Announcer: "We are stretching into the final rounds! For our next fighters, we have the being of light, Solarius, and the returning fighter, Dusk & Dawn!" The crowd roared loudly for the previous winner.
Solarius: He manifested on his side of the arena, summoning his greatsword and driving it into the ground before him. His head lowered slightly, hands resting on the hilt as if in quiet prayer.
Dusk & Dawn: He appeared in his Solar Eclipse form rather than his divided state, gripping his blade as dark and light energy swirled together around him. "A pleasure to meet the brother of my provider."
Sophi: "Oh, fuck...I don't like this..." she whimpered, rising to her feet and shuffling up to the barrier. She placed her hands against it and leaned forward, trying to get the best view she could. "Mmh...I want them both to be okay...Dusk & Dawn isn't all that bad...", echoed through her mind.
Star: "It'll be okay, Sophi. Don't worry, Solarius has this handled." His smile faded slightly as he heard her words. If only forgiveness were that simple.
Solarius: He raised his sword, staring down at Dusk. "So you are his right-hand soldier, hmm? Or does he just label you that so he can manipulate you?"
Sophi: "Star, why did your smile drop?" she asked softly, walking up to him and placing her hand on his arm, looking up at him with concern. She glanced toward the arena for a moment, hearing Solarius speak and hoping they would not start fighting just yet.
Star: "I don't know if I can forgive Dusk for what he did..." He gripped the railing tightly. "I feel something other than forgiveness, and I don't know what it is..."
Sophi: "Oh, you heard that...?" She gently wrapped her arms around Star, rubbing his back and trying to comfort him as much as she could. "You can talk to me about it... about anything." She turned her head toward the arena again as Solarius spoke, curiosity flickering across her face at him knowing Dusk & Dawn's real name, before looking back up at Star.
Dusk & Dawn: He shook his head slowly. "I simply owe everything to him. He gave me the power to help my village..."
Solarius: "Ren, you murdered your entire family because he told you to. Burned your entire village to the ground, all because he said to. What help did you bring?" He tightened his grip on the handle of his sword.
Star: "Let's just pay attention to this fight for now. We don't have time to discuss small things right now..." He dismissed it, his focus locking entirely onto the arena.
Dusk & Dawn: The flames around his body flared brighter. "You...dare talk about what I've had to do?!"
Solarius: He appeared in front of him in an instant, bringing his sword down and pinning Dusk beneath the weight of it. "...I know more than you could ever understand. That is why I will not kill you on this day. Yield."
Sophi: She frowned slightly at Star, her hand shifting to his lower back before turning her attention back to the fight. "Talk to me when you're comfortable, Star...please..." she whispered.
Star: He remained silent, eyes fixed on the arena.
Dusk & Dawn: He suddenly blitzed behind Solarius, driving a kick into his back, but Solarius did not move an inch.
Solarius: "You are probably wondering why you cannot use any of your abilities...or hurt me." A brilliant light shone from his body, and as it dimmed, he stood directly before Dusk once more. "You are also a piece of me. You are half light. You cannot hurt me." His sword flew back into his hand as he raised it once more. "Yield."
Sophi: She stared down at the two in the arena, watching them closely with a curious tilt of her head. "W-Why does Solarius keep saying 'yield'...?" she wondered aloud, hoping someone would answer.
Radna: "He doesn't want to kill him. Solarius isn't a murderer. Never killed anything in his entire life. Not intentionally, at least."
Noctum: He rose slowly from his throne, lifting one hand as several guards began moving at his command. "Did you really think I would give you the same treatment, Solarius? You were never meant to fight Dusk & Dawn truly. He is expendable, nothing more." His voice echoed coldly through the arena.
"This was merely a test to see if my nullifiers work on you... and they do." At his signal, the guards began pulling open a massive gate off to the side. It groaned as it opened, thick black smoke spilling out from within.
Star: He suddenly staggered back, his breathing becoming uneven as his eyes locked onto the gate.
Radna: He immediately turned and rushed to him. "Star? What is it?!"
Sophi: "U-uhhh!??" she yelped, halfway panicking as she stared at the gate, black smoke spilling out endlessly. "W-what the fuck is that, what's going on???!!"
Star: "I-It's him, it's Him!" He looked at Radna with panic in his eyes, his body trembling.
Radna: He took a step back, his gaze immediately darting down to the gate. "Solarius! Get out of there!"
Sophi: She turned toward Star as he freaked out, her eyes widening with fear alongside him. She had never seen him like this, and never thought she would. "W-Who, what's who???" she whined, curling up closer to the group. "G-Guys??!!"
Solarius: He looked up at the others, then his instincts screamed at him to move. He leapt away from Dusk & Dawn just as something shot forward and stabbed into Dusk & Dawn's chest.
Dusk & Dawn: His hands shook as his eclipse energy weakened. "W-what is this?!..." He looked over his shoulder as something slowly rose taller behind him, lifting him into the air.
Lucium: "Hello, my beautiful children~!" His voice carried a twisted excitement as he drove his hand deeper, clearly savoring the moment. He ripped Dusk & Dawn in half, almost lingering in the motion, both pieces falling into the pool below.
Sophi: She shrieked as she saw Dusk & Dawn get impaled, her gaze slowly trailing upward to the thing responsible. The moment she saw him, she froze completely, her body going stiff with fear. "Whh...what the fuck..."
Lucium: His neck snapped upward toward her. "Hello... tool~. I was wondering when you would get born~." He clawed into his own skin, dragging blood into his hands as a wide, unsettling smile spread across his face.
Sophi: Her eyes widened as the being looked up and spoke directly to her, a chill crawling through her entire body. "M-Me...!?" she whimpered.
