartbreak she poured into her powers. Her eyes dart to the city around them, noticing villagers emerging slowly from hiding, frightened but curious.
Jet stands a little apart, his right hand numb from his telekinetic slash. Objects hover weakly around him, wobbling before falling. He clenches his jaw, frustration and fatigue clear in his trembling fingers.
From the rubble, villagers begin to appear, cautiously stepping out of hiding. A child stares at Vee, fascinated by her faint red aura. An elderly man mutters about the city burning, shaking his head in disbelief. Some try to help clear debris, while others clutch loved ones, wary of the lingering Hollow and Vein energy.
In a distant corner, a Hollow user moves silently through the ruins, their own sacrifice evident in the stiff, controlled movements. A Vein user appears atop a rooftop, light rippling around their hands as they quietly assist terrified civilians. The city is alive with the aftermath, reactions to powers and pain alike.
Jet exhales sharply, muttering, "Guess I pushed too hard… my hand feels useless…
Noa adjusts her bandages, voice soft but steady. "We… survived. That's what matters."
Vee swipes blood from her lip, expression grim. "Blood doesn't scare me… but maybe it should."
Kai watches them, his stitched body glowing faintly. We've survived together… but Rei isn't done yet.
Shadows flicker around the small fire they gather near, responding to residual Hollow energy. Noa's light spreads gently, illuminating broken buildings and anxious villagers. The city itself seems to breathe with the aftermath of their powers.
High above, under a blood-tinged moon, Rei observes. His stitched form mirrors Kai's injuries, his eyes sharp and calculating. One of his recruits manifests an imagined weapon briefly, a quiet display of growing danger.
Kai's team rises together, silhouettes in the sunlight. Villagers peek from the rubble, some stepping forward to help, others hesitant. Jet's hand trembles slightly, Noa breathes cautiously, Vee wipes blood from her nose, and Kai, grim but resolute, leads them forward.
From the shadows, Rei and The Stitched watch silently. The city lies scarred, smoke drifting into the red sky—a reminder that the battle may be over, but the shadows left behind stretch far beyond what anyone can see.
Narrator: "The scars of battle are not just on the body… but etched into every corner of this world."