Chapter 28: The Choice

The ground trembled as the colossal being from the rift slowly emerged, its dark presence casting an oppressive shadow over the battlefield. Alec’s heart pounded in his chest. The odds were stacked against them. But there was still a flicker of hope—Leslie. She stood on the edge, her eyes flickering between her humanity and the monstrous power she now wielded.

Alec stepped forward, his gaze locked with hers, hoping, praying that she would make the right choice.

“Leslie!” Alec shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. “You don’t have to do this! You can fight it. You are not this thing!”

Leslie’s glowing eyes softened, but the rift’s influence was overwhelming. A ripple of dark energy surged through the ground, and a roar from the creature echoed, shaking the very air.

“I’m so sorry, Alec,” Leslie whispered, her voice strained. “I can’t control it anymore.”

The monstrous being loomed closer, its massive form blotting out the sky. It reached out a giant hand toward Alec, intent on crushing him where he stood. But as the being’s shadow fell over him, Leslie’s voice rang out, louder than ever.

“No! I control this!”

A surge of energy rippled from Leslie’s body, and for the first time, she fully embraced the power of the rift, using it to push back against the dark creature. Her form shimmered, flickering between her human self and the monstrous being the rift had created. She stood her ground, defying the entity that sought to consume her.

Alec’s eyes widened in realization. She wasn’t just fighting for herself anymore—she was fighting for them all.

“Leslie!” Alec cried out, but it was clear she had made her choice. She had chosen to fight back.

With a scream of defiance, Leslie raised both hands, unleashing a torrent of rift energy at the creature. It howled in fury, but Leslie’s power was now too great. The rift, which had once controlled her, now bent to her will.

The battle between Leslie and the dark entity was a cataclysmic clash of pure energy. The ground cracked and shattered beneath them, and the sky above seemed to warp in response to their struggle. Each strike from Leslie sent shockwaves through the landscape, and with every wave of energy, the monstrous figure staggered backward, unable to match her newfound power.

Alec watched, helpless, as Leslie’s form continued to flicker between light and dark. Her humanity was struggling to break free, but the darkness was relentless. The creature’s final attack—a massive fist of pure shadow—was aimed directly at Leslie, and Alec knew she wouldn’t survive if it hit.

Without thinking, he rushed forward, charging toward her. But before he could reach her, Leslie’s eyes locked onto his, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he saw the girl he knew.

“I’m sorry... Alec,” Leslie whispered, her voice barely audible over the roar of the battle. “I couldn’t save us both.”

In a final act of defiance, Leslie harnessed every ounce of energy she had left, channeling it directly into the dark creature. With a blinding explosion of light, the creature screamed as it was consumed by the rift energy. And then... silence.

The rift’s pull began to fade, the darkness slowly receding from the sky. The ground began to settle, and the air felt less oppressive. But Alec knew—Leslie had made the ultimate sacrifice.

Her body collapsed to the ground, the glowing energy fading from her eyes. Alec rushed to her side, his heart breaking as he cradled her in his arms.

“No... no, please...” Alec whispered, his voice choked with emotion. “Leslie, you didn’t have to...”

But Leslie’s lips curled into the faintest smile, her hand weakly reaching out to touch his.

“I couldn’t... let you... fight alone... Alec... I... I’m sorry...” she breathed, her voice fading as she spoke her last words.

With a final sigh, Leslie’s eyes closed, and the light in her dimmed.

The battle was over. The rift had closed, the dark entity vanquished, and the world was slowly returning to a fragile peace. The team stood in the aftermath, their faces somber, each of them trying to process the loss of their friend and comrade.

Alec stood alone, gazing at the sky where the rift had once been. The sun was rising, casting a soft golden light over the ruined battlefield. But even in the light, he couldn’t escape the pain in his chest—the emptiness where Leslie had once been.

"She saved us," Yursen said quietly, his voice filled with respect. "She gave everything."

Alec nodded but said nothing. The silence between them was heavy. They all knew that Leslie’s sacrifice had saved them all, but it didn’t make the loss any easier to bear.

Lina approached Alec, placing a hand on his shoulder. “She didn’t just save us, Alec. She saved the world.”

He looked at her, eyes raw with grief. “But at what cost?”

At that moment, there was a distant rumble, and the team turned to see something they hadn’t expected. The ground began to shift, and from the cracks in the earth, a small, flickering light appeared. It wasn’t much at first, but it grew steadily brighter.

“Alec...” Lina said softly. “What is that?”

Alec stared in disbelief as the light began to take shape, coalescing into something... someone.

A figure appeared, standing tall amidst the ruins. It was Leslie, her form glowing faintly, but this time, she was different. She was no longer the same person who had once stood before them, torn between the light and the darkness. Instead, she radiated peace, her presence calm and serene.

“She... she’s alive?” Alec whispered, his voice shaking.

Leslie smiled softly, her eyes meeting his once more. “I’m... not entirely gone. I chose to leave a part of myself behind. A part of me will always be with you, Alec. And the world. Don’t forget me.”

Alec’s heart soared, and for a moment, the pain of loss seemed to lessen. The team gathered around her, awe-struck by the miracle unfolding before them.

“Thank you... Leslie,” Alec whispered, the words escaping him like a prayer. “Thank you for everything.”

As the light from Leslie’s form began to fade, she gave them one last look, a look filled with love and gratitude.

“I’ll always be watching over you,” Leslie’s voice echoed in the wind.

And with that, she was gone, her presence leaving behind only a lingering warmth in the hearts of those who had fought beside her.

The battle was over, and though the scars of loss remained, a new chapter had begun. One filled with hope, and the memory of a friend who had given everything for the world she loved.