The ground was still trembling.
But Emily couldn't feel it the same way anymore.
Not after what just happened.
Not after how close she had been to losing control—
And not after how close she had been to Alexander.
Her heart was still racing.
Not from fear.
From something else.
Something she didn't want to think about.
"Emily—move!"
Daniel's voice snapped her back to reality.
A burst of dark energy slammed into the ground just behind her, sending debris flying into the air.
Alexander grabbed her wrist and pulled her aside just in time.
"Focus," he said sharply.
"I am focused," she shot back—but her voice lacked its usual edge.
Because she wasn't.
Not completely.
And that scared her more than anything else.
The battlefield was worse now.
The cracks in the earth had widened even further, glowing with unstable energy. Creatures continued to crawl out—faster, stronger, more aggressive.
But something had changed.
They weren't attacking blindly anymore.
