The cold air burned their lungs as the two forces clashed beneath the looming frozen pillars. The corrupted army of Zavren surged like a tidal wave, their grotesque forms screeching and snarling as the fighters of Nova Concordia Nexus charged into the fray.
Location: Gelu Dungeon Complex - Zavren's Domain Entrance:
Blaidd's daggers clashed against Erebus' black saber, sparks of dark and Ice magic flashing with every strike. His eyes darted between the ruthless strikes and the once-familiar face now twisted with corruption.
"Rikushi...! Damn it--" Blaidd grunted, dodging another dark arc. "You really are as stubborn as always."
Erebus tilted his head, eyes clouded in void energy. His voice echoed unnaturally.
"That name... means nothing now. He is dead."
Valentine surged forward beside him, his brass knuckles glowing faintly as he landed a punch that sent a burst of air against Erebus' chest-plate. "You remember that time we got trapped in that collapsing mine? You screamed like a little kid until Hoshina smacked you to calm down!"
There was a faint flicker in Erebus' expression--barely noticeable, but there.
Blaidd took advantage, his voice rising with emotion.
"Or the time you tried cooking stew for the whole village--and nearly poisoned us all because you didn't wash the damn herbs first!"
Erebus staggered. His saber lowered briefly as his body twitched.
"ENOUGH."
The daemon's voice layered over Rikushi's own as he forced himself upright, the dark energy surging again, violently shoving both Valentine and Blaidd backwards.
Glonk caught them mid-air, planting his feet with brute strength.
"Keep going!" he growled. "He's still there!"
The battle continued to rage around them. Toku, Kaide, LuLu, Damon, and the others fended off waves of daemon soldiers, while beams of Ice, Light, and Dark Magic shattered the frozen battlefield.
Valentine wiped the blood from his lip, stepping forward again, voice cracking.
"You always talked about protecting us--about making sure none of us went through what you went through. Don't you dare give in to this!"
Erebus' hands shook. The black saber's rose gem flickered for a moment--from blood red to a faint glimmer of pink--before being swallowed again by darkness.
Blaidd's eyes burned with determination as he lunged in again.
"Do you remember that night, on the balcony? When you were scared and lost. You vented to me and LuLu about why you want to be the strongest, so you can protect everybody, especially Hoshina. You want to make sure she doesn't get killed ever again."
He grinned through his tears.
"You stumbled through every word like a nervous idiot. And Hoshina still scolded you anyways, but ended the talk with a kiss."
Erebus let out a guttural roar, holding his head as the voices inside clashed.
The corrupted army paused briefly, sensing the instability in their leader.
Location: Gelu Dungeon Complex - Zavren's Domain:
Zavren narrowed his glowing eyes, his mechanical breathing audible.
"...Not yet. His shell weakens, but the ritual will bind him fully soon."
He gestured toward the successful 'experiment' glowing faintly behind Zavren.
"Prepare the conduit."
Location: Gelu Dungeon Complex - Zavren's Domain Entrance:
The fight reached a fever pitch. Blaidd and Valentine both shouted in unison.
"RIKUSHI--! You are not this monster!"
Erebus screamed again, dropping to one knee as dark energy swirled violently around him, shaking the entire chamber. The corrupted soldiers froze, their forms quivering as if their connection faltered.
Then--
A strange hum.
A sudden pulse of blue and white light spiraled above Erebus. A portal tore open in mid-air, its swirling energy unstable but powerful.
A familiar voice chanted.
"Come forth, the tether is not yet severed. Anchor him, Soul to Soul... Heart to Heart..."
From the portal, a soft but desperate female voice rang out.
"RIKUSHI!!"
A silhouette--slender, falling, reaching downward--appeared.
The faint outline of a girl descending rapidly through the rift, her arms outstretched toward him.
Valentine's eyes widened.
"What the hell--"
Blaidd's jaw opened.
"She-"