Mixarnt and Lunar Eclipse faced off, their auras clashing in a visible shockwave that sent ripples through the air. Lunar Eclipse, her black armor gleaming and her solar eclipse eyes glowing with cold intensity, raised her sword.
"Lunar Swordsmanship: Crescent Slash!" she declared, her voice sharp and commanding. Her blade arced through the air, releasing a crescent-shaped wave of lunar energy that surged toward Mixarnt with blinding speed.
Mixarnt, his grin never wavering, braced himself. He channeled his overflowing mana into his wooden sword, the weapon glowing with a fierce green light. As the Crescent Slash neared, he swung his sword with all his might, meeting the attack head-on. The collision created a deafening explosion, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the room and kicking up a cloud of dust.
But Lunar Eclipse wasn't done. Before the dust could settle, she followed up with another devastating technique. "Sovereign Swordsmanship: Sky Destroyer!" she announced, her voice echoing with authority. Her sword glowed with an intense silver light as she unleashed a massive wave of energy, far more powerful than her previous attack. The sheer force of the Sky Destroyer tore through the air, its destructive power aimed directly at Mixarnt.
Mixarnt's eyes widened as he realized the magnitude of the attack. Even at 30% of her power, Lunar Eclipse's follow-up was overwhelming. He gritted his teeth and poured his mana into his defense, creating a barrier of energy around himself. The Sky Destroyer slammed into him, the impact sending him skidding backward, his feet digging into the ground as he struggled to hold his ground.
The room shook violently, the walls cracking under the force of the clash. When the dust finally cleared, Mixarnt stood, his body battered but still standing. His wooden sword was cracked, and his breathing was heavy, but his grin remained. "Not bad," he said, his voice strained but defiant. "But I'm not done yet!"
Lunar Eclipse's expression remained cold, but there was a flicker of surprise in her eyes. She hadn't expected him to withstand her Sovereign Swordsmanship. "Impressive," she admitted, her tone icy. "But let's see how long you can last."
Mixarnt didn't waste any time. "Mana Surge X5!" he shouted, his body glowing with an intense green light as his speed and power skyrocketed to 200%. In an instant, he closed the distance between them, appearing right in front of Lunar Eclipse. Before she could react, he unleashed a point-blank Mana Wave, the sheer force of the attack slamming into her and sending her flying across the room.
Lunar Eclipse crashed into the wall, her black armor cracked and her body bleeding heavily. She struggled to stand, her solar eclipse eyes glaring at Mixarnt with a mix of anger and disbelief. She hadn't expected him to push her this far. Mixarnt on the other hand dispelled the Mana surge as quickly as he used it to not drain his mana.
In the grand hall, Eclipse, the real one, giggled softly, her Lunar eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and frustration. Sunshine, standing beside her, raised an eyebrow. "Hey, what's so funny? Aren't you disappointed that Mixarnt didn't choose to be an Aether Knight?" she asked.
Eclipse's smile widened, but there was a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Oh, I am disappointed. So much so that I wouldn't mind cutting him," she said, her voice dripping with intensity, momentarily forgetting her vow as moonlight. The aura around her shifted, becoming heavier and more oppressive, causing everyone in the grand hall to feel the weight of her emotions. It was clear that Eclipse was both angry and amused, a dangerous combination.
Sunshine sighed, shaking her head. She was dumbfounded by Eclipse's reaction. While it was no secret that Eclipse had taken an interest in Mixarnt—even planning to recruit him into her squad—Sunshine hadn't expected her to be this... obsessed. As Moonlight, Eclipse loved Mixarnt, but as Eclipse, the General of Aetherlight, she was clearly annoyed by his audacity. It also didn't help that Moonlight could lock her feelings when she is Eclipse.
Back in the wide room, Mixarnt stood tall, his breathing heavy but his grin unwavering. "Sorry, lady. Guess it's my win!" he said, his tone playful as he turned toward the shining orb. He began walking toward it, his steps confident despite the exhaustion creeping into his body.
