Elithira squinted her eyes, feeling the harsh sun, as its rays beat down from the sky above as hundreds of mysterious purple pillars of light started to wrap around the world.
The pillars stretched toward the sky, each one painted with pale purple light until the horizon looked sealed in place.
"Shit, shit, shit," she muttered under her breath. Clasping Sogetsu close, she promised, "I'll find a way to save you."
Her hands trembled as she extended her hand out, revealing a weathered jade object, its silent, ancient power brimming beneath its cool soothing surface. "You need something mighty to survive this tumultuous journey."
Worn down by pain, Sogetsu answered, his voice as low as a whisper, "It's okay," his voice was like the fragile and fleeting rustling leaves of autumn.
With determination, Elithira quickly removed her protective cloak before using it to cover Sogetsu tenderly, safeguarding him from the raw elements. "Just hold on and stay strong," she comforted, her voice was soft, similar to a reassuring balm.
"I'll take care of everything."
Her lips met his forehead in a gentle kiss, taking away the dried blood that marked his scared head, leaving behind a silent vow of return. With the heart of a warrior and the resolve of a fierce tempest, she turned, diving back into the turmoil.
Plunging through the opening which she created in the castle roof, a hole that led into the mysterious shadows of the ancient castle, Elithira left Sogetsu resting at the top, amidst the echoing silence of the historical stones.
Meanwhile, Ty leaned against a crumbled wall, frustrated with his sword. "Why did you freeze?"
The sword answered with a subtle quiver along its edge. "I have trouble cutting people I'm afraid of."
Decisive, Ty spoke firmly, "So be it then." Disappointment filled him as he threw the blade aside. "I can't have you risking my life or anyone else's."
Soon enough, that hesitation was replaced with determination, and Ty leaped into action, targeting the Yami King, who skillfully dodged his attacks, avoiding the sharp, forceful strikes that were aimed at him.
Meanwhile, Kieran observed the battle with a confident smile on her face while seemingly enjoying the display of combat. However, soon her satisfaction was replaced with confusion when she saw Ty.
She wondered why he was there, and her mind started to race, trying to make sense of his unexpected presence.
Ty had no time to answer the question in her eyes. The castle shook around them, stone dust falling from above as the purple pillars outside brightened. Every second they spent staring at one another was another second the planet moved closer to being erased.
With a rush of movement, Ty lunged forward once again, his bones creaking with purpose. His fist, a hardened knot of skeletal resolve, crashed into the Yami King.
The walls shuddered when the king met Ty's bone knuckles, and dust kicked up around them.
The air crackled with every exchange.
Once again, Ty's bony fist smashed into the Yami King, carrying with it a raw explosion of force, which sent him hurling into a nearby wall before brutally slamming him on it.
During the chaos, Elithira soared in, fury driving her as she dashed at Kieran.
"What did you do to this planet?"
She tackled Kieran, rage and desperation twisting through her voice as she demanded answers.
Amidst this chaos, Ty's eyes locked with Elithira's, prompting a look of confusion to appear on his face. He had thought that she might need saving, but as this thought flickered through his mind, a wicked tendril of black energy slammed into him.
The energy struck with cruel precision, sending Ty reeling away as he skidded painfully along the rough embrace of the pavement.
Yami King's voice rose through the battle. "Dirty blow for dirty blow, eh?" His contempt cut through the noise.
"I think it's time I stop playing," the Yami King declared ominously, his eyes gleaming with a sinister finality, resolved to finish his grim objective despite the unyielding tide of interruptions.
Ty shifted, muscles tightening as he braced for the next move.
Thoughts raced through his mind, each one searching for a way out of the collapsing situation.
He glanced over his skeleton arm as he noticed muscle fibers extended around his arm with a green hue to them. This must be from using his soul still? Strange. Ty thought.
Meanwhile, Elithira kept after Kieran with wild intent.
Each movement came close to fatal, her desperation turning every strike into something uglier than defense.
"Why is she here?" Ty's mind buzzed with the question, trying to decipher Kieran's presence amidst this raging turmoil.
As uncertainty clouded his thoughts, a shadow appeared in the raging storm of battle, making him have a rising feeling that another bigger piece was at play here while the ground began to shake and tumble.
Noticing this, the Yami King quickly took action by pushing his hands into the ground.
The motion was calm, almost lazy, and that made it worse. Ty had seen panic in enemies before. Yami looked inconvenienced, like the end of a world was only another tool on the table.
As he did so, darkness started to spread from the point of his touch and started to cover the entire castle floor. It moved rapidly, consuming everything that came in its path, making it hard for Ty to see anything that was around him.