Upon entering the dome, Aelin and Zale have caught up. Realizing this dome was no shield. But rather, a domain. The Fae of Mendacity. Though, standing their ground as they knew this battle can go only one way out of two options, the domain suddenly began to shake. Zale backed up, trying to balance herself, but the moment she had done so, purple colored spikes quickly arose from the ground. Trapping the poor girl in place, unable to move.
"Aelin!" Zale called out, trying to reach her hand out. But the spikes just slowly became sharper, and longer. As if they were trying to threaten or almost pierce Zale.
"Zale… stay there!" Aelin yelled back, quickly turning. Yet her body froze as Fae's malicious laugh echoed.
"Don't bother moving dear girl… the more you move the more the spikes catch on and maybe you'll lose a limb." Fae commented.
Fae was seen elegantly sitting on a pair of shadow colored vines as they were slowly guiding her down to the ground like a pair of swings. Though her appearance seemed to have changed. It was almost like she had been given a boost of magic. Her aura was much more overwhelming than before, her eyes slanted while her glowing eyes and soft but sickening smile haunted the feeling of the domain.
"Enough… I won't let you do any more harm." Aelin said, trying to not show her anger.
"That's if you can…" Fae smiled, clearly mocking her.
Aelin's frown deepened, grabbing a hold of her pocket watch that was still clipped onto her tie. It glowed brightly while forming back into its longsword form. Knowing Aelin had called for a runback, Fae reached her arm out as she summoned a large scythe.
"Aelin—"
"I can handle this. Promise."
Zale gulped, slowly nodding as she knew this wouldn't go well.
Fae stood up from her vines as she slowly began to approach Aelin as she had done the same. But as a few moments had passed, the two finally dashed towards each other. Both of their arms swung quickly, trying to be faster than one another as their weapons clashed against one another. Fae quickly broke their short clash as Fae spun her scythe behind her body before swinging it back towards Aelin, aiming directly towards her neck. Aelin quickly responded, raising her sword Chronos in a reversal grip as both blades clashed against one another. Aelin quickly jumped back after slowing down Fae's attempted swing, distancing herself before Aelin began to glow a bright aura. Prepared to dash at her now enhancing the speed of her combat with her time manipulation, she quickly got into a crouching stance.
However it seemed to be interrupted as immediately Aelin found herself much closer to Fae than she thought. Finding herself moments just in front of Fae who had swung her scythe at her once more, Aelin quickly acted. Pushing herself forward to avoid getting pinned to the ground, Aelin pushed Fae back. Causing the two to land on the debris that was floating around the domain as the two continued their clashes. Trying their best to not get hit by one another. Aelin soon ended their clashing however, raising her left knee up, striking Fae in the stomach with her knee as it sent Fae back.
"Tch–!" Fae grunted, her fist clenching onto her scythe to take control once more.
But due to the enhancement on Aelin's speed, she quickly dashed up to Fae while her sword was positioned against her right waist. Though Aelin was ready to fire a devastating swing, she glanced at Fae's widened face. Not only did she spot surprise and shock, but the same fearful expression. That same fearful expression Aelin had tried to protect. Aelin's eyes widened softly, her grip suddenly decreasing as all the strength she had put onto Chronos quickly faded. There. Her hesitation had caused her downfall.
Chronos suddenly fell from Aelin's hands, dropping to the ground as Fae's widened mouth shifted into her malicious smirk. Leaning forward, she quickly swung her scythe in multiple directions, catching Aelin into a flurry of slashes. Aelin closed her eyes tightly, yelping in pain as she was sent back by the force of the slashes. Crashing onto the ground, Aelin laid on her stomach before slowly getting up to her knees. From the damage of the slashes, Aelin's buttoned shirt had torn, revealing a bit of her black top she had underneath.
I'm… hesitating… Why? If I hesitate, the city of Reverie will die… But I'm not strong enough. Aren't I?
The light in Aelin's eyes began to fade, her mind only racing back to the memory whereas she was betrayed. The moment she was pushed off the cliff by Fae, but the saddened look on Fae's face.
I failed to protect you… even though I just wanted us to escape that hell hole. I'm so sorry. Fae—
Aelin!
… That voice? Again? No… you're not the one I met when I was a child.
Aelin!!
… Zale?
The darkness seemed to shatter as it seemed like light poured heavily into Aelin's world. Her eyes began to widen as her body seemed to feel so much lighter than before. Slowly turning to Zale, she had realized Zale had found her way out of the spikes at the cost of multiple tears on her skin.
"Zale…?" Aelin groaned.
In a desperate hope, Zale had bursted her aura with all that she had charged left. But instead of allowing it to manifest inside of her, Zale had managed to transfer her aura towards Aelin, her body glowing brightly.
"Reach… your full potential. Protect those. Live on for them!" Zale cried out.
Aein's eyes widened a bit, slowly getting up before her eyes began to slant. She couldn't give up now. She told herself to live on for everyone she used to hold close to. Her companions. Xiu-Lan. Zale. Atsuji. Amore. Everybody. Fae's expression began to drop, seeing the transfer of aura. In response she quickly dashed forward, raising her scythe.
"NO!" Fae cried out.
"I will live on… for everyone. As my duty right now… is to put you in your place!" Aelin yelled out, turning her body towards Fae.
But within that moment, a massive halo of a golden clock began to form. Causing a shockwave from it's appearance as Aelin's aura began to blaze furiously across the domain. Knocking both Fae and Zale back by such force. Zale quickly covered her face to avoid dust in her eyes, but the moment she had locked her eyes back onto Aelin, she had notice the sudden change.
[ CHRONOS AWAKENING : WIELDER OF TIME ]
Aelin's aura completely burned away her buttoned shirt, revealing her black top and her glowing Chronos mark on her back. Her eyes seemed to shift as they were now a golden color instead of blue while her sclera blackened. The tips of her fingers and hands blackened as well with golden glowing colored lines on her skin, symbolizing the awakening and energy of Chronos as her white hair with black highlights now had a back fade on the tips of her hair.
Zale's eyes widened by the fact of her use of aura being able to unlock Aelin's full potential. Now that Aelin has accepted it, she has been given another chance.
Fae stood in shock, but knowing things weren't over yet her expression filled with anger because of these stubborn people. Fighting for their lives instead of bowing down on their knees.
Aelin slowly turned to Fae, her eyes slanted as she stared into Fae's dead soul. Reaching her arm out, she summoned Chronos into her hand.
"Let's finish this…"
"Once. And For All!"