The last conflict

The last conflict
Melissa’s POV

The earth underneath me trembled. Once full of stars, the sky had become a whirling mass of red and black. I had never seen anything like the full form of the Void, which loomed over us. It was a shapeless shadow that seemed to extend across the sky, a hideous, writhing monster with sharp teeth and flashing crimson eyes.

Damon gripped my hand more tightly. "This thing is destruction, Melissa."

I took a deep breath. Then we put an end to it. Together.

Waves of darkness broke against the shield of our combined force as the Void shouted. With the help of our light, Damon and I managed to push back.

Behind us, in formation, the pack channeled the force of the rite by raising their hands. The air was filled with golden symbols that glowed brighter as they infused us with their vitality.

Even though he was tired, Eldric's voice was loud and clear. "Hey, Melissa! Make use of the power! Attack its very center!

I concentrated as the energy rushed through me. In my palms, a golden-black flame blazed. This was the power of harmony, the power of both light and dark.

Hissing, the Void twisted. "You believe you can ruin me? I'm immortal!

Disregarding what it said, I raised my hands. The energy increased, becoming brighter and hotter.

Damon nodded quickly at me. "Take action."

I let out a shout and launched the assault. The energy surged ahead, slicing through the enormous form of the Void. As the blast hit its center, the air was filled with a terrible shriek. With a shudder, the Void's form shattered like glass.

It appeared, for the first time, vulnerable.

I let out a gasp. "It's functioning!"

But the Void issued a horrible, shrill scream before I could rejoice.

The darkness sprang forth.

The battlefield was engulfed by a terrible flow of shadows that devoured everything in its path as it approached us.

My heart tightened. No.

I had hardly time to respond. Like a tidal wave, the darkness surged forward, its force too great to be stopped.

Damon took hold of my wrist. "I'll put an end to it."

I gave a hasty shake of my head. "No! You can't!

However, he had already decided.

Damon took a deep breath and disconnected from the pack. All that energy was channeled into a barrier of protection, and the golden lines that bound him to them dissolved.

Like a hurricane striking a cliff, the darkness smashed into it. But the shield has a price.

With a gasp, Damon dropped to his knees. His strength quickly diminished as his body shook.

"Damon!" Before he could collapse, I grabbed him.

He made a flimsy smile. "Had to... keep them safe."

My eyes were burning with tears. "You weren't required to do it by yourself!"

I didn't have time to fight, though. As though my attack had never occurred, the Void was already healing, and its wounds were closing.

“See?” it scoffed. "I can't be destroyed. You have nothing against me.

I tightened my jaw. "We'll check on that."

Holding the broken pieces of the relic, Eldric staggered onward. There was still electricity inside, but the glow had faded.

He pressed it into my hands and whispered, "Melissa, use this."

I felt a sudden, intense heat as soon as I touched it. Although it wasn't much, it was sufficient.

I faced the Void once more. "You're mistaken when you say you can't be destroyed."

I gathered all of my remaining energy and blasted directly at its core.

A huge ray of golden light erupted and struck the middle of the Void.

With a screech, the Void's body began to shake violently.

I didn't breathe. Was it successful?

I thought it was over, but then the blackness stretched and twisted.

The red eyes of the Void glowed more intensely. Its once-fading physique started to gain new strength.

It was growing back.

As the Void's laughing filled the air, the battlefield shook beneath my boots. Its form expanded and its wounds sealed. It was surrounded by shadows that pulsed with supernatural power, resembling living smoke.

"No." I tightened my chest and whispered. It is becoming more powerful.

After protecting the pack, Damon stumbled next to me, barely able to stand. He was breathing heavily and had a pale face.

Eldric gripped his staff tightly. "This is not good. It will be unstoppable if it continues to absorb energy.

I balled my fists up. "Then we need to stop it right away."

I felt a sudden warmth before I could do anything. Around us, a golden light flickered, dim at first, then brightening.

My ancestors' voices reverberated in my head.

You're not alone, Melissa. Let's engage in combat.

My body experienced a surge of power. Golden forms, my ancestors, glowed with heavenly light, and I gasped. They held up their palms, blending my light with theirs.

The Void hissed and backed away. "No! You can't

However, it was too late. I was surrounded by light, which gave me a strength I had never experienced before.

Damon's gaze expanded. "Elissa..."

I spoke steadily as I turned to face him. "This is over now."

Darkness surged toward me as the Void swung out. I didn't flinch this time, though. I raised my hands and called forth a luminous energy that struck the darkness.

The battlefield was rocked by the hit. As the light burnt into its shape, the Void let forth a shriek.

With unwavering resolve, Damon cut through the shadow beasts that were swarming all about us. "Whatever you're going to do, Melissa, get it done right away!"

I concentrated all my strength into a single blow. Fear, something I had never seen before, filled the Void's red eyes as it shuddered.

Then its center started to implode as I was about to launch my strike.

All around it, including me, a whirlpool of whirling blackness tugged.

I was in danger of being pulled into a void of nothingness when the Void collapsed.

The tug was unrelenting. The crumbling shape of the Void turned into a spiraling pit of utter blackness. Its force pulled me toward the emptiness, lifting my feet off the earth.

"No!" Damon yelled. He grabbed my wrist as he rushed forward. Even he was being drawn in, though his hold was firm.

I fought as the energy left me and my body grew weaker. "I—I can't wait."

Again, I heard my forefathers' voices. Light and darkness can be balanced by you. Melissa, you are the key.

I tightened my jaw. They were correct. I had always been afraid of the dark and thought it needed to be destroyed. However, that wasn't the solution.

Unbalance was what the Void lived on. It wouldn't live if I could steady it, make it accept both light and dark.

I embraced both of my energies and closed my eyes. As they swirled around my body, the black and golden flames combined. I pushed on, plunging directly into the core of the Void rather than resisting its draw.

Damon yelled, "No, Melissa!"

I wasn't scared, though. I allowed the power to erupt forth, creating the ideal harmony of shadow and light.

The battleground washed over as a dazzling wave burst forth. The Void screamed in agony one last time before its shape broke apart.

Not a word.

Then there was no more darkness. The sky became clear. There was silence on the battlefield.

I fell to my knees with a gasp. In a second, Damon was by my side, holding me before I could fall to the ground.

"It's over." I took a breath.

In the distance, the pack cheered, but something didn't feel right.

The air was suddenly howling with a sudden gust of wind. A huge gap opened, exposing a swirling celestial maelstrom while the sky above us trembled.

Damon stiffened. "Look, Melissa."

I looked up. My heart stopped.

Some
thing stirred beyond the storm. Something stronger than the Void itself.

Although the war was done, a much bigger threat had only just started to materialize.