THE LUNA THEY REJECTED CAME BACK RUTHLESS

Stay With Me

For a moment—

We had it.

That balance.

That rhythm.

Every move connected.

Every strike timed.

Every opening used.

The pressure hadn’t disappeared—

But it had shifted.

We weren’t chasing anymore.

We were matching it.

Pushing it.

Forcing it to adjust.

And that—

That mattered.

“It’s hesitating,” I said.

“Not for long,” Kael replied.

He was right.

Because the next second—

Everything changed.

The air didn’t just tighten—

It collapsed.

Not toward one point.

Everywhere.

My chest tightened as the space around us warped unnaturally, the pressure hitting from all directions at once.

“That’s new—”

Before I could finish—

The figure moved.

Not toward one of us.

Between us.

And then—

It split the space.

A sharp distortion cut through the air like an invisible wall, forcing itself between me and Kael.

My breath caught.

“Kael—!”

I tried to step toward him—

But the moment I moved—

The space twisted again.

Pushing me back.

Not physically—

Spatially.

Like the distance itself refused to close.

“What is this?!” I shouted.

Kael’s voice came through—but distorted.

“…separating—distance—!”

I clenched my fists.

“No.”

I pushed forward again—

The warmth inside me surged—

But the space reacted instantly, folding tighter, resisting every attempt to cross it.

It wasn’t just distance anymore.

It was division.

Controlled.

Intentional.

“You relied on each other,” the figure said calmly.

Its voice echoed from both sides now.

“And now…”

A pause.

“Let’s see what you are alone.”

My chest tightened.

Because that was the point.

It wasn’t just stopping us from working together.

It was forcing us apart.

Breaking the one thing that had started to work.

I glanced toward Kael—

I could still see him—

But faintly.

Distorted.

Like he was behind glass that bent reality itself.

“Stay where you are!” he called.

“Like hell I will!”

I pushed again—

Harder this time—

The warmth surged, pressing against the invisible divide—

But the moment I did—

It reacted violently.

The space snapped tighter—

Forcing me back sharply.

I stumbled—

Just for a second.

But that was enough.

Because it moved.

Instantly.

Right in front of me.

Alone.

My chest tightened as I raised my guard—

Too late.

The strike came fast—

Sharper than before—

With no interference.

No backup.

No timing to rely on.

I blocked—

But the impact forced me back hard this time.

My footing slipped—

My balance nearly breaking again.

“You’re weaker alone,” it said.

I steadied myself quickly, forcing my breathing back under control.

“Then come closer and find out.”

A faint smile touched its lips.

“Good.”

It moved again—

Faster now.

More aggressive.

Because it didn’t need to divide its focus anymore.

I dodged—

Barely—

Countered—

But it adjusted instantly.

Every move tighter.

Every strike heavier.

Because now—

All of it was on me.

“Lira—listen—!” Kael’s voice came through, strained.

“I’m fine!”

But I wasn’t.

Not completely.

Because this—

This was what it wanted.

To isolate.

To overwhelm.

To break.

The warmth inside me surged again—

Stronger—

But I forced it down.

Controlled it.

Focused it.

Because losing control now—

Would be worse than losing the fight.

I stepped back slightly, adjusting my stance again.

Different.

More grounded.

Less reactive.

Because if I couldn’t rely on him—

Then I had to rely on myself.

Completely.

The figure tilted its head slightly.

“Show me.”

My eyes narrowed.

“I will.”

The energy pulsed again—

Sharper.

Tighter.

Mine.

Because now—

There was no rhythm to follow.

No one to sync with.

No one to cover my mistakes.

Just me.

And if I broke here—

There wouldn’t be anyone to pull me back.

But if I didn’t—

If I held it together—

Then maybe…

Just maybe—

I wouldn’t need saving at all. 😈🔥