The arena was engulfed in silence. The audience held their breath, eagerly awaiting the next match. Two figures stood facing each other on the battlefield: Elysia and Lucy. The air between them crackled with tension.
Lucy's eyes sparkled with determination as she stood up.
"Good luck, Lucy." Aria's voice was filled with concern. "You pushed yourself too hard in the last match. Please don't do anything that might hurt you."
"Don't worry, I wouldn't leave my little sister alone." Lucy forced a smile, but Aria, having known her for years, could see through the facade.
"Aren't you going to wish me luck, Max?" Lucy looked at Max with hopeful eyes, seeking his support.
Max turned to Lucy with a serious expression. "No, I won't wish you luck."
Lucy felt something inside her crack. "Oh... I see—"
Max suddenly smiled warmly. "Because I've seen your true strength. I know you'll win; you don't need luck. In that arena, you're not just fighting to win—you're fighting to find your path. And I know that, by the end of this battle, you'll shine as a true hero. Now go, and show them your power once again."
Lucy's teary eyes lit up. The dark emotions that had clouded her just moments ago vanished with a single smile.
"Yes. Yes, I will prove myself. And I'll defeat you too. Your greatest rival isn't Aria—it's me."
With just a few words from Max, Lucy shed all her dark thoughts and regained her confidence.
"Don't get too cocky just yet." Aria smirked teasingly. "You still have a long way to go before you can defeat me—"
Before Aria could finish, Lucy playfully punched her arm and ran toward the arena.
Elysia, however, did not share Lucy's enthusiasm. Her vacant stare, combined with her messy dark hair, gave her the aura of an emo zombie, yet she remained calm. She knew she was weaker than Lucy, but that didn't deter her. The Spectral Blade in her hand pulsed with a faint glow, as if absorbing the energy of the battle. Elysia's gaze was locked onto Lucy. No matter how powerful she was, she had to have a weakness.
The referee's voice echoed through the arena:
"BEGIN!"
Lucy, still recovering from the last match, launched her elemental spirits into the attack. Fire spirits created a wall of flames, attempting to push Elysia back. However, in her spectral form, Elysia remained unaffected. She dashed forward and swung her sword downward, causing the very air to tremble. But Lucy moved like a shadow, expertly dodging the strike. Elysia quickly followed up with another slash of her Spectral Blade, but ice spirits formed a shield, blocking the attack. A cloud of dust rose from the impact.
The spectators were entranced. Elysia increased the pace of her attacks, her sword moving like a dancer in battle. Lucy countered by combining the small elemental spirits, deflecting every strike. However, as time passed, her breathing grew heavy. She was running out of room to escape.
"These little creatures aren't enough. I need a bigger warrior... something stronger." As Lucy evaded, she tried to strategize her next move. She needed to find something new. "Wha—What is this? You... Who are you?"
Lucy's vision slowly darkened. Her irises turned a deep purple, surrounded by an abyss of shadows.
"Unleash me, my child. Let me carry you to victory. THE POWER I BESTOW UPON YOU CAN TURN EVERY DREAM INTO REALITY."
A dark, whispering voice echoed in Lucy's mind. The sound slithered into her ears like a cold hand pressing against her skin. A chilling sensation spread through her body, making her feel as though she were dangling over the edge of a cliff. Her perception of the world began to shift. Everything looked darker. A faint, purple silhouette loomed in the shadows.
"Who are you? What do you want from me? Why are you in my head?" Lucy was starting to panic. It felt like she was trapped in a spiritual prison.
"I am nothing. And I am everything. The beginning of all, and the end of all. I am the void. I am death itself."
The voice suddenly grew louder, ringing in her ears like a painful scream. The fading rays of light in Lucy's vision slowly disappeared, plunging her further into the darkness.
Elysia grew wary of Lucy's sudden transformation. A look on her face suggested she knew something.
For a brief moment, Lucy's aura wavered. The shadowy figure began wrapping itself around her. This was the moment Elysia had feared!
She moved like lightning, slashing her Spectral Blade toward Lucy. The sword was mere inches away when—
Lucy caught it with her bare hands!
Elysia refused to lower her blade. Lucy's face had gone pale, her veins turning black and pronounced.
"So, you too carry a darkness within you, little girl. I recognize this energy wherever I see it. You have mastered your inner power. You've always been used to living in the depths." The entity controlling Lucy's body spoke to the energy within Elysia. "Are you afraid to reveal yourself? Or do you refuse to fight for old times' sake?"
Elysia's sword began to dim. The creature inside Lucy was slowly consuming its energy.
Elysia mustered all her strength and leaped backward. Her energy had been drained. The hand holding her sword looked as if it were beginning to decay.
"Ah, what an interesting world this has become. To have been sealed away for so long... Ah, time is truly cruel. Like a forgotten goddess, I rise from the ashes of legend." The dark entity scanned its surroundings. "I must reclaim my strength. Humanity... how much you have changed. Your queen stands before you, yet none kneel. YOU INGRATES! HOW QUICKLY YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN YOUR MASTER!"
The entity's voice echoed beyond the arena. The sound alone shook an entire nation awake. Teachers and students in the stands grew anxious, preparing for battle. But it was too soon to intervene. This was still Elysia's fight, and she truly wanted to win it.
"I freed myself from this dark curse, Lucy. And I will save you too." Elysia's usual emotionless, emo-like demeanor faded for a moment—this time, she was fighting with genuine resolve. "I have heard those whispers too. I have stared into that endless abyss. I know the lies it whispers. But I did not surrender, and neither will you!"
Elysia's sword pulsed faintly as she prepared herself. "No one else should have to see what I have seen..."