Chapter Text
"You were never the warrior your mother was," the Skull Sorcerer said.
"Maybe not," Cole said, seeing his arms glow orange with his power. Power rushed into him. "But I made her a promise to stand up to tyrants like you, always!" Cole felt new power running through his veins. It gave him a strength he had never felt, past even the superhuman strength that he held. It filled him with determination.
He jumped and landed a blow to the Skull Sorcerer, taking the skull from his hands as he did. The Skull Sorcerer stumbled back from the blow. Cole floated up - he didn't know how - and threw the skull at the ground with all of his strength, watching it smash into hundreds of pieces as it hit the rock below him.
"No! How could you?!" the Skull Sorcerer screamed. He dropped to the ground, his black and green robes disappearing along with the mask, revealing King Vengelis. He was ushered away by the Shintaro guards.
Cole fell to the ground and into the arms of Master Wu and Vania. He felt the power fading away, along with his adrenaline. His body felt weak, and - oh, was he tired. His eyelids felt heavy, threatening to close. He felt his body shift as Vania passed him over to Wu completely.
"Cole, I need you to stay awake for me, okay? Don't sleep," Master Wu commanded gently.
Cole fought the sleepiness, but it got harder as his eyelids kept getting heavier and heavier. He heard voices around him, but he was too tired to make them out, and besides, his head felt like it could barely process a thought. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if someone had stabbed through his heart. He looked down, seeing no blade. He relaxed a little.
His eyelids started to droop more and more, but he was startled awake from a gentle shaking on his shoulders.
"Don't sleep, Cole," Master Wu said.
Cole was beginning to become irritated. Why couldn't he sleep? Can't he sleep and then the team could celebrate victory? After he was well rested?
"Don't fall asleep Cole, I need you to stay awake for me," Master Wu commanded again, gently shaking his shoulders.
Cole tried, but finally, his eyelids became too heavy, and he closed his eyes and let the darkness come as his body went limp.