"Sunshine. I didn't expect you to show up," Eclipse said, her voice calm but tinged with annoyance. A small, irritated smile played on her lips.
"Hah! Of course, I'll show up, you stupid Sovereign Sword," Sunshine shot back, her tone dripping with frustration as she grins. She glanced over her shoulder at Mixarnt, who was struggling to stand, his body torn and bleeding. He looked like a walking corpse, his muscles shredded, and his strength nearly gone. Without hesitation, Sunshine activated a healing skill, a golden light enveloping Mixarnt. Though it didn't fully heal him, it was enough to mend some of his torn muscles and allow him to move more freely.
"Thanks, Sun! To be honest, if you didn't answer the summon, I would have died. Haha!" Mixarnt said, his grin returning despite his dire condition.
"Shut up and get the orb, idiot. I could only heal you that much as I can't shift focus in front of her," Sunshine snapped, though there was a hint of fondness and worry in her voice. She turned her attention back to Eclipse, summoning her spirit weapon, the Solar Edge, in her right hand while holding her Solaris Shield in her left. The blade glowed with radiant energy, its power matching Eclipse's celestial might.
Eclipse, unfazed by Sunshine's arrival, summoned her own spirit weapon. "Come to me, Celestial Radiance," she declared, her voice echoing with divine authority. Her sword materialized in a crackle of celestial energy, its silvery light contrasting with Sunshine's golden radiance.
The two Sovereigns faced each other, their auras clashing in a visible shockwave that shook the room. The air crackled with energy as they prepared to battle, their weapons glowing with unparalleled power.
The colosseum erupted with cheers, the spectators overwhelmed with joy.
"Mixarnt!" Rosalind exclaimed, her relieved smile shining as she saw that he had been saved by General Sunshine.
"Big sis! Mixarnt is alive! Alive!" Alyssia cried, tears streaming down her face. She had been so worried just moments ago. Beside her, Elyssia and Mika let out sighs of relief, smiling warmly.
"Mixarnt is alive!!!" Liva shouted, jumping up and down with excitement. Ewan and the others joined in, their voices filled with celebration. Meanwhile, Razen, exhausted, sat down on the ground, exhaling deeply—relieved beyond words that he hadn't died.
Despite the save, Mitchel's expression remained tense. "Still, General Sunshine isn't that strong."
"Come on! She's the Sovereign Shield!" Rise countered with a grin.
"That's not the issue, Rise," Mitchel responded, shaking her head. "Unlike General Eclipse, whose power is purely offensive, General Sunshine's abilities are divided into three categories: defense, offense, and support. While her defensive capabilities are formidable, General Eclipse will eventually break through. Just because she's called the Sovereign Shield doesn't mean she's an exact match for Eclipse in raw power. Sunshine specializes in versatility—she wins in the number of abilities she possesses, but her true role is more suited for tanking and support rather than direct combat."
Rise and Razen exchanged glances before nodding in understanding.
"That just means Mixarnt needs to reach the orb as fast as possible while General Sunshine keeps General Eclipse occupied," Razen concluded, determination flaring in her eyes.
Sunshine was the first to move. She lunged at Eclipse, her Solar Blade slashing through the air with blinding speed. "Solar Strike!" she shouted, her attack leaving a trail of golden light.
Eclipse countered effortlessly, her Celestial Radiance meeting Sunshine's blade in a shower of sparks. "Lunar Parry," she said, her voice calm as she deflected the attack. She followed up with a swift "Crescent Slash," her sword arcing toward Sunshine with deadly precision.
Sunshine raised her Solaris Shield, the attack deflecting harmlessly. She retaliated with a powerful shield bash, forcing Eclipse to step back. "Radiant Burst!" Sunshine shouted, unleashing a wave of golden energy from her shield.
Eclipse leaped into the air, dodging the attack with grace. She descended with a devastating "Lunar Strike," her sword glowing with silvery light as it descended toward Sunshine.
Sunshine blocked the attack with her shield, the impact sending shockwaves through the room. She pushed back, her Solar Blade glowing brighter as she prepared her next move. "Solar Flare!" she declared, unleashing a blinding burst of radiant energy.
Eclipse countered with "Celestial Barrier," a shimmering shield of celestial energy forming around her. The Solar Flare collided with the barrier, the resulting explosion shaking the room.
The two Sovereigns continued their clash, their movements a blur of golden and silvery light. Each strike was met with an equally powerful counter, their skills perfectly matched. The room trembled under the force of their battle, the air filled with the sound of clashing blades and erupting energy.
Eclipse vanished, reappearing mid-air above Sunshine, sword raised high. "Lunar Sovereign Sword Style: Crescent Descent!" she declared, her blade cutting downward in an arc that split the very air.
Sunshine lifted her Solaris Shield, meeting the attack head-on. A shockwave exploded from the impact, shattering the stone beneath them. Sparks flew as Eclipse pushed down with all her might, her lunar eyes intensify with cold focus.
"Tsk." Sunshine gritted her teeth, then with a powerful shove, she deflected Eclipse's blade to the side and countered instantly—a horizontal slash aimed at Eclipse's ribs.
But Eclipse was already gone.
She reappeared behind Sunshine, thrusting her sword toward her exposed back.
Sunshine twisted just in time, slamming her shield backward with immense force. The impact sent Eclipse skidding across the ground, but she quickly flipped back onto her feet, her expression unreadable.
"Not bad," Eclipse admitted, gripping her sword tighter. "But it's not enough."
Sunshine smirked, rolling her shoulders. "You always say that, but you've never fought me when I'm serious."
She raised her Solar Edge, the weapon beginning to glow, radiating with the power of the sun itself.
"Solar Sovereign Style: Blazing Dawn!"
With a single swing, an arc of pure golden fire erupted from her blade, surging toward Eclipse with terrifying speed.
Eclipse narrowed her eyes. Instead of dodging, she raised Celestial Radiance and slashed downward.
"Lunar Sovereign Sword Style: Eclipse Divider!"
A crescent-shaped slash of pure lunar energy tore through the golden flames, slicing the attack cleanly in half. The two forces collided, igniting into an explosion of gold and silver that shattered the remaining pillars around them.
Sunshine and Eclipse rushed forward again, clashing in the center of the battlefield. Blades met in rapid succession—strike, parry, counter, evade. Their movements were too fast for the average eye to follow, their battle a blur of gold and silver streaks.
Sunshine pressed forward, her Solaris Shield glowing with divine protection. She bashed it toward Eclipse, aiming to break her stance, but Eclipse twisted her body, using the momentum to spin and deliver a powerful upward slash.
The impact sent Sunshine flying backward, but she flipped mid-air, landing with a skid. She wiped blood from the corner of her mouth and grinned. "Now that's more like it."
Eclipse exhaled, her sword crackling with raw power. "Don't test me, Sunshine. I won't hold back."
Sunshine twirled her Solar Edge, stepping forward with confidence. "Then don't!"
Their divine auras flared, the ground beneath them cracked, and in the next instant—
They clashed once more.