The battlefield stretched endlessly, dunes of glowing sand darkening under the relentless flood of corruption. Shadows with cracked bodies shambled forward, whispering curses in voices that were not their own.
Kael's knuckles blazed with fire and water both, steam hissing off his fists as he swung again. Each punch landed like a cannon, scattering the Corrupted into fragments of black smoke. But for every one that fell, two more emerged from the mist.
"This is ridiculous!" Kael shouted, ducking under a swipe and countering with a burst of flame. "Are they multiplying or what?"
Talia was already drenched in sweat, her blade cleaving with disciplined arcs. Every strike sent sparks of astral energy flying, but her breathing grew shallow. "Stay sharp. Panic and we're done."
"Too late!" Juno squeaked. She had her hands out, trembling, shards of crystalline light forming and exploding awkwardly. One shard embedded itself into the sand beside Kael's foot, narrowly missing him.
He shot her a look. "Are you trying to kill me or them?"
"I—I don't have aim!" she cried, sparks flying wildly as another Corrupted lunged toward her.
Kael reacted on instinct, grabbing her wrist and yanking her out of the way before slamming his elbow into the monster's face. It burst into dust.
Juno gasped, looking up at him with wide eyes. "Th-thanks."
Kael rolled his eyes, though his chest felt oddly warm. "Just focus. We've got your back."
The hooded figure still stood in the distance, silent, watching. His presence was both infuriating and oddly stabilizing, like a teacher refusing to interfere during a test.
"Seriously?" Kael shouted toward him. "You're just gonna stand there and observe while we die?!"
No answer. Only the crackling hum of Astral Flow pulsing in their veins.
The whispers grew louder.
Juno clutched her head, knees buckling. "It's—It's in my mind again—telling me I'm useless—"
Talia's voice cut sharp and strong, slicing through the chaos. "Juno! Look at me!"
Juno forced her eyes up.
"You are not useless. You're a Dreamer. You belong here. Trust yourself."
The words landed like an anchor in Juno's spiraling storm. Her breath steadied. She raised her hands again, this time with more control. Crystal shards formed into precise spears, streaking through the air to pierce three enemies cleanly.
Her jaw dropped. "I… did that."
Talia allowed herself the faintest smile. "Good. Now keep going."
Kael smirked. "Finally, some aim. About time."
"Shut up!" Juno snapped, but her face burned red as she launched another shard, hitting her mark perfectly.
The three of them moved as one now — Kael punching through the front lines, Talia slicing with cold precision, Juno striking from behind with crystalline storms.
But then the ground trembled.
The mist thickened, swallowing the horizon. From its depths, something massive moved. The sand shook as a figure emerged — a towering beast of shadow, its body stitched from thousands of writhing whispers. Its eyes burned like molten coals, its mouth splitting unnaturally wide.
Juno froze. "N-nope. Nope nope nope. That's too big. I'm out." She turned to leave, only to trip on the sand.
Kael grabbed her by the collar. "You're not going anywhere."
The beast roared, its voice a thousand screams layered over one another.
The hooded figure finally spoke: "The corruption tests not only your strength… but your bond. Stand together, or fall apart."
The beast lunged, a claw sweeping down. Kael pushed Juno aside and took the brunt, his arms glowing as fire and water collided into a protective shield. The force drove him to one knee, sand cracking beneath him.
"Argh—damn it—it's strong!"
Talia darted forward, blade flashing as she slashed across its leg. The beast staggered, but instead of bleeding, it leaked more black mist, hissing. It kicked her back, sending her tumbling across the dunes.
"Talia!" Juno screamed.
"I'm fine," she spat, rolling to her feet, though blood trickled down her temple.
Kael's jaw clenched. He looked at Juno. "We can't hold back. You ready?"
She trembled but nodded. "Let's try not to die."
"Good plan."
Together, they struck.
Kael ignited his fists with both flame and shadow, striking the beast's arm. Juno launched a barrage of crystal spears at its torso, while Talia leapt onto its back, blade piercing deep into its shadowy flesh.
The beast howled, flailing wildly. Talia held on tight, her teeth gritted, as Kael punched another blast into its gut.
But the whispers suddenly surged, tendrils of darkness lashing out, wrapping around Juno's arms and legs.
She screamed, dragged toward the beast's chest.
Kael's eyes widened. "No! Juno!"
Without thinking, he dashed forward, heat exploding beneath his feet. He grabbed her hand, pulling with all his strength.
"Don't you dare give in!" he shouted.
Juno's eyes filled with tears. "I—I can't hold—"
"Yes, you can!" Kael roared, sparks flaring around them. "You're not alone, remember? You've got us!"
Talia, still clinging to the beast's back, drove her blade deeper. "Now, Juno! Fight it back!"
Something inside Juno snapped. The doubt, the whispers, the fear — all of it cracked under the weight of their voices. Light burst from her chest, shattering the tendrils holding her.
With a scream, she unleashed a storm of crystals that ripped through the beast's body.
Kael followed up with a final punch, fire and water crashing together in an explosive strike that shattered its core.
The beast collapsed, dissolving into dust that scattered across the dreamscape.
Silence fell.
The three of them panted, drenched in sweat, bruised and battered, but alive.
Juno collapsed to her knees, laughing breathlessly. "We… we actually did it. Oh my god. I thought I was gonna die."
Kael smirked, sitting down heavily beside her. "Yeah, same. Honestly, I still think we might be dead. This feels way too insane to be real."
Talia stood over them, blade resting on her shoulder, her expression unreadable. Then she said simply, "You both did well."
Juno blinked. "Wait… was that a compliment?"
"Don't let it go to your head," Talia said, turning away.
Kael chuckled, shaking his head. "Guess we passed the test, huh?"
The hooded figure stepped forward at last, his robes glimmering. "Barely. But yes. You stood together. That is what matters."
He raised his hand. A wave of light washed over them, mending their bruises and restoring their strength.
"This is only the first trial. Stronger darkness awaits. But remember — Astral Flow answers only to unity. Alone, you are fragile. Together… you may yet survive what is coming."
The figure began to fade, his form dissolving into the starlit air.
"Wait!" Juno shouted, scrambling to her feet. "Who are you? Why us?"
The last of his voice echoed, a whisper lost in the sands.
"Because you are dreamers."
And then he was gone.
The three stared at the empty dunes, hearts still racing.
Juno finally broke the silence. "…So, uh, anyone else gonna pretend that wasn't the most terrifying night of their lives?"
Kael raised a hand weakly. "Yeah. Definitely top five."
Talia sheathed her blade. "Get used to it. This is only the beginning."