Arc III: “Return of Darkness”
Chapter III: “Fading Darkness / Tales Untold”
Episode: IX: “Ending an Endless Battle! The True Power of Stardust!”
Akira and Rikito clashed for hours, Aether-Skipping at blistering speeds and colliding with all their might. Every punch and kick sent shockwaves through the planet—each slip leaving a crack of pressure in the air, like the sky itself was tearing to keep up.
The Massive Star that Akira created started dissipating.
Damn—time’s up already? I could make another… but—Akira panted. “That would take too much Flow. In that case, I’ll reinforce myself with Golden Energy Mode, Layer Z!”
The first star had already eaten a chunk of its reserves just to keep its mass coherent.
Rikito backed off, also feeling fatigued.
It seems my moon is waning. Rikito thought. “Hey, Lunario.”
“Yes?”
“Is it possible to make another one of these moons?”
“Hmm… no, unless our opponents can conjure up another star. But if we created another moon, it would have nothing to reflect, seeing as their star is fading.”
“What about the Sun?”
“No, that won’t work. Our connection is too weak. If you were a stronger vessel, you could forcibly reflect the Sun’s power—but right now, our Covenant doesn’t have that reach.”
Rikito grinned. “Seems this fight won’t last as long as I thought.” In a battle of attrition, Akira has the advantage, hands down—bigger Flow and faster recovery. We were both able to recover most of our energy, which means I’m at a disadvantage in terms of stamina. “So, I’ll have to end things here… before they can drag on.” Rikito’s eyes sharpened. “Infuscate.”
So, he’s pulling out all the stops? “Alright, I’m game,” Akira said, raising his hands to his sides with his palms facing upwards.
Stardust particles gathered around his hands—ambient aether caught in his Flux, pulled into orbit.
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Akira wasn’t just shaping energy. His Craft was forcing reality to obey a formula.
Rikito’s eyes widened. Is that!? He dashed towards him. “I won’t let you!”
“Too late! Brown Dwarf!” Akira pointed his palms at Rikito, and the dust flowed with them.
The stardust swirled around Rikito, forming a sphere—then collapsed into a hardened shell, pinning him in place. A prison made from compressed particulate and Akira’s will.
W-what is this?! I can’t break it! Rikito punched against the solid barrier of matter around him.
“That should hold him for a minute. Now, let’s give this last attack everything we’ve got!” Akira gathered enormous amounts of aether.
As a bright light gathered around his hands, so did a small amount of dust-like aether particles.
Akira condensed his energy into an astounding beam of light. “Legendary… True Stardust Dragon Breaker!!”
He blasted straight into the sphere of matter that was encasing Rikito. But suddenly, a dark energy exploded from within the sphere while Akira’s attack collided with it.
“Tenebris Ruina: Echo of the First Ruin: Last Rites: Archaic Ruination Cannon!!”
His Infuscate wore off, but Rikito fired off his own disastrous beam, countering Akira’s attack.
Their beams met dead-even, neither side giving ground.
The collision point screamed—light and shadow twisting into a violent, spinning seam.
The shockwaves and the extra aether that spilled off from their beams expanded and flew in every direction.
After a brutal struggle, the seam ruptured—both beams detonating and throwing them back toward Earth like meteors.
[A few moments later]
Outside Apocalypse’s castle, Akira and Rikito were sprawled out on the ground, both barely conscious.
“W-why… were we fighting again?” Akira rasped—more delirious than amused.
Helios and Lunario were silent inside them—no taunts, no fire, no moonlight—just the aftershock of two exhausted Covenants.
“Who cares…” Rikito whispered. “Just… shut up.”
For the first time in hours, neither of them had the strength to hate properly.
They fell completely unconscious, unable to move a muscle.
[Now – The UFA]
“And when I woke up,” Akira said, “Rikito was already gone. So, I decided I’d see what the rest of you guys were up to, and I locked on to Leo’s aether signature.”
“Unbelievable…” Asuka shook her head in disappointment.
“Whoa, so you have another spirit?” Akaza asked.
“That’s not fair, I want a spirit too!” Kazuma said.
“So, it was a draw?” Kyoto asked.
“Wow, the two of you just keep getting stronger,” Leo said, astounded.
“I’m surprised I didn’t notice the two of you fighting,” Kyte said.
As everyone continued to chatter, Akira thought to himself for a moment.
“Oh, that’s right!” he said, slapping the bottom of his right fist with his palm. “We need someone to visit Draig—and find Riella. If the Dark Heart can’t be sealed, we need a specialist. Fast. I’d do it myself, but I’m still pretty drained from my fight, heh-heh.” He rubbed the back of his head.
“Hmph, you just want to go train by yourself,” Asuka scowled. “You can’t fool me.”
“Heh-heh,” Akira chuckled, showing the guilt on his face.
“Ooh, ooh, let us go, daddy!” Kazuma said.
“Yeah, we wanna go to space! You said you would let us go next time, remember?” Akaza added on.
“Hmm… Yeah, sure. I’m okay with that. It’d be good for you two to see something beyond Earth.”
“Absolutely not!” Asuka said. “You’re going to send our children off into space?”
“I can take them to Draig,” Akira said, “And it’s safer for them to stay off-world for now. We know that Apocalypse and Cataline could return at any time.”
Asuka frowned, pouting her lips. “I guess that’s true…”
“Alright, then it’s settled!”
[Next Time on Lyte of Utopia]: “Trip to the Bustling Trade Center! Titan!”
[Yield Levels]:
Akira: 6z
- FPSP + DP + SR: (DUSR) + TGoU + PR (40% Massive Star): 800 – 21z
- FPSP + DP + SR: (DUSR) + TGoU: 17z
- FPSP + DP + SR: (DUSR) + TGoU + Golden Energy Mode (Layer Z): 18z
- Brown Dwarf: x5z (Sealing)
- Legendary True Stardust Dragon Breaker: x12z
Rikito: 6z
- FPLP + DP + SR: (DDSR) + TDF + PDF + ALC + I: 20z
- FPLP + DP + SR: (DDSR) + TDF + PDF + ALC: 19z
- Archaic Ruination Cannon: x10z
Asuka: 5z
Akaza: 300 – 4z
Kazuma: 200 – 4z