The explosion of power resonated through the very air, a shockwave that rattled the earth beneath them. The creature's form faltered, its dark energy flickering like a dying flame. Sam's heart hammered in his chest as he stood, his limbs heavy from the strain of the battle. The weight of the Rift was unbearable now, pressing down on them like a vice.
But they weren't done. Not yet.
"I told you," Sam muttered, voice barely audible above the deafening roar of the Rift's collapse. "We're not finished yet."
The creature staggered back, its form dissolving into a mist of shadow and smoke. Its hollow eyes flickered as it bared its jagged teeth, its body seemingly held together by the very darkness it commanded. But now, the Rift's grip on it was weakening.
Rael, panting and bloodied, joined Sam at his side. "You… you really did it," he said, his voice thick with disbelief. "I didn't think it was possible. Two ancestral Resonances at once…"
"Neither did I," Sam replied, his voice gritted through exhaustion. "But we don't have time for awe. It's still standing. We need to finish it."
Valencia appeared, her sharp gaze cutting through the chaos. "It's not just the creature," she said, her voice cold and calculating. "It's the Rift itself. The longer we stay here, the more it warps everything around us."
"Then we don't have much time," Sam said, his gaze flicking toward the dark storm cloud swirling above them. "I'll finish this."
The creature screeched, its roar echoing through the Rift as it lunged at Sam, its chains of darkness whipping through the air like a deadly storm. Sam barely dodged the strike, the chains grazing his shoulder and sending a jolt of pain through his body.
But his focus didn't waver. Not anymore.
He raised his hand, the combined energy of his Veins surging through him. He could feel Lapu-Lapu's fire, Bonifacio's storm, Rizal's foresight, Gabriela's wind, and Kudarat's earth—all working in harmony, pushing him beyond his limits. The power of his ancestors was within him, their strength guiding his every movement.
"Resonance Link: The Final Stand!" Sam shouted, unleashing the full force of his summons.
The energy exploded from him in a blinding burst, crashing into the creature with the force of a thousand storms. The ground beneath them cracked and shattered as the dark entity writhed, its form dissolving under the barrage of power.
But then, just as Sam thought it was over, a new wave of energy surged from the heart of the Rift—raw, chaotic, and untamed. It surged around him, wrapping around his body, pulling him deeper into the Abyss. The creature roared, feeding off the Rift's power, growing stronger with every passing second.
"No…" Sam gasped, his breath catching in his throat as the darkness wrapped around him. "I won't let you."
With everything he had left, Sam reached deep inside himself, summoning the strength of his ancestors, calling upon the heart of the Rift itself. He reached for the very essence of what the Rift had become—the corruption, the brokenness, the distortion of everything it touched.
And he ripped it apart.
The moment the energy broke free, the Rift itself howled in pain, its power unraveling like a thread being pulled from the fabric of reality. The creature screamed, its form disintegrating into a storm of black mist and flames, its last cry echoing in the void.
Sam dropped to his knees, every muscle in his body screaming in protest. His skin burned with the aftermath of the battle, and his breath came in ragged gasps. But the Rift was gone. The heart of the Abyss had been pierced.
Rael and Valencia rushed to his side, their expressions a mix of awe and relief.
"You did it," Rael said, kneeling beside him. "You stopped it."
"I didn't stop it," Sam said, his voice hoarse. "I just… I just bought us some time."
The storm clouds above them began to dissipate, the Rift's influence slowly waning. The world felt a little less distorted, a little less broken.
But the war was far from over.
"We need to get out of here," Valencia said, her voice steely. "The Rift's energy is still unstable. We have no idea what's coming next."
Sam nodded weakly. "Agreed. Let's move."
But as they turned to leave, a flicker of something caught Sam's eye. In the distance, the dark silhouette of a figure stood in the shattered remains of the Rift—a single figure, cloaked in shadows, watching them with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine.
"Sam…" Rael said, his voice low. "Do you see that?"
Sam nodded, his instincts kicking into overdrive. "Yeah. And I think we just awakened something far worse than the Rift."
The figure in the distance stepped forward, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light.
The real battle was just beginning.