The creature's presence grew stronger with every passing moment. The air around them seemed to vibrate with its power, the very ground trembling beneath their feet. Ezra's grip on his sword tightened, and though he tried to steady his breathing, the anticipation of the battle ahead churned in his gut.
"We've got no choice," Meliodas said, his voice barely audible over the roaring winds. "This is what we've come for. We fight."
Escanor's golden light flickered as his aura surged in response to the encroaching darkness. "I've faced plenty of enemies, but this... this is different."
The creature's form was still shifting, a nebulous mass of shadows and light, its towering figure creating an almost suffocating atmosphere. Its eyes, glowing like molten fire, fixed on them with an intensity that seemed to pierce through to their very souls. The voice that had echoed through the air earlier now reverberated again, more insistent than before.
"You think you can stop what has already begun? You are insignificant before the tide of destiny."
Ezra's heart pounded in his chest as he took a step forward. "You're wrong. We're not just players in your game."
The Watcher—or whatever it was—laughed, a sound like thunder rumbling in the distance. "Do you think you have any power over what's to come? You are already caught in the web I have spun for you."
Ezra felt a sharp tug inside his mind, as if the creature's words were attempting to pry open the deepest corners of his thoughts. He gritted his teeth, forcing the intrusion back. The system's hum buzzed in his ear, and he couldn't ignore the notification that had appeared.
[Warning: Mental Overload Detected] [External Influence: Psychic Pressure Increasing] [Option: Resist | Accept | Submit]
His pulse quickened. He couldn't afford to accept or submit. Resistance was the only choice.
He slammed his mental barriers into place, using every bit of willpower to shield himself. The pressure was immense, but he pushed through, refusing to let the Watcher invade his thoughts. The system rewarded him with a small notification.
[Resistance Successful: Buff — Mental Fortitude +1]
Ezra's gaze hardened. "I'm done with this."
Without warning, he surged forward, his sword drawn in a flash. The ground beneath him cracked with the force of his movement, and the others followed close behind.
Escanor raised his arm, the sun shining brightly from his palm as he prepared to unleash his full power. "Let's make this quick. I'm not letting this thing toy with us any longer."
Meliodas leapt ahead, his broken blade held firm, as he swiped at the shifting form of the creature. But as the blade made contact, it simply passed through, like cutting through smoke. The creature's form rippled, and it laughed again, a sound that seemed to shake the heavens.
"You cannot touch me. Not now. Not ever."
Ezra's thoughts raced. The creature's form wasn't solid, it was fluid—an energy, a concept more than a being. They had to find its core, its true form, if they had any hope of fighting it.
"Focus on the core," Ezra called out to the others. "It's not just the body—it's the essence we need to target!"
Merlin appeared beside them, her hands crackling with magical energy. "He's right. This thing is a manifestation of a much deeper power. It's manipulating the battlefield itself. We have to disrupt that manipulation."
The Watcher's eyes glowed brighter, and the world around them began to distort. The sky twisted, stars flickered, and the very earth seemed to warp in time with the creature's power. Ezra staggered for a moment, struggling to keep his balance as reality itself bent.
But he wouldn't let it overwhelm him. Not now. Not when they were so close.
The countdown, ticking steadily in the back of his mind, loomed over him like a dark cloud. They couldn't afford to lose.
[Countdown to the Main Story: 135,250 Hours]
"Stay sharp!" Ezra shouted, raising his sword and focusing all of his energy on the shifting form of the Watcher. He could feel it now, the faint tremor in the air, the slight disruption in its form. It wasn't invincible. It had to have a weakness.
Escanor, sensing the same, raised his hand to the sky, channeling the full force of his sunlight. The brilliance of his power cut through the darkness, temporarily stabilizing the environment around them.
"Now, Ezra!" Escanor bellowed.
With a battle cry, Ezra surged forward, his sword glowing with an ethereal light. He swung with all his might, aiming for the core of the creature's essence. As the blade collided, there was a blinding flash—an explosion of pure energy—and for a brief moment, the creature's form shuddered, its glowing eyes flickering.
But it wasn't enough.
The Watcher's laugh rang out again, though now it was tinged with frustration. "You think you can defeat me? You are mere mortals playing in the hands of fate. You will fail."
Ezra stumbled back, breathless but determined. "Maybe we're mere mortals. But we still have a choice."
The Watcher's eyes narrowed. "Then make your choice, but know this: no matter what you do, your path is already set."
The ground beneath them trembled again, and the air thickened with an oppressive force. Ezra could feel it now—this wasn't just a battle of strength. It was a battle for their will, their autonomy.
Escanor stepped forward, his golden aura flaring like a beacon in the storm. "If we are pawns, then let's show you just how much power a pawn can have."
With a sudden burst of speed, Escanor launched himself into the air, his palm glowing with the intense light of Sunshine. The sun's energy concentrated into a beam so pure and powerful it seemed to sear the very air itself. He aimed for the creature's core, and for a moment, the Watcher's form faltered, its edges growing fuzzy.
Merlin joined in, weaving a spell to stabilize the ground beneath them and amplify their attacks. "Do it now, Ezra!" she shouted.
Ezra didn't hesitate. With a roar, he charged once more, the full weight of his resolve behind him. He felt the system's interface hum to life, a surge of energy coursing through him as he drew on his allies' strengths. As he struck again, a crack appeared in the creature's form.
And then, with a blinding flash of light, the creature shrieked in pain, its form destabilizing.
Ezra's heart pounded as the creature's body began to disintegrate, its essence unraveling in the air. But even as the Watcher began to fade, its final words rang out, deep and hollow.
"This is not the end. It is only the beginning."
The last remnants of the creature evaporated into the air, leaving behind nothing but a faint, lingering echo of its presence.
Ezra stood panting, sweat dripping down his brow. They had done it. But something gnawed at the back of his mind. The battle was won, but the war was far from over.
[Countdown to the Main Story: 135,200 Hours]