Elyra took a deep breath inside the House of Pisces, her gaze fixed on Marinus—the last emissary before the dreaded Ophiuchus. He stared back with a cold, emotionless expression, his body clad in a gleaming armor that seemed to pulse as if alive. In his hands, needles began to form, emerging from the armor itself as though they were a natural extension of his essence.
- Marinus:"Do you really think you'll get past me, little girl?" Marinus asked with a cold smile. He stretched out his hands, and the needles fully took shape, glinting menacingly. "This is your last chance to back down."
Without hesitation, Elyra drew her rapier—a thin, agile blade that reflected her unwavering confidence.- Elyra:"I have no intention of turning back." she replied. "I came here to fight, and you won't be the one to stop me."
With a fluid motion, Marinus launched the Pisces Needles at her. They were fast and treacherous, flying like arrows—a deadly silver rain. Elyra reacted instinctively, invoking her ability: Remnant Spear. With a determined glow, she imbued her rapier with the perk Midoki had granted her weapon, Seishin, a simpler version of Shinrei (essentially Seishin condensed to cosmic levels). The blade became wrapped in an ethereal yet solid aura, turning into a true spiritual shield.
But as she blocked, Elyra began to notice something strange. Some needles simply vanished upon contact with her blade, while others—very real—made small cuts in her skin. She narrowed her eyes, analyzing Marinus's movements.
- Elyra:"Illusions???" she murmured, sensing Marinus's game. He was mixing fake and real needles, weaving a net of deception to confuse her.
- Marinus:"You're clever. That is my ability," Marinus said with a bitter voice. "But are you fast enough to tell reality from illusion?"
Taking a focused breath, Elyra spun her rapier and charged, attacking with refined precision.
- Elyra:"I don't need to see all the needles." she said. "I only need to trust my vision."She activated Seishin - Kanchi, enhancing her perception to detect the real needles.
She dove forward, advancing toward Marinus with rapid, fierce strikes, her rapier glowing with a bluish light as she intensified Seishin - Yoroi, making her blade even more solid and powerful.
Meanwhile, Throk and Midoki were advancing through the House of Sagittarius. Midoki was visibly worn down, his steps heavy, but his determination intact. As they arrived, they found Elliot in the process of regenerating, his body clad in the imposing Sagittarius Armor, which radiated a green, brilliant aura.
Midoki cast a curious glance at Elliot.
- Midoki:"So, it was a tough battle?"
Elliot looked up, his face marked by exhaustion, but a gleam of triumph in his eyes.
- Elliot:"Yeah... but it was worth it."He paused, as if reliving the moment in his mind."My master's last words were: 'That's it, Elliot... You've finally surpassed me.'"
Midoki nodded, understanding the weight of those words.
- Midoki:"Congratulations, Elliot. Your master can finally rest in peace, knowing his legacy is in good hands."
Throk, already beginning to enter his Solar Form, smiled and gave Elliot a firm pat on the back.
- Throk:"Ready to move on, Sagittarius?"
- Elliot:"Yes," Elliot replied with a determined smile. With that, the trio left the House of Sagittarius.
Later, in the House of Capricorn, they found Spink lying down, tears of joy and sorrow streaming down her face. She had overcome a powerful opponent, but the effort had taken a heavy toll. Upon seeing them, she smiled, her eyes shining with emotion and pride.
- Spink:"I... did it, but... it cost me a lot," Spink whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
Elliot smiled, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.
- Elliot:"We knew you'd do it, Spink."
Midoki watched, a mix of surprise and admiration on his face.
- Midoki:"Your strength continues to amaze us, Spink."
But her smile faded slightly as she looked at her injured legs, feeling the limitations of her movement.
- Spink:"The soul of my legs has been sealed... I can't continue with you."She looked at the group, trying to hide her disappointment."But I'm happy. I did my part."
Midoki knelt beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
- Midoki:"You did more than enough, Spink. Rest. We'll finish this journey, and once it's over, I'll find a way to heal you."
Meanwhile, Raiga, Arion, and Gyuuma were rushing through the 13 Zodiac Houses on Mount Olympus at an incredible speed. They were currently in the House of Cancer, advancing with a clear goal in mind: to reach the House of Ophiuchus for the final battle.
Near the summit of Mount Olympus, Lucifer was flying with purpose, carrying Zéfir's limp body in his arms. He had already defeated Lilya, and now nothing seemed capable of halting his ascent. As he rose, he finally reached the House of Libra, landing in the open hall.
There, the body of Equinox lay split in half—a sight that made him furrow his brow.
- Lucifer:"How is this possible?" Lucifer murmured, walking toward the body. He knew Equinox's shield was indestructible when he activated his Dual-Layer Libra Shield. Examining the scene, his eyes settled on the fallen shield beside the body. He realized the truth.
- Lucifer:"Equinox..." he whispered, a mix of respect and understanding in his expression. "You let yourself be defeated."
- Narrator:"From the beginning, Equinox had felt he was fighting for the wrong side, but he deeply feared what Orpheus might do to those he loved. So, in that moment, out of respect for his best friend, Raiga of Leo, the Libra Emissary allowed himself to be struck by the final blow, dying in a legendary battle—the way he always wished: with honor, and no regrets."
With a solemn gesture, Lucifer gathered the bodies of Equinox and Zéfir.
- Lucifer:"You don't deserve to remain here," he said respectfully.
He moved his hands, invoking the Seal of Shadows, which enveloped the bodies in a dense, mystical darkness. With a final bow, he vanished with the bodies, teleporting them to a safe place.
Silence reigned in the House of Libra as Lucifer continued his ascent, leaving the house as a testament to the sacrifices made in that epic battle.