Solarius: He raised his sword and slammed it into the ground, drawing the creature's attention. "Beast! Thy battle is with me! Face me now-"
Lucium: He scurried in front of him instantly and snapped his neck, watching his body collapse. "Should've gotten rid of your inside body~."
Sophi: She screamed as Lucium moved and snapped Solarius' neck, watching him collapse lifelessly. "N-NO!!!" Tears streamed down her face as her body shook.
Lucium: He laughed, looking back up at her. "You feel that? All of you? That's fear." He pointed toward Noctum. "You see all of this? I told you I was better than you~. Tell your god to kiss my ass~."
Solarius: He slowly sat up, his neck snapping back into place. "Well, that was quite unexpected." He raised his sword as a shield of light formed, blocking Lucium's next movement.
Lucium: He dragged his fingers across the shield, his grin widening. "Oh, how I love how it burns!" The skin around his mouth tore slightly as he smiled. He raised both hands and slammed down, crushing Solarius into a burst of blood.
Solarius: He reformed behind Lucium, immediately driving his blade into his back.
Lucium: His body arched unnaturally, letting out a warped sound that almost resembled a moan. "Oh, how fun! You respawn~." He twisted around and slashed Solarius, his own body already repairing itself. "Yeah, it's regenerating. Fuck your rules~."
Solarius: He gripped the handle of his blade tightly, but his hands began to tremble despite himself. Black smoke curled around his armor, slipping through the cracks of light as his stance faltered just slightly.
Multhi: He leaned forward, gripping the railing. "What's going on?!"
Star: He hugged his arms, shoulders tense as he stared down at the arena. "Lucium is using fear to manipulate Solarius..." His voice wavered slightly. "Just like he did to me once."
Lucium: He took another step forward, dragging his fingers along his own arm, but suddenly his head snapped to the side as something dashed past him. A sharp impact cracked across his face, forcing him to stagger half a step. He slowly turned his head back, grin twitching. "What is this~?"
Lightning spiraled violently into a tight sphere nearby, crackling and distorting the air as it expanded. A figure stepped out from within it, boots touching the ground as the electricity coiled around his body.
Aiden: He straightened, rolling his shoulder as the lightning flickered off him, eyes locked onto Lucium. "You and I have unfinished business, beast."
Star: His eyes widened, his grip loosening slightly as the fear in his chest eased just a bit. "Aiden?!"
Sophi: She jumped to her feet the moment she saw Aiden, hopping in place a little. "Aiden!!! You're okay!!!" she cheered, a huge smile spreading across her face as most of her fear melted away. She leaned forward against the railing, eyes locked onto him.
Aiden: He lifted his hand, and a rusty fire axe formed within his grip, dried blood still staining the blade. He adjusted his hold on it, shoulders steady despite the tension in his body.
Lucium: He laughed, clutching his chest as if amused beyond measure. "Look at how the god of life cowers in my presence! And you come at me with that?!" His grin stretched wider. "You are still afraid of me."
Aiden: He took a slow step forward, tightening his grip on the axe. "You're right. I am afraid. I am horrified by you, even now as I stand here." His voice stayed firm despite it. "But I have the spirits of thousands on my back right now. It is they who brought me back from death's grip. It is they who give me the strength and bravery to overcome you." He raised the axe slightly. "I will end you with the same weapon Andrews did many, many years ago."
Lucium: He raised his brows, tilting his head with twisted curiosity. "Oh? Is that so~?" He spread his arms slightly, almost inviting it. "Well then...come at me, child."
Aiden: He walked toward Lucium slowly, golden lightning surging around his body with each step, his grip tightening on the axe.
Lucium: "You know, typically, only a Corvex being can actually harm another one. You are nothing special..." Aiden suddenly dashed past him, a golden slash cutting clean through his arm and severing it instantly, the wound glowing with radiant light. "What?!"
Aiden: He stopped behind him, turning his head slightly as lightning flickered across his body. "I learned a lot from my father, not the one you took away from me, but the one who stands up there, watching me stand against the likes of you. He taught me faith prevails against all evil, no matter how strong it is." He dashed again, cutting him once more, then again, and again, each movement faster than the last. He ripped off his metal helmet, revealing an expression filled with strength and resolve. "I am not the same ghost you abandoned in that town."
Lucium: He glitched, his smile never fading as he spat blood into the pool below, the liquid moving unnaturally through the water. "Hehe~ Indeed you aren't."
Aiden: He continued dashing, golden light flashing relentlessly as cut after cut landed in rapid succession. Solarius snapped out of his state, watching as Lucium's body was carved down until only a single glowing red eye remained. Aiden stepped forward, staring down at it. "I know all of this was a game for you, a trick, and yet you remain as nothing more than a glowing red eye. You will return, and I will be here when you do, standing before you just as he did." He lifted his foot and stomped down, crushing the eye completely.
Announcer: "The...the return of Aiden was unexpected! He has won this round against darkness, Solarius being only a spectator! The team of light needs only to win one more round! And as requested for the final, Multhi against Vulkan!!!"
Sophi: She bounced up and down, clapping and cheering as she watched Aiden win his fight against the creature. A small part of her still lingered on what it said to her, her excitement dimming just a little as the thought echoed in her mind.
Her mood dropped completely when she heard the announcer. "Oh, fuck, that's..." she trailed off, eyes widening. She quickly shuffled over to Multhi, gently taking his hand into her own. "A-Are you going to be okay...?"
Multhi: "I don't have much of a choice..." He tightened his grip on his staff before slamming it firmly against the ground. "But if he can be brave, then so can I."