Ari's eyes locked onto her clone, and the clone stared back with pure hatred burning in her gaze.
Without hesitation, Ari surged forward at the speed of light.
Ari: "Light Magic: Star Clap!"
With a blur of motion, she spun her blade in a star-shaped assault, slashing at her clone from every angle. But to her dismay, the clone blocked every strike effortlessly. None of Ari's attacks were fast enough.
She skidded to a stop, breathing hard.
Clone Ari: "You really don't know your true potential… let me show you."
Clone Ari: "Light Magic: Octagon Clap!"
Suddenly, she vanished. The room exploded with streaks of light, forming a glowing octagon that shot from wall to wall. Each side of the octagon became a deadly blade of light, striking so quickly that Ari could barely react.
The clone leaped into the air, her blade encircled with glowing rings, then swung down, sending a massive sonic wave of light hurtling toward Ari. The force slammed into her, driving her deep into the ground like a gravitational pull. Ari struggled to maintain her stance, her blade barely holding against the sheer power.
Finally, as she gasped for breath, the attack ceased. The clone held Ari's face in her hands and, with a flash of blinding speed, slammed her against the far wall. Ari's head split open, blood trickling down, yet her eyes remained fixed on her clone.
Ari's voice was low but fierce: "Is this the power I've been missing? We are the same… yet the difference in our strength is staggering. Maybe… maybe I lack clarity in my goal. My goal to grow strong, to protect those who are with me now, to stop anyone who dares to harm them… and to avenge Mom and Dad."
The room began to tremble. Light magic surged violently around her, crackling in every direction. The clone held Ari against the wall, smiling coldly.
Clone Ari: "Split it out… the anger!"
And then—BOOM! A blinding explosion of light erupted, shaking the chamber as raw power collided, marking the next step of Ari's awakening.
The chamber still shimmered from the last explosion, dust floating in arcs of residual light. Ari's eyes locked onto her clone — a perfect mirror, yet radiating pure malice.
Ari gritted her teeth and dashed forward. "Light Magic: Radiant Slash!"
Her blade glowed like molten light as she spun sideways, sending a wave of energy slicing toward the clone. The clone leapt, spinning in the air to counter with a spinning barrier of light that shattered Ari's attack into fragments. Sparks exploded across the chamber as the two clashed, each movement faster than the eye could follow.
Clone Ari: "You're still holding back. Let's see how you handle this."
"Light Magic: Prism Barrage!"
Suddenly, beams of refracted light shot from the clone in every direction, bouncing off the walls, creating dozens of deadly trajectories. Ari twisted and flipped, dodging some, deflecting others with her blade. One strike grazed her shoulder, drawing blood, but her determination only sharpened.
Ari's eyes narrowed. "Light Magic: Luminous Rift!"
She slammed her blade into the ground, opening a crack of pure light that surged upward, forming jagged columns reaching for the ceiling. The clone countered by creating spinning rings of energy, leaping between them and striking downward like falling stars. Ari leapt off a light pillar, spinning midair, striking a ring before it could expand fully.
The chamber vibrated violently. Dust and shards of light whirled around them as the battle became a blur of motion, each attack more elaborate than the last. Ari dashed across the floor, leaving a trail of afterimages, then launched herself into the air.
Ari: "Light Magic: Photon Edge!"
A concentrated beam of light shot from her blade, cutting through the clone's defenses and forcing her backward. But the clone recovered instantly, summoning twin blades of glowing energy that spun like gears, striking at Ari from multiple angles. Ari ducked, rolled, and countered with a flurry of rapid slashes, each one releasing a pulse of radiance.
Clone Ari: "Impressive… but you're still incomplete."
The clone vanished in a flash, reappearing above Ari and swinging a blade encircled with concentric rings of light. The rings exploded outward as sonic waves, forcing Ari to dive deep into the ground to avoid being obliterated. Ari barely rolled aside, feeling the vibrations shake the chamber.
Ari gritted her teeth, feeling something ignite within her. The memories of her parents, her friends, the anger she had buried, all coalesced into focus. Her movements became sharper, her magic more precise.
Ari: "Light Magic: Radiant Spiral!"
She spun in a twisting, upward spiral, sending arcs of light shooting in all directions. The clone attempted to counter with a mirrored spiral, but Ari's strikes were faster, more fluid. For the first time, she saw openings — her clone's attacks no longer perfectly predicted her.
Ari leapt high, summoning a ring of radiant shards around herself. "Light Magic: Luminous Cascade!"
Shards of light rained down from every angle, forcing the clone into defensive stances. Ari twisted midair, striking with the tip of her blade at critical points, piercing through the clone's defenses. The clone staggered, a flash of shock crossing her face.
Ari landed gracefully, breathing hard, and drew on her deepest reserves of magic.
Ari: "Light Magic: Celestial Vortex!"
A swirling vortex of light erupted from her blade, spiraling outward with unstoppable force. The clone tried to dodge, but Ari's precision and speed were unmatched. The vortex engulfed her completely, spinning her around before she dissolved into shimmering particles, leaving only the echo of her presence.
Ari collapsed to her knees, exhausted but exhilarated. A warmth spread through her chest, her limbs tingling with newfound strength. She had faced herself — her doubts, her anger, her potential — and emerged stronger. Her magic felt sharper, faster, and more alive than ever before.
