Kaelen could feel it now, the final test. The entity had done everything in its power to consume them, to take control. But it had underestimated the strength of their will. It had underestimated Kaelen's resolve.
With a cry, Kaelen reached into his mind, forcing the darkness back. He could feel the entity's grip loosening, just for a moment. That was all he needed. He reached out, his hand closing around the core's power source, his fingers trembling.
"Mira, fight it!" he screamed, his voice a desperate plea.
For the first time, Kaelen saw a flicker of recognition in her eyes. She wasn't completely gone.
With one final effort, Kaelen tapped into the last remnants of his own power and slammed his fist into the core's control panel.
The ship shuddered violently, the core's energy flickering and collapsing. The entity screamed—a roar of pure rage—as the light around them exploded in a blinding flash.
Kaelen felt himself falling, the darkness claiming him once more.