Pushing Limits
The training grounds crackled with energy. With the Earth Gem and the Golden Crystal now fully awakened, the real battle began.
Clow raised a hand, summoning a series of shifting barriers around them. “Control is meaningless if you cannot apply it in combat. You must push beyond what you believe your limits are.”
Endymion tightened his grip on the Golden Crystal, feeling its power hum beneath his fingertips. It no longer resisted him, but it still demanded precision. A single misstep, and it could overwhelm him.
Syaoran and Reiko stood opposite him, the Earth Gem pulsing in sync with their heartbeats. Their energy was steady, balanced, a testament to their unity as Terra’s first heirs.
Reiko smirked. “You ready for this?”
Endymion exhaled, gold light sparking at his fingertips. “Try me.”
The Clash of Power
They moved.
Reiko struck first, the Earth Gem sending out a shockwave. Endymion dodged, his speed enhanced by the Golden Crystal. Syaoran followed up, lightning crackling around his fists as he closed the distance.
Endymion met him head-on. Golden light clashed against green energy, their powers locking together. The force of their collision sent cracks racing through the ground.
But Endymion didn’t falter.
His control was stronger now. The Golden Crystal no longer burned uncontrollably—it flowed. It guided his movements.
Then, Reiko appeared behind him.
A feint.
Before he could react, she struck.
Her magic slammed into him, sending him skidding across the battlefield. The force should have left him winded—but instead, the Golden Crystal flared, absorbing the impact, redirecting it.
He twisted in midair, golden energy amplifying his movement, and landed on his feet.
Syaoran whistled. “Not bad.”
Reiko grinned. “You’re learning.”
Endymion smirked. “You’re not the only ones who can adapt.”
But they weren’t done yet.
Breaking Through
Clow observed them from a distance, his gaze thoughtful.
Their bond with their respective artifacts was deepening—faster than expected. Terra’s first heirs were already in sync, but now, Endymion was catching up.
Yet something was still missing.
Tranquility, watching from the sidelines, frowned. “They’re strong, but they’re holding back.”
Kunzite nodded. “They need a push.”
Without warning, Clow lifted his hand. A surge of magic erupted from the ground, forming a massive barrier between them.
The battle stopped.
Endymion turned sharply. “What—?”
Clow’s voice echoed through the space. “Your magic is powerful, but it is still individual. You must learn to combine it.”
Reiko and Syaoran looked at each other. They understood immediately.
Syaoran raised the Earth Gem. “Together.”
Reiko placed her hand over his. The Earth Gem pulsed, their magic fusing into one. The ground beneath them answered their call.
Endymion hesitated only for a moment before gripping the Golden Crystal.
The moment he did, the two forces reacted.
The Earth Gem’s stabilizing energy met the Golden Crystal’s radiant light. For a brief second, it was overwhelming—clashing forces fighting for dominance.
Then, suddenly—
They aligned.
A surge of raw, unified energy burst forth, shattering Clow’s barrier like fragile glass. The combined power spread outward, a balance of stability and raw potential.
The battle was over.
But the training had only just begun.