The warehouse shook under the collision of Light and Zarek’s attacks, the sheer force sending shockwaves rippling through the air. Sparks of energy and shards of stone scattered as Zarek’s earth-shattering strike clashed against Light’s elemental energy, creating a vortex of destruction at the center of the room.

The team braced themselves as debris flew in every direction. Riya shielded her face with her arm, her emerald eyes scanning the chaos. “We can’t let him keep this up! Mark, Swen—back him up!”

Mark nodded, his expression serious for once. “On it!” With a burst of kinetic energy, he launched himself forward, his legs glowing faintly. His first kick struck Zarek’s raised arm, the impact strong enough to send a tremor through the smuggler’s body.

Zarek growled, twisting his massive frame to counter, but Mark was already gone, flipping over him and landing a devastating kick to his back. “What’s the matter, big guy? Can’t keep up?”

Zarek snarled, stomping the ground and sending a wave of jagged earth spikes surging toward Mark.

“Watch it!” Swen shouted, leaping into the fray. Manipulating her weight, she crashed down like a meteor, shattering the spikes before they could reach Mark. Her blade followed, slashing in a wide arc toward Zarek’s side.

Zarek’s reflexes were terrifying. He sidestepped Swen’s blade, using his earthen constructs to parry her strike, and retaliated with a punch that sent a massive boulder hurtling toward her.

Zane intercepted it with a fiery blast from his gauntlets, the explosion lighting up the battlefield. “You’re not taking anyone down that easily!” he roared, rushing in with flames trailing behind him.

The heat was immense as Zane unleashed a barrage of fiery punches, each one aimed at Zarek’s torso. The smuggler blocked the strikes with his forearms, his earth Etherea absorbing the worst of the flames.

“You’re persistent,” Zarek growled, his amber eyes burning with irritation. He slammed his mechanical arm into the ground, summoning a massive stone wall that separated him from Zane.

But Zarek wasn’t retreating. Instead, he emerged from the wall’s side with terrifying speed, catching Zane off guard with an uppercut that sent him crashing into a pile of crates.

Light’s teal eyes glowed faintly as his Astral Awareness guided him through the battlefield. He saw every shift of Zarek’s movements, every ripple of energy in the room.

“Mark, keep him distracted! Riya, aim for his weak points!” Light called out, his voice steady despite the chaos.

Mark lunged forward again, his kicks a blur as he delivered a flurry of rapid strikes to Zarek’s midsection. Zarek roared in frustration, swinging wildly to catch him, but Mark’s speed was too much.

“Now!” Light shouted.

From the shadows, Riya emerged, her laser guns firing precise shots at Zarek’s knees and shoulders. The concentrated blasts struck true, forcing Zarek to falter.

Taking advantage of the opening, Light gathered his energy. His hand glowed with golden light as he summoned a swirling sphere of wind and flame, hurling it toward Zarek with all his might.

The attack struck Zarek square in the chest, detonating with a deafening roar. The smuggler was sent flying into the far wall, leaving a crater where he landed.

For a moment, the team dared to hope.

But Zarek rose once more, his aura blazing brighter than ever. His mechanical arm gleamed as his Etherea surged, the ground beneath him cracking and shifting.

“You think you’ve got me figured out?” he snarled, his voice a guttural growl. “I’ve been in this game longer than you’ve been alive!”

The ground erupted as Zarek unleashed a wave of destruction. Massive stone spikes shot out in every direction, forcing the team to scatter.

Light barely dodged a spike, his dagger flashing as he cut through the smaller debris. “We’re wearing him down, but it’s not enough!”

Ace stepped forward, his deck of cards glowing faintly in his hands. “Then let’s tip the scales.” He flicked a card into the air, and it shimmered as his luck manipulation activated.

The card struck one of the falling debris pieces, redirecting it toward Zarek’s face. The smuggler swatted it away, growling in annoyance.

“Over here, ugly!” Ace taunted, throwing another card. This one exploded in a burst of light, momentarily blinding Zarek.

Mark capitalized on the opening, landing a spinning kick that cracked against Zarek’s jaw. Swen followed up with a downward slash, her blade grazing his shoulder.

“You’re nothing but ants,” Zarek spat, slamming his fists together. The impact sent a shockwave through the room, knocking the team off their feet.

Panting and battered, the team regrouped. Light stood at the forefront, his teal eyes blazing with determination.

“We’re not giving up,” he said, his voice firm. “Together, we can beat him.”

Mark smirked, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. “Damn right.”

Riya reloaded her guns, her emerald eyes glinting with resolve. “Let’s finish this.”

The team charges forward, their combined strength aimed at overwhelming Zarek as the battle reaches its next crescendo.