But just as he was about to reach the orb, a sudden shift in the air made him freeze. The room grew colder, the pressure increasing tenfold. Lunar Eclipse's body began to change—her black hair turned silvery white, her cracked black armor disintegrated, and in its place appeared the pristine, shimmering Lunar Armor gown. The transformation was complete, and standing before Mixarnt was no longer the clone but the real Eclipse, her power radiating at 100%.
"Lunar Swordsmanship: Lunar Strike!" Eclipse declared, her voice echoing with authority. Her sword descended in a blinding arc, the attack so fast and powerful that Mixarnt barely managed to dodge. The ground where he had been standing moments ago was obliterated, leaving a deep crater in its wake, the orb flew and landed somewhere inside the wide room.
Mixarnt's grin faltered for the first time as he felt the full weight of Eclipse's aura. It was suffocating, as if his very existence was being crushed under her overwhelming presence. His body trembled, and for a moment, he felt as though he was disintegrating. But he shook it off, his determination reigniting.
Eclipse stood tall, her silvery hair flowing like moonlight, her Lunar eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity. She smiled at Mixarnt mischievously, her expression one of anticipation and excitement. "You've done well, Mixarnt," she said, her voice soft but carrying an edge of challenge. "But the real battle begins now."
She took a fighting stance, her sword gleaming with lunar energy. Mixarnt, though exhausted, couldn't help but grin back. "Heh, I was hoping you'd show up," he said, gripping his wooden sword tightly. "Let's see how far I can go against the real you."
"Arena Shift," Eclipse said with a smile. The vast room expanded to twenty times its original size, its walls becoming sturdier. Yet, as it was a domain within the arena, the outside remained unchanged.
The colosseum was in an uproar as General Eclipse, the most beloved and feared figure in Aetherlight, stood in the wide room, her presence commanding the attention of everyone present. The audience cheered wildly, their excitement reaching a fever pitch at the sight of their idol in the flesh. But for Mixarnt's friends and colleagues, the mood was far from celebratory.
"Mixarnt... Please be safe." Rosalind murmured as she watches from her seat.
"W-what the!? General Eclipse in the flesh!? This is bad!" Razen exclaimed, her voice trembling with worry for her boyfriend.
"Not just bad! REAL BAD!" Rise added, his face contorted in fear. Despite Eclipse's ethereal beauty, her aura was overwhelmingly dangerous, like a goddess of destruction.
"Ugh... He should have just grabbed the crystal when he had the chance," Mitchel muttered, her expression filled with concern.
Erenesto, however, refused to give up hope. "Still... I still believe he can overcome this! GO, MIXARNT!" he shouted, his voice filled with determination.
Liva and the others looked at Erenesto, their expressions serious, before nodding in agreement. They joined in, their voices rising in unison. "GO, MIXARNT! YOU CAN DO IT!"
On the spectator seats, Alyssia cheered with a bright smile, her faith in Mixarnt unwavering. Elyssia and Mika, however, exchanged worried glances. They knew the stakes were higher than ever.
In the grand hall, the atmosphere was tense. Sunshine, her fists clenched, stepped forward. "That Eclipse! Mixarnt has already proven himself! What the heck is she doing? I'll go and stop her now!" she declared, her voice filled with frustration and worry.
But before she could leave, Lyandra, Eclipse's mother and a respected advisor, stopped her coldly. "No. You can't leave, General Sunshine. What Mixarnt did is unacceptable and a disgrace to the Aether Knight Trials. Eclipse knows that too," Lyandra said, her tone icy and unyielding.
The king and the others remained silent, unable to argue with Lyandra's logic. Even Arthur, the former king and Mixarnt's first mentor, didn't say a word, his expression grim.
Sunshine gritted her teeth, her frustration boiling over. She couldn't believe they were willing to let Eclipse potentially harm—or even kill—Mixarnt. She knew that if Eclipse went too far, it would take an emotional toll on her, even if Eclipse hadn't fully accepted her feelings for Mixarnt yet.
"Damn it," Sunshine muttered under her breath. Gundrik, her father, sighed heavily, knowing there was nothing he could do to intervene.