The Arena Reforms
The darkness inside the
Zephyros Gym
settled once more.
Not gone—
But calmer.
Controlled.
The shifting shadows slowed, forming a stable battlefield beneath
Elior.
Across from him—
Noctra stood still.
Watching.
Measuring.
"…Now we continue."
Her voice echoed softly.
"Same battle."
A pause.
"But a different result… perhaps."
Elior stepped forward.
Calm.
Focused.
No hesitation left.
"…Lunashade."
Lunashade stepped beside him.
Its aura was different now.
Still dark—
But steady.
Listening.
Noctra raised her hand.
"Umbryss."
A ripple in the shadows—
Umbryss re-emerged.
Silent.
Watching.
BEGIN!
"Umbryss—Shadow Drift."
It vanished again.
Just like before.
But This Time…
Elior didn't panic.
Didn't look around wildly.
"…We know this."
Controlled Awareness
"Lunashade—feel it."
Instead of searching—
Lunashade closed its eyes.
Its shadow spread outward.
Touching the battlefield.
Umbryss struck from below—
But—
Lunashade moved before impact.
A perfect dodge.
Noctra's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…So you learned."
Balanced Darkness
"Now—strike!"
Lunashade attacked—
Not wildly.
Not uncontrollably.
A focused burst of shadow energy.
Umbryss reappeared—
Blocking.
But pushed back.
Elior stepped forward.
"…Don't let it control the field."
"Take it instead."
Lunashade's aura expanded—
Not violently—
But deliberately.
Shadows responded.
Not resisting anymore.
The Difference
Before—
Darkness controlled Lunashade.
Now—
Lunashade guided it.
Umbryss attacked again—
Faster.
Sharper.
But Lunashade matched it.
Move for move.
"…We're not afraid of it anymore."
A faint smile appeared.
"…Because we understand it."
Noctra Pushes Further
"Then prove it."
Her voice sharpened slightly.
"Umbryss—Void Collapse."
The entire arena darkened instantly.
Shadows rose—
Crushing inward from all directions.
No escape.
No space.
Elior felt it again.
That overwhelming force.
That suffocating darkness.
But This Time…
He didn't hesitate.
"…Lunashade."
A pause.
"…don't fight it."
"…Become part of it."
For a moment—
Everything froze.
Then—
Lunashade moved.
Not against the shadows—
But within them.
Flowing.
Blending.
The crushing darkness collapsed—
But instead of trapping Lunashade—
It passed through it.
Umbryss was exposed.
Elior's voice rang clearly:
"Now—end this!"
Lunashade surged forward—
A concentrated shadow attack.
Clean.
Controlled.
Precise.
Impact
Umbryss took the hit directly—
Its form shattered—
Dissolving into darkness.
Silence
The arena froze.
Shadows stilled.
Result
WINNER — ELIOR
Umbryss slowly reformed beside Noctra.
Unharmed—
But defeated.
Noctra stepped forward.
Her expression calm.
But different.
"…You didn't suppress the abyss."
A pause.
"…You accepted it."
Elior nodded slightly.
"…It's part of Lunashade."
He looked at his partner.
"…So it's part of us."
Noctra raised her hand.
A dark emblem formed—
Shaped like a crescent shadow.
Umbral Badge
She handed it to Elior.
"You've earned it."
Before turning away—
She spoke one last time:
"…But remember this."
A pause.
"The Abyssal Sovereign…"
Her eyes briefly met Lunashade's.
"…will return."
Elior stepped out of the gym.
The wind of Zephyros Town rushed back around him.
Alive.
Free.
He looked at the badge in his hand.
Then at Lunashade.
"…We're getting stronger."
High above the town—
Hidden in shadows—
A figure watched.
Umbrael
A faint smile appeared.
"…Perfect."
A pause.
His eyes glowed faintly.
"…The vessel is stabilizing."
And the journey continues...