I stood there, panting, barely able to keep my balance as Zaya's shadows continued to swirl around her. The crowd's cheers were distant, muffled by the sound of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears. As I struggled to catch my breath, an unexpected hologram flickered to life before my eyes, visible only to me.
"Do you wish to use 10% of your power?" the hologram's disembodied voice asked.
My mind raced. I knew what that meant, it was last time in the forest. But I was losing, and this was my last chance to turn the tide. I hesitated for only a moment before nodding decisively.
"Yes."
Instantly, a surge of energy coursed through my body. My vision sharpened, and I felt a power I had never experienced before. It was as if a dam had broken, releasing a torrent of raw magic. My blue flames erupted around me, brighter and hotter than ever.