Chapter34:

Chapter 34 The temple continued to crumble around us as Ryder and I faced off. The air crackled with energy, a mixture of my newly balanced light and shadow powers and Ryder's dark force. I could sense the power surging within me, but it was chaotic and unruly. Managing it felt like attempting to steer a furious river using only my hands. “You believe you've gained something, right?” Ryder scoffed, his red eyes shining with a spiteful delight. “You have no clue how to harness that power. You're just a kid messing with things you can't grasp.” I clenched my jaw, attempting to concentrate. “I might not entirely understand it yet, but I know enough to halt you.” With that, I launched myself at him, channeling my energy into a blast of combined moonlight and shadow. Ryder met it with a wave of darkness, and the two powers crashed together in a dazzling blast that made the temple floor shake. For a second, I felt like I was winning. But then Ryder's laughter filled the room, making me feel