A Battlefield of Shadows
Darkness swallowed the arena.
The walls of the
Zephyros Gym
no longer reflected light—
They absorbed it.
The battlefield beneath Elior shifted like liquid shadow.
Unstable.
Alive.
Watching.
At the center—
Lunashade stood still.
Its aura flickered violently.
Not controlled.
Not calm.
Across from it—
Umbryss drifted silently.
Waiting.
"Umbryss—deepen it."
Noctra spoke softly.
The shadows responded instantly.
They rose.
Wrapped around the battlefield.
Closing in.
Lunashade growled—
Low.
Unstable.
Its body trembled.
Elior stepped forward.
"…Lunashade—stay with me."
But the shadows pulsed stronger.
Darker.
Heavier.
Suddenly—
The ground beneath Lunashade cracked.
Dark energy surged upward—
Violent.
Uncontrolled.
Elior's eyes widened.
"…No… not now!"
The shadows exploded outward.
The entire arena trembled.
Wind outside the gym stopped completely.
From within the darkness—
A new form emerged.
Larger.
Distorted.
Eyes glowing like voids.
For a moment—
Nothing moved.
Not Elior.
Not Umbryss.
Not even the shadows.
Elior's Fear
"…This form…"
Elior whispered.
He had seen it before.
But not like this.
Not this unstable.
For the first time—
Noctra took a step closer.
Her eyes fixed on Lunashade.
Not with fear—
But recognition.
"…So it has awakened again."
Elior snapped his head toward her.
"…You know anything about this ?!"
Noctra spoke calmly—
As if revealing something long buried.
"That is not just a transformation."
A pause.
The shadows around her shifted.
"It has a name."
The Abyss Given Form
Her voice echoed through the darkness:
"Abyssal Sovereign."
The air froze.
Even Lunashade's raging aura flickered for a moment.
"…Abyssal… Sovereign…?"
The words felt heavy.
Ancient.
Dangerous.
Deeper Meaning
Noctra continued:
"A being born from uncontrolled shadow resonance."
A pause.
"A power that devours its own user."
Elior clenched his fist.
"…You're saying—"
Noctra finished calmly:
"If you fail to control it…"
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"…it will consume Lunashade completely."
****
As if responding—
Lunashade Abyss Form roared.
The shadows erupted again.
Violent.
Unstable.
It attacked—
Without command.
A massive surge of dark energy filled the arena.
Elior's Struggle
"Lunashade—STOP!"
But it didn't listen.
Didn't respond.
Umbryss Holds Ground
Umbryss moved—
Blocking the attack.
Barely.
Even it struggled against the overwhelming force.
Noctra's Observation
Noctra didn't interfere.
Didn't panic.
She watched.
Carefully.
"…This is your test."
Elior's Realization
"…My test…?"
He looked at Lunashade.
Raging.
Uncontrolled.
Losing itself.
This wasn't about winning.
Not about the badge.
This was about—
Saving his partner.
Elior stepped forward—
Ignoring the danger.
Ignoring the overwhelming energy.
"…Lunashade…"
His voice steady.
Even now.
Final Panel
Lunashade turned—
Eyes glowing completely dark.
Void-like.
Unrecognizable.
The Abyss stared back.
And the journey continues