🔥 EPISODE 35 — "WHEN LIGHT FAILS FIRST"
SCENE 1 — THE FIGHT THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED
The Infinity Castle opens its corridors like ribs.
Aryex stands at the center hall, blade low, breath steady. Raven faces him from the far side.
They don't speak.
They already tried words.
The first clash is not explosive — it's precise. Shadow and steel. Memory and instinct.
Aryex is strong. But strength isn't winning anymore.
Raven moves like she has already accepted the ending. Every strike is clean. Every step removes space.
Aryex realizes it too late:
She is not fighting to defeat him. She is fighting to end the question.
A shadow blade cuts across his side. He stumbles. The Castle leans inward.
For the first time — Aryex is losing without resisting it.
SCENE 2 — THE LIGHT ARRIVES UNWORTHY
A rupture tears through the upper spires.
Light descends.
Not pure. Not calm.
The Guardians of Light enter — armored, shining, desperate. Ilya is with them.
Not leading. Begging.
"We can still fix this," one Guardian says. "We were chosen once."
The Castle reacts immediately.
The light flickers.
Power drains from them — violently, honestly. They fall to their knees.
They were never worthy. They only wore the symbol.
Ilya screams his name. "Aryex!"
He turns.
That hesitation costs everything.
SCENE 3 — RAVEN MAKES THE HARD CHOICE
The Shadow Lord's presence tightens.
Not words. Pressure.
Raven feels it invade her thoughts. Not control — permission removed.
She sees the truth instantly: If the Guardians live, this war becomes infinite.
So she acts.
Fast. Merciless. Final.
The Guardians fall — not screaming, not begging. Just realizing too late what they never were.
Light shatters across the Castle floor.
Ilya survives.
Barely.
Raven stands over the aftermath, shaking.
The Shadow Lord's grip tightens.
Her eyes darken.
Not evil. Uncontrolled.
SCENE 4 — THE STRIKE THAT SHOULD NEVER LAND
Raven turns.
Aryex tries to reach her.
Too late.
A single shadow strike — not meant to kill — meant to disconnect.
It hits him clean.
The world drops.
Aryex collapses.
Silence spreads.
Then — the Shadow Lord pushes.
Not at Raven.
At Aryex.
A command without words.
Aryex rises — eyes unfocused. Moves toward Ilya.
Weapon raised.
Ilya doesn't run.
She just whispers: "I saw you."
That's when it breaks.
SCENE 5 — THE LIGHT THAT ANSWERS BACK
Aryex stops.
His body locks. His breath shudders.
Something answers inside him.
Not borrowed. Not granted.
Chosen.
Light floods his veins — not blinding, not pure. Controlled.
Focused.
He collapses — then rises again.
Different.
The Castle shakes.
Every shadow feels it. Not pain.
Recognition.
Aryex opens his eyes.
Full Light Mode. Stable. Intentional.
He looks at Raven — truly looks.
"I won't be owned," he says quietly. "Not by light. Not by shadow. Not by loss."
The Castle bends.
Not to power.
To will.
FINAL SHOT — THE WORLD HOLDS ITS BREATH
The Shadow Lord steps forward for the first time.
Not angry.
Interested.
Raven falls to one knee — free, terrified.
Ilya cries silently.
And the Infinity Castle — for the first time since its creation — waits for Aryex's command.
CUT TO BLACK.