Haithan paid no mind to the Shadows. He stood between the realms, eyes fixed on the devastation he had wrought, silent, as if observing a stage of his own making. He felt no threat, no concern for their attempts. The truth was that his power had reached a level that made him believe he had no equal, and that any attack was nothing more than a minor test he could easily overcome.
But the anger of Minglang, could not tolerate the disregard. He struck suddenly, without planning, a single attack fueled by rage, trying to force Haithan to acknowledge him.
Haithan smiled inwardly, unmoved, unafraid. This moment confirmed the extent of his power, a power that allowed him to perceive every possibility and bend reality itself, even against Shadows who thought themselves the strongest.
He spoke calmly:
"So… this is your choice."
He raised his hand.
For a moment… everything stopped.
Movement froze in the air, time seemed to halt, and the Shadows felt the weight of the moment. In that instant, Yamiryo, the leader of the Shadows, attempted to cast his ancient seal. Circles of chaotic symbols appeared, glowing, forming a barrier meant to contain Haithan, to impose limits on his possibilities.
Tension surged, and every Shadow felt differently:
Minglang muttered under his breath with anger and excitement:
"Damn it… I will never forget this" he loved combat, especially against opponents stronger than himself.
Anying spoke with a tone laced with constant, unending worry:
"Has it worked?"
Kajikitsuni let out a teasing remark:
"Is it really this simple?"
Yamiryo responded coldly, as always:
"As usual, you take things lightly."
Oniba remained silent, as was his way, but fully prepared for the worst.
Liyian erected a fiery field around the other Shadows, preventing Haithan's power from reaching them, watching every movement cautiously.
The seal snapped shut.
The void screamed. The ground shook, the air thickened, and the Shadows felt a pressure unlike anything they had experienced before. Every second that passed weighed heavily on their hearts.
The last thing that remained from Haithan… was his voice, sharp and resonant:
"This… is not over."
A hesitant echo trembled in the ears of all who remained alive, in both worlds.
Then… silence.
A heavy silence pressed upon the air as if the world itself were holding its breath. All the academies, the cities, and the people felt the absence of movement, as though the rift itself were observing them, testing their patience before deciding their fate.
In that silence, everyone understood, even the Shadows themselves: this battle was not about brute strength alone. It was a struggle over possibilities, a test of balance between what could happen and what was inevitable. In that moment, Haithan became the center of possibilities the point that would determine the fate of both worlds.