The Unbreakable Chain
After a week of struggling with the side effects of the bond, the group had finally reached a point where they could function without getting overwhelmed. But just as they thought they were getting used to it, Clow introduced the next challenge:
Testing the bond in battle.
The First Trial
The training grounds were silent, the only sound being the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Clow stood in the center, looking at each of them. “Now that you’ve learned to filter emotions and pain, it’s time to see if you can use the bond to fight as one.”
The moment he spoke, the air shimmered. Illusions sprang to life around them—shadowy enemies with glowing red eyes, surrounding the entire group.
“Let’s see how well you work together,” Clow said simply, then disappeared into the shadows.
The attack came instantly.
Reiko dodged left, her instincts screaming a warning that wasn’t hers—it was Tranquility’s. He had sensed the strike a second before it happened, and through the bond, she had felt his reaction.
Syaoran blocked a spell aimed at Endymion’s back without even looking. Yue, without a word, shifted his stance, already anticipating Syaoran’s movement.
They were moving as one unit.
Faster. Sharper. Deadlier.
Nephrite and Zoisite fought back to back, their magic weaving together in a way that felt effortless. Jadeite and Kunzite moved like mirror images, predicting each other’s moves before they even acted.
Tranquility had never fought like this before. No commands were needed. No words. Just instinct and connection.
And yet—
There was one problem.
The bond was too strong.
When Reiko took a hit to her shoulder, the pain rippled through the entire group. Everyone faltered for a brief second.
A second was all it took.
The illusions struck hard, forcing them onto the defensive.
Endymion gritted his teeth. Damn it. If we don’t get this under control, we’re going to collapse.
Through the bond, Clow’s voice echoed in their minds. Figure it out. The bond is your greatest strength—but if you let it, it will also be your greatest weakness.
Breaking the Limit
They didn’t know who figured it out first.
Maybe it was Yue, who silently suppressed the pain rippling through him and created a barrier in his mind.
Maybe it was Syaoran, who let go of the pain completely, refusing to let it dictate his actions.
Or maybe it was Reiko and Tranquility, who reached out to each other at the same time, instinctively balancing their emotions so neither one buckled.
But suddenly—everything clicked.
They weren’t fighting as individuals anymore.
They weren’t just reacting.
They were flowing.
Strike left. Endymion’s thought barely formed before Nephrite was already moving.
Shield up— Yue had already cast it before Syaoran even finished the thought.
Tranquility saw Reiko’s next move a heartbeat before she made it, sending his energy toward her to amplify her attack.
The shadows fell one by one.
In seconds, the battlefield was clear.
Clow appeared again, looking at them with quiet approval. “Good. You’ve learned the difference between sharing and overwhelming. The bond will always be there—but you must decide when to lean on it, and when to stand alone.”
The group exhaled, exhausted but victorious.
They had done it.
They had truly become one.
And for the first time, they felt unstoppable.