Be careful with what you say when you aren't 'being yourself'... It could not only hurt someone, but you could lose them forever.
Location: Gelu Dungeon Complex - Zavren's Domain Entrance:
The portal above flared violently. The falling girl reached downward, her voice trembling with desperate hope.
"Rikushi... come here..."
Erebus, his vision blinded by the swirling light, instinctively raised his corrupted black saber.
The blade shot upward--piercing through the falling silhouette.
SHHHHK--
Blood sprayed across Erebus' face. The light dimmed enough for him to finally see.
There, impaled on the end of his saber... was Hoshina.
Her lips quivered, but even through the searing pain, her hands weakly reached forward and latched onto his chestplate.
"Rikushi..." she whispered again, her voice fragile yet resolute.
The corrupted voice of Erebus snarled in confusion, but Hoshina's grip only tightened.
A second voice--calm, ancient, and commanding--chanted from the portal's edge:
"Let the twin souls anchor, divide the burden, cleanse the vessel. Half shall remain, half shall ascend..."
Suddenly, from above, descending like a shadow from the domain's rooftop--Jin appeared.
His boots touched down silently as his hands moved through the complex sigils in the air.
Valentine, Blaidd, and Glonk gasped from across the battlefield, unable to comprehend the sight before them.
"Jin?!" Blaidd shouted. "You--how--!?"
Jin offered no immediate reply.
He focused, directing streams of radiant light down upon Erebus and Hoshina.
The black fog began to tear away from Erebus like peeling skin, drawn into swirling orbs that floated between them. The screams of darkness roared as they fought back, but Hoshina's grip never loosened.
Her hair shifted under the transformation--long strands fading into dark blue, her eyes turning into a brilliant midnight blue, and black cloth-like energy wrapping around her form. The once gentle Hoshina now stood, fused with pure shadow, transformed into an entity of darkness.
She had become: Nyx.
Rikushi's body collapsed to one knee as the final streams of black energy left him.
He gasped for breath, coughing violently, but his eyes slowly returned to their deep blue--himself once again.
Hoshina, fully transformed, held onto him--and together, the remaining darkness still linked them, swirling in a visible chain of shadow and light between their hearts.
The battlefield fell silent.
Zavren, watching from the observation chamber, slammed his fist into the armrest of his throne.
"Close the doors."
Massive stone walls began to seal the deeper chambers of the daemon's lair.
His minions scattered like roaches, disappearing into hidden passageways, leaving the remaining Nova Concordia Nexus forces standing victorious--but exhausted.
Location: Gelu Hallow - Hotel Room | One Day Later:
The warm afternoon sun peeked through the window curtains.
Rikushi's eyelids fluttered open, his chest rising and falling steadily.
Hoshina stirred beside him, blinking softly, her dark blue hair cascading across the white sheets.
At the foot of the bed, Valentine sat in a chair with crossed arms, giving a big grin.
"Finally, you're awake, you dumb bastard."
Blaidd stood beside him, eyes damp but smiling.
"You gave us one hell of a scare, Rikushi."
Iria, arms crossed, leaned against the wall.
"If you ever pull that self-sacrificing act again..." she smirked slightly, closing her eyes, "at least send a postcard next time."
Glonk entered the room with LuLu following.
Glonk let out a hearty chuckle.
"You both did good. Really good."
LuLu rushed over, hugging both Rikushi and Hoshina tightly.
"You've reached God-status now... Don't forget who you are, no matter how strong you get."
Just then, Jin stepped inside the room, calm as always.
Blaidd eyed him with suspicion, but curiosity won out.
"Why, Jin? Why now? How did you even know when to come?"
Jin simply smiled faintly.
"I always know. When the threads begin to fray, the weaver steps in to repair and rebuild."
The room filled with a mixture of laughter, relief, and quiet awe.
But though they had survived, everyone knew:
This was far from over.