For the first time, Ari smiled. She was no longer the girl who had doubted her power. She was ready for whatever challenges awaited — stronger, faster, and more determined than ever.
Tracey's eyes were fixed on the shifting images around him. Memories he had buried long ago played out before him, sharper and crueler than ever. He saw his grandfather, smiling warmly, waving goodbye… and then his parents, leaving him behind.
The echoes of people's hatred cut deeper than any blade:
"You're a monster!"
"Stay away from him!"
"Keep our children away from our kind!"
The voices twisted into a storm of shame and anger, pressing down on him from every side. Tracey's chest tightened as he relived the worst day of his childhood — the day his grandfather died. The man who had believed in him, who had seen the potential in his beast magic, was gone.
But with that memory came something else: a promise, whispered long ago, burning brighter now than ever. A promise to grow strong, to honor his grandfather, to become powerful enough to face the strongest beasts in the world.
Suddenly, a massive figure materialized before Tracey. The presence was overwhelming, a towering silhouette radiating power. His heart skipped a beat.
Tracey: "But… who? I didn't summon you."
Ashenfang: "I am not what you think. I am what you seek… the strength you desire."
Tracey's mind raced. The figure wasn't real — he recognized it from the illusions he and Imperial had faced before, the trials of the pillars. Yet the aura of power was undeniable.
Ashenfang: "If you want to achieve your promise, your dream… you must fight. You are the weakest in the group, dependent on others. A dead weight. Do you want to remain that way, forever overlooked? Or will you rise, become strong, and be recognized by everyone?"
Tracey's gaze locked onto Ashenfang's. His chest tightened with a mix of fear, determination, and anger at the memories of abandonment.
Tracey: "I… I want to become strong."
Tracey's body flared with energy, his aura erupting into his beast human form. Flames swirled around him like a living cloud, steam rising as heat radiated from his body, painting the chamber in fiery hues.
Ashenfang roared and charged, the ground quaking with each step. Stones cracked and dust erupted as he barreled toward Tracey, his massive fists poised to crush.
But Tracey was already gone. In an instant, his form vanished, leaving only a lingering heat in the air. Ashenfang's fist smashed into the ground, sending a shockwave across the floor.
Tracey reappeared high above, his eyes blazing with determination. His fist, wreathed in blazing fire, descended with precision toward Ashenfang's back. The fiery strike struck true, sending a pulse of scorching energy through the illusionary beast.
Steam hissed and sparks exploded where fire met force, lighting up the chamber in a brilliant display. Tracey landed gracefully, flames curling around his form as he readied himself for the next move.
The chamber trembled as Ashenfang's massive claws swung, molten fire trailing from each strike. Tracey ducked under the first swipe, flames licking the walls as he rolled forward, his fists glowing with heat. He countered with a burst of fire, aiming a rapid series of punches at Ashenfang's chest, each strike sending small explosions scattering sparks across the room.
Ashenfang leapt, claws slashing downward, creating a spinning wall of fire. Tracey dashed along the side, leaving a trail of afterimages in his fiery wake. He twisted midair, sending a blazing kick toward Ashenfang's side, but the massive beast blocked, sending him skidding back across the floor.
Tracey's heart raced. He summoned steam from his body as fire coiled around his limbs, igniting his aura. Ashenfang charged, the ground cracking beneath his weight, and Tracey met him head-on, exchanging blows in a flurry of fire-infused strikes. Each attack collided with sparks, smoke, and shockwaves.
The two moved like living infernos, spinning, dodging, and striking. Ashenfang unleashed a torrent of fire, cascading like molten lava toward Tracey, who leapt high and spun, slashing with a fiery crescent to break through the wave. Tracey's fists glowed brighter, each punch now carrying the full force of his will, his desire to grow, to protect, and to honor the promise he had made.
Ashenfang roared and lunged, aiming a devastating downward strike. Tracey vanished in a puff of steam, appearing behind him with a fiery elbow strike, then leaping onto his back. Flames danced along Tracey's arms as he pressed his palms against Ashenfang's shoulders, sending a concentrated blast of fire. Ashenfang stumbled, but his roar was not one of pain—it was recognition, almost pride.
For a brief moment, time seemed to slow. Tracey's eyes met Ashenfang's, and he felt the weight of their connection — the creature wasn't just an opponent; it was part of his journey, a reflection of the strength he sought. His heart clenched. "I… I have to do this," Tracey whispered to himself, a mix of sorrow and determination.
Summoning every ounce of power, Tracey twisted into a spin, flames roaring like a storm around him. He delivered a final, devastating attack — a blazing surge of fire and force that collided with Ashenfang. The impact shook the chamber, light and heat blinding all senses.
Ashenfang's eyes softened for a fleeting instant as he slowly dissolved, the fiery clone dissipating into sparks that scattered across the room. Tracey fell to his knees, breathing hard, his body still wreathed in fire. He had struck the being he revered, yet the victory was bitter and triumphant all at once.
A warmth spread through him, not just from the fire, but from a newfound power — his own strength, honed through struggle, emotion, and the realization that to grow, sometimes he had to surpass even those he loved.