OLAMILEKAN:
They say battle is like a storm—you brace for it, ride it, and pray it doesn't swallow you whole.
But nothing prepares you for war when the storm is time itself.
Martin's foot lifted off my chest as Joshua's blade intercepted him. The clang of metal on metal echoed through the ruined port like thunder. I gasped for air, lungs burning, ribs aching, but I couldn't look away.
Joshua fought like a man possessed.
No, not possessed—evolved.
His shadow magic had transformed mid-battle. No longer just flickers and silhouettes, they moved like soldiers with minds of their own. One wrapped around Martin's arm, slowing his swing. Another stabbed at his flank while Joshua came in from the front.
Steel screamed against steel.
"You've gotten faster," Martin admitted, parrying one strike, then dodging another.
"I had to," Joshua grunted. "People die when I'm slow."
He flipped backward as Martin swept his blade in a wide arc, then snapped his fingers.
Four shadows erupted from the ground, forming spears that lunged at Martin like vipers. Martin raised his hand.
Time: Stop.
Everything froze. The spears stopped mid-air. Joshua hovered mid-flip. I was locked in place, light crackling at my fingertips but unable to move.
For five terrifying seconds, Martin strolled through the battlefield like a god. He sliced through two spears, sidestepped the rest, and appeared behind Joshua.
Time resumed.
Martin's elbow crashed into Joshua's back mid-air, slamming him into the concrete.
"Josh!" I shouted, stumbling forward.
He groaned, one eye swollen shut, blood seeping down his jaw—but he rolled away from the next strike, just in time.
I tried to summon my light again. It responded.
But I couldn't.
The memory of New Dakar flared—black tendrils escaping my body. I couldn't lose myself again.
I couldn't lose Joshua.
"You hesitate," Martin said, walking toward me. "And hesitation is the womb of defeat."
He lunged.
I barely blocked with my blade. The impact jarred my entire body. I tried to counter, but he twisted, slammed the hilt into my stomach, then swept my legs.
I hit the ground.
Joshua appeared again, faster this time. A chain of shadow snapped around Martin's ankle and yanked.
Martin staggered.
Joshua moved in—slashes from both blades, one high, one low, alternating attacks with shadow clones. The choreography was stunning. Beautiful, even.
But not enough.
Martin growled.
Time: Reverse.
It all rewound.
Chains disappeared. Joshua's clones vanished. He stood where he had been ten seconds ago, chest heaving.
Martin stood tall again, but blood dripped from his nose. The reverse cost him.
Still, he smiled.
"Your shadow magic has matured. I see now why the NSDA kept you hidden. But it's not enough."
Joshua dashed forward again. This time, his movements were erratic—steps at wrong angles, slashes from awkward positions. It wasn't elegant. It wasn't calculated.
It was unpredictable.
And that's why it worked.
He landed a clean cut across Martin's chest. Blood sprayed.
Martin's eyes widened.
Joshua didn't stop. "You said you fight with eternity? Good. Let me show you what chaos looks like!"
He summoned a massive claw of shadow that rose behind him like a monster. It swiped at Martin, tearing through the air with a roar. Martin ducked, raised his blade—then disappeared.
Time: Forward.
He appeared behind Joshua. Too fast.
A shallow cut bloomed across Joshua's back. He dropped to a knee.
"JOSH!" I shouted.
I moved.
Faster than before. My light ignited, pulsing across my veins.
"No more hiding," I muttered.
I slashed at Martin. He blocked, but staggered.
I kept going. The light surged. My skin glowed white-hot. I hit him again. And again.
But then...
I saw it.
A tendril of black creeping along my arm.
No.
Not again.
I faltered.
Martin saw the hesitation and struck. His blade scraped across my side, sending fire up my spine.
I dropped.
Blood soaked my shirt. My vision blurred.
Joshua crawled toward me. "Ola..."
Martin stood between us, panting, bloody but upright. "You're both strong. I'll give you that."
He raised his blade.
"But strength without resolve is useless."
Joshua tried to rise, but collapsed. I lay in a pool of light and blood, my magic spiraling out of control inside me.
This wasn't a mission.
This was a massacre.
Martin walked away from us, toward the chained hostages.
We had failed.
And we still didn't know what he truly wanted.