The old chapel stands at the edge of the village, half-buried in creeping vines and shadow. Its stained glass windows are shattered, and the stone walls are blackened with soot. A single, flickering torch casts eerie shadows over the entrance.
Zayne, Mira, and Bran approach, swords drawn. The wind howls through the empty village streets, carrying a low, eerie hum.
Bran squints up at the chapel. "Why here? Lyle was never the religious type."
Mira tightens her grip on her sword. "It wasn't about prayer. He used to come here to hide."
Zayne steps forward, eyes scanning the darkened entrance. "Stay close."
They step inside.
The inside of the chapel is even darker, the air thick with the scent of damp stone and decaying wood. The pews are overturned, and the altar is draped in a tattered cloth, stained with something dark.
In the center of the room, Lyle stands with his back to them, head bowed. His shoulders rise and fall with each ragged breath.
"Lyle," Mira calls, voice trembling. "It's me. Mira."
Lyle's head snaps up, and he turns to face them. His eyes glow an unnatural, venomous green, pupils thin like a predator's. His once-lean frame is now wiry and tense, muscles straining against his torn shirt.
"Mira," he says, voice twisted and hollow. "You came back."
Mira takes a shaky step forward. "Lyle, what happened to you?"
Lyle's lips pull back in a grin that is both familiar and wrong. "I saw them, Mira. I saw how they looked at me. How they had everything... while I had nothing."
Zayne's eyes narrow. "Lyle, you're not yourself. This isn't you."
Lyle laughs, the sound echoing like shattered glass. "Not me? No. This is what I always was. The boy they ignored. The one they left behind."
Bran takes a step forward, sword raised. "Snap out of it, Lyle. You're hurting people!"
Lyle's eyes flash, and green energy pulses around him, rippling like a serpent. "I'm not the one hurting them."
Zayne, Mira, and Bran stand together, forming a loose triangle around Lyle. His eyes blaze with that venomous green glow, his aura pulsing with a sinister energy.
Zayne grips his spear, feet planted firmly. "Everyone... enter meditation. We need to conserve our energy."
Mira closes her eyes, fists tightening. "Right."
Bran takes a deep breath, jaw clenched. "Let's do this."
The three of them close their eyes, breathing in unison. Their bodies relax, and for a moment, the air around them hums with a low, steady vibration, they are in a state of meditation (total concentration) to create a bridge between their body and soul, this allows spirit energy to move from the spirit and stored in body
A faint aura surrounds each of them — Zayne's a cool, flowing blue, Mira's a grounded, unyielding brown, and Bran's a fierce, flickering red.
Zayne whispers to himself. "Spirit and body... become one."
Mira repeats, her voice steady. "Spirit and body... become one."
Bran's fists ignite with a faint, controlled flame. "Spirit and body... become one."
Lyle's grin stretches, green flames spiraling around his fists. "Oh? You think that'll help?"
Before they can fully stabilize, Lyle charges forward. He slams a green fist toward Mira's face.
Mira snaps her eyes open, releasing her stored energy.
"Boulder Rush!"
Stone coats her fists, and she meets Lyle's strike head-on. Their fists collide, and a shockwave erupts, cracking the ground beneath them.
Lyle's arm trembles, but he grins. "Not bad... but not enough!"
He rips free, spinning to kick Mira in the gut. The impact sends her skidding back, dust and stone trailing her.
⸻
Bran rushes in, fists wreathed in flames.
"Blazing Fist!"
He swings at Lyle, who ducks and counters with a green-cloaked fist. Bran blocks, but the sheer force drives him back, flames flickering out.
Zayne charges in from the side, spear spinning. "Torrent Strike!"
He thrusts the spear forward, and a concentrated stream of water blasts from the spearhead, aiming for Lyle's chest.
Lyle raises a hand, the green energy forming a barrier. The water crashes against it, sizzling and evaporating into steam.
Zayne grimaces, sweat pouring down his face. "His energy output... it's insane."
⸻
Mira rises, her aura flaring. She raises her arms, closing her eyes.
"Spirit and body... become one."
Her aura thickens, and stone creeps up her body, forming a makeshift armor. Her fists enlarge, encased in heavy rock.
She rushes forward, fists swinging. "Fortress State!"
Lyle raises both arms, intercepting her punches. Each blow sends shockwaves through the room, stone fragments exploding from Mira's fists as Lyle matches her strike for strike.
⸻
Bran takes a deep breath, flames intensifying.
"Spirit and body... become one."
The flames around his fists swirl, condensing and intensifying. His eyes burn with rage.
"Wildfire Frenzy!"
His fists and feet ignite as he rushes in, striking rapidly at Lyle. Fist after fist collides with Lyle, the flames exploding on impact.
But with each strike, Bran's aura dims. Sweat drips down his face, and his flames begin to sputter.
Lyle laughs, catching one of Bran's punches mid-swing. "You're running out of steam, Bran. Always so hot-headed. Always so weak."
⸻
Lyle tightens his grip on Bran's wrist, green aura flaring.
"You three... you always looked down on me. But now, I've got more power than any of you!"
He slams his fist into Bran's gut. Bran gasps, flames flickering out as he crashes to the ground, coughing up blood.
Mira's stone fists shatter under the next blow, and she collapses to one knee, panting.
Zayne raises his spear, aura flickering. His vision swims. "Damn it... we're running out of energy."
Mira grits her teeth, forcing herself to stand. "Zayne... we need to hit him together. One last push."
Zayne nods, eyes hardening. "Right."
⸻
Mira raises her fists, the ground beneath her trembling as she forces every last ounce of energy into her limbs. "Boulder Rush!"
Bran struggles to his feet, flames reigniting. "Inferno Barrage!"
Zayne plants his spear, breathing deeply. "Spirit and body... become one."
The air around him grows cold. His aura shifts, blue deepening into a near-black.
"Torrent Strike – Full Release!"
⸻
The three attacks converge on Lyle — rock, fire, and water slamming into him simultaneously.
Lyle screams, the green aura cracking, shattering like glass. His body writhes as the energy disperses, and the eerie green glow fades from his eyes.
He collapses to the ground, body smoking, eyes glassy.
Mira kneels beside him, shaking. "Lyle..."
Lyle's eyes flutter open. "I... I just wanted to be like you guys..."
His body goes limp, and his eyes close for the last time, but something felt off.
Before they can catch their breath, the sinister green aura seeps from Lyle's body, swirling through the air like smoke.
Bran coughs, clutching his chest. His eyes widen, veins turning black. "What... what is this?"