Raiga felt the pulsating energy of battle flow like an electric current. His eyes, steady and resolute, were fixed on the figure of Equinox—the emissary of immeasurable power who guarded the truths of the Twelve Houses of the Zodiac. The Lion Sword in his hand resonated, perfectly in tune with his fierce determination. The metallic hum echoed throughout the Sanctuary, like the distant roar of an ancient beast.
- Raiga:"You don't need to fight, Equinox. Hera is dead, and Orpheus is manipulating her corpse." Raiga declared, his voice firm yet urgent.
Equinox, however, remained unmoved. His eyes, cold as the void of the cosmos, betrayed no emotion.
- Equinox:"I never cared about Hera," he replied in a glacial tone. "The only one I care about is Zeus."
With a subtle flick of his hand, he summoned a dark aura that cloaked his body. Before Raiga could react, Spink lunged into the fray. Speedstorm surged around her, crackling with electricity as her Speedlash technique reached blinding speed, tearing through the air with a flurry of spiritual strikes.
Without apparent effort, Equinox raised a hand and activated Sinful Judgement. A dense, ominous energy enveloped Spink, trapping her in a spectral prison.
- Equinox:"You are guilty," he murmured as Spink's body writhed helplessly against the overwhelming force that bound her.
Raiga roared in fury. His radiant Lion aura flared, cloaked in the golden brilliance of Burning Justice.
- Raiga:"Equinox!" he bellowed, charging forward at incredible speed. His first strike landed on Equinox, sending a shockwave rippling through the air around them.
For a moment, the scales of battle tipped in favor of the Lion Emissary. Raiga seemed to overwhelm his opponent, forcing Equinox to fall back. Each movement of his blade was precise, powerful—almost divine. The Sanctuary echoed with the thunder of their clash, bearing witness to the warrior's momentary triumph.
- Equinox:"You underestimate what lies beyond the signs." Equinox spoke with eerie calm, activating his Best Fighter perk. The Libra Scales he carried transformed—morphing into a deadly cavalry lance and a double-layered shield. With fluid motion, he unleashed One Million Umbras—a storm of razor-sharp shadows erupting from the ground and flying toward Raiga.
But Raiga was prepared. With a movement that demonstrated absolute mastery, he invoked Perfect Resonation, activating Big Body, rendering him immune to spiritual damage. The shadows crashed against him like harmless waves. His power surged to extraordinary levels, and his Lion Sword responded—growing in size and glowing with intensifying golden light. His muscles expanded with immense strength, transforming him into a true force of nature—a living embodiment of Burning Justice.
- Equinox:"Let's see how long you can last." he said impassively. He raised his cavalry lance in a swift motion and executed Ultimate Umbra – Lance Tip, a devastating fusion of physical and spiritual might that pierced Raiga's chest, tearing through his armor and spilling blood onto the floor of the House of Libra.
Yet Raiga, even wounded, did not falter. He rose with renewed strength, eyes blazing with the power of the Leo Sign. With a mighty cry, he unleashed Divine Light Slash, a monumental blow. The blade shone with purifying light, striking Equinox with relentless precision. Equinox's body was split in two, and with that, Elyra, Spink, Neptune, Throk, and Elliot were freed.
But victory came at a price. Perfect Resonation had consumed all of Raiga's vitality. The brave Lion Emissary staggered, his energy quickly fading. Burning Justice had blazed fiercely—but now demanded its toll, leaving him on the brink of collapse.
Neptune, watching as the winds began to carry Raiga's ashes, stepped forward. His eyes reflected a mixture of respect and sorrow. He clenched his fists, mourning the emissary who had sacrificed everything. With a choked voice, he whispered as the luminous dust rose to the skies:
- Neptune:"Farewell, Sir Raiga…"
The glowing ashes danced in the air, mingling with the sky like stars slowly fading—marking the end of a hero, but also the beginning of a new chapter for those who remained.
Elyra, finally freed from the oppressive Libra Scales, collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face. The weight of fear and anguish she had carried melted away, replaced by a flood of relief and joy at seeing her friends again. She let out a broken sigh, her voice trembling with emotion:
- Elyra:"I... I thought I'd never see you again."
Spink, with a warm smile, stepped forward and gently placed a hand on Elyra's shoulder in comfort.
- Spink:"I'm glad to finally meet you, Elyra."
Before Elyra could answer, Throk—ever pragmatic—interrupted with a grave tone:
- Throk:"There's no time to talk. Midoki is in danger."
His eyes were fixed on the horizon—toward the House of Virgo—his expression firm. He clenched his fists and added with conviction:
- Throk:"I can feel it. We must go back now!"
The others exchanged glances, sensing the urgency in his voice. Elyra stood quickly, wiping away her tears. She knew that despite this brief moment of relief, the battle was far from over.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the cosmos…
Midoki stood against the Six Destinies of Vagnos. Each destiny was a trial, a physical manifestation of terror and challenge, testing his endurance and soul. In the end, he found himself before the Dark Eden, where psychological pressure became nearly unbearable. The silence there was oppressive and suffocating, and the shadows whispered his deepest doubts.
- Vagnos:"You cannot win." Vagnos taunted, his presence looming like a black cloud.
Midoki, however, activated his Shinrei of Eminence, and the commanding aura of the Law of Potentialism – Resonance began to radiate around him. He summoned Seifuku, a power that defied the dimensions of reality itself. The pressure of the Dark Eden reversed upon itself, and Vagnos, surprised, intensified his efforts to maintain control of the trial.
- Vagnos:"Impossible…" he muttered as the Law of Originalism – Destruction shattered the bonds of the Six Destinies.
Midoki, in a savage frenzy, activated Berserker Mode, releasing primal energy that made him wildly unpredictable and immensely powerful. His strikes defied spiritual laws, and even Vagnos, with all his might, struggled to hold his ground.
With a final motion, Midoki combined the Laws of Cosmicism – Black Hole and White Hole, creating the dreaded Gray Fissure. Space around him distorted, and a void ripped open—severing Vagnos' arm as if reality itself had been torn apart.
As Elyra, Throk, Neptune, Elliot, and Spink returned to the entrance of the House of Virgo, a mysterious barrier rose before them. The fate of these brave warriors was uncertain, but the conflict was far from over.
Back inside the Dark Eden, Vagnos—despite his injury—wore an enigmatic smile. His regeneration unfolded almost theatrically, his arm slowly reconstructing, bones and muscle realigning with supernatural precision. His skin reformed rapidly, while his calm eyes remained closed.
- Vagnos:"You really think you've defeated me?" he murmured, his voice thick with irony. "This is only the beginning."
The aura around Vagnos pulsed, expanding with even greater intensity, as the air distorted around him—forming a dense, oppressive energy field. The environment itself seemed to respond to his will, creating fissures in the very fabric of reality. Despite the momentary loss, the power of Vagnos was only just beginning to awaken.