Free Baleful Betrayal by John Corwin

to disable that crystoid."
    Elyssa ran beside me. "Why did you ask if they could channel Brilliance?"
    "This crystoid is massive, babe." I bit my lower lip. "I need every ounce of power I can get for this one."
    When we crested the mountain of rubble and laid eyes on the crystal meteor, everyone let out a collective gasp, including me. Close up, the crystoid looked even larger than from the air. Considering the volume of raw aether flowing into this thing, I was surprised it wasn't the size of the city. Then again, Cephus might have made the ones here different than the ones that hit Eden. He could have limited their growth so he could neutralize them himself once he took total control of the city.
    "How do we help?" Flava asked.
    "I need those who are the strongest in channeling Brilliance on my right. The rest of you on my left." Once everyone assumed their positions, I continued. "Lanaeia and Flava, put your hands on my back. The rest of you put a hand on the back of the person next to you."
    "We are linking," Flava said. "Like your mother showed us."
    I nodded. "I need you to channel everything you can through each other and into me. Those on the right channel only Brilliance, and those to my left concentrate on Murk." I pointed to Elyssa and the other three volunteers. "I need you to hold onto me. Once I hit that thing with Stasis, it'll try to suck me in like a magnet."
    Elyssa's eyes filled with worry. "A crystoid a quarter the size of this one nearly drained you dry, Justin."
    "This is gonna work," I said.
    "But your mother said linking too many people together is dangerous." She gripped my hand. "It could burn you out."
    "It's the only way to focus enough Stasis," I said.
    "What if the aether packs run dry?"
    "Pray they don't." I gave her a stern look. "Do your duty, Templar."
    Steel shone in her eyes and the worry vanished behind a stern façade. "As you wish." She motioned the other three Darklings into place and ordered them to hold down my legs. Elyssa wrapped her arms around my chest and whispered in my ear, "I've got you, my love."
    "Wonder twin powers, activate!" I shouted.
    Flava and the others frowned.
    I cleared my throat. "That means to start channeling."
    "Ah," they murmured.
    "Destroyer, I have activated the wonder twin powers," Flava said.
    "As have I," Lanaeia added.
    One by one, my Seraphim allies began to channel the forces of destruction and creation through the chain and to me, the focus. Power ignited my blood and filled my flesh with the deep cold calm of Murk and the burning powerful rage of Brilliance. My flesh felt ready to evaporate with the raw energy roiling inside.
    Raising my hands, I released the energy into my palms, coalescing a sphere of burning white in my right, and ultraviolet in my left. My hair felt as though it was standing on end, and my eyes watered from the sheer effort it took to keep my mind focused. My inner demon growled with delight and rammed against its cage, eager to grasp the power sizzling just out of its reach. My mind faltered, unable to maintain focus on both events. The door opened a fraction and my demon half surged.
    It was like holding up the roof of a collapsing house with my hands while fighting off a tiger with my feet. If I concentrated too much on one or the other, I'd be crushed or eaten.
    "Justin!" someone shouted.
    Elyssa's strong arms gripped me tighter. "Justin, I'm here. You can do it."
    You and I have had this conversation before, I sent to the traitorous demon half.
    Power, destruction! It sent back.
    Why is my demon half an idiot? I had to do something fast. Splitting my attention came hard, especially when dealing with this much power. My head ached. Half my body felt frozen and the other two thirds felt ready to burst into flames. I couldn't channel this much energy for much longer. Focusing everything I had into one swift kick, I booted the tiger in the nose and slammed the cage shut, then quickly returned my focus to the collapsing