*On a bright sunny day a young Ryuuji and Cinder spar with each other while Ryuuji’s father, Cyrus, watches them. Cyrus had sturdy body with red hair that was spikey and blue eyes with a scar over his right eye. He had a short red goatee that was faded, worn brown trousers and a short-sleeved body skintight shirt that was brown with golden lines running along the sleeves. He stood watching with his arms folded unamused by the spar. Ryuuji jumped in the air to avoid a fire chop by Cinder and extended his legs to deliver a dropkick but Cinder got her arms up in time to block the attack and instead got pushed back from the attack. Once Ryuuji landed, Cinder charged at him and dodged a fireball he shot and delivered an open-palm strike to the side of his face. Ryuuji countered by grabbing her arm and pulling her toward him to deliver a lariat that knocked her to the ground but not before jumping up and wrapping her legs around his neck and arm to trap him a triangle choke hold. Ryuuji fell to the ground with Cinder. Using his free arm to give himself leverage, Ryuuji managed to slip his other arm out of the hold. His vision was starting to become blurring but he concentrated on his free hand to ignite his fist. Cinder tightened her hold as she saw what he was doing to incapacitate him*
(Cyrus): That’s enough! It’s a draw.
*Upon hearing Cyrus, Cinder released her hold and Ryuuji dispelled his magic*
(Cinder): Why’d you stop us, I finally had him.
(Ryuuji): Had me, I had you!
*The two young fighters stared each other down angrily*
(Cyrus): Quiet! The match is a draw. Ryuuji, if you were in that hold a few seconds longer you would have passed out. Cinder, if Ryuuji connected with his punch you would have been knocked out. Get some food in you and then prepare for your evening exercises.
*Cyrus begins to walk away from the two children*
(Cryus): *Sigh* These draws are beginning to annoy me.
*Ryuuji and Cinder got up, dusted themselves off and went over to a bench where Cinder pulled out two boxes from a bag*
(Cinder): Here. I hope you like it.
*Cinder blushed as she handed one of the boxes to Ryuuji who happily accepted it*
(Ryuuji): Thanks, Cinder. I feel bad accepting this.
(Cinder): Nonsense, it’s only natural that I make your lunch. After all, once we’re married I’ll be doing it a lot so this is good training.
(Ryuuji): Yeah, I guess so. Do you think we’ll still be living out in that shed when we’re married?
(Cinder): Maybe for the first year. After that we’ll use our money to buy a nice house seeing as how we’ll be expending our family.
*Ryuuji spat out his water*
(Ryuuji): It’s a little early for that. Don’t you want to focus on your personal goals first before we start having kids?
(Cinder): I can focus on my goals and be a mom. After all the kids will have you to take care of them while I’m out.
(Ryuuji): Me? But I’ll be out too using my powers to help people and fight Eclipse.
(Cinder): And why should you go out and fight?
(Ryuuji): Well I’m the strongest, and I’ve got to use my powers to help others.
(Cinder): You’re the strongest? Please, we both know I’m stronger than you. I should be the one out there fighting Eclipses and protecting people, while you stay behind.
(Ryuuji): No, I’m the strongest. You haven’t beaten me.
(Cinder): And you haven’t beaten me.
(Ryuuji): You’re right. So let’s make a bet. One of us will become the strongest Fire Monk the world has ever seen and use our powers to protect people. The other will have to do what the strongest says. Deal?
(Cinder): Deal!
*Ryuuji and Cinder shake hands and return to eating*
***
*After that, days went by as the two would train, eat, and live together. On one of their rare days off, Ryuuji went fishing and was returning to the shed where he and Cinder lived with each other*
(Ryuuji): Hey Cinder, I’m back. You won’t believe how many fish I caught. It’s a new record.
*Ryuuji opened the door to the shed and entered only to see Cyrus sitting at the table. Cinder was nowhere to be found*
(Ryuuji): Dad? What are you doing here? Where’s Cinder?
(Cyrus): She’s gone.
(Ryuuji): What?
(Cyrus): Her grandfather came by and took her away.
(Ryuuji): But why?
(Cyrus): None of your concern. Forget about her. It’s time to start your training.
(Ryuuji): But dad, I-
*Cyrus gets up and punches Ryuuji in the chest knocking the wind out of him and causing him to drop his net of fish. He keels over clutching his chest and looking up at Cyrus with disdain in his eyes*
(Cyrus): I said it was none of your concern. Now change that look on your face and meet me outside. We’ve wasted enough time as it is.
*Cyrus grabs Ryuuji by the collar and drags him outside to do his training all while questions spun in his head. What happened to Cinder? Why did she leave? Where was she?*
***
*In the present day, Ryuuji and Cinder were fighting each other as flames were flying around them. Both fighters were blocking each other’s attacks and not letting up. As Cinder amassed a fireball in her hand, charged forward with an elbow thrust that had fire around it. Their attacks collided and shot fire up into the air as well as engulfed the both of them. When the fire dispersed, both Ryuuji and Cinder were fine and were pushed back from each other thanks to the blast. The two were now staring each other down while still keeping their guards up*
(Cinder): You should have stayed under my spell and obeyed me like a good lover.
(Ryuuji): Lover? If that’s your idea of love then you really are lost.
(Cinder): Fire Grid Form 14: Fire Duster.
*Cinder shot forward like a bullet trying to punch Ryuuji but he dodged the attack and allowed Cinder to pass by him. However, Cinder turned around and stuck her fingers out like a gun*
(Cinder): Fire Grid Form 114: Pyro Barrage.
*Cinder began to shoot fireballs at Ryuuji who smacked them away with his palm*
(Ryuuji): Cinder, you have to stop using the blue flame. It’ll destroy your body.
(Cinder): If my life is to be extinguished then so be it. But not until I become one with the sun and rid Rein of its unworthy.
(Ryuuji): You have no right to decide who lives and who dies in this world. You’re not a god.
(Cinder): And you’re a fool. You have already proven yourself worthy, yet you still protect those who poison this world.
(Ryuuji): The only one I see poisoned is you who believes all the crap she’s saying.
*Cinder creates a pyro whip and wraps it around Ryuuji’s leg. Pulling on in, she causes him to fall and drags him toward*
(Cinder): Then join them in death! Fire Grid Form 33: Double Meteor Stomp.
*Cinder jumps and extends her legs downward, where she stomps on Ryuuji’s chest. The two go crashing through the ground and into a cave. As they fall, Ryuuji grabs Cinder by the ankles and tosses her to the ground. Cinder crashed through a boulder before hitting the ground, while Ryuuji landed on his feet, clutching his chest. He could still feel the burning sensation from Cinder’s attack. Cinder meanwhil,e recovered from the toss and rose back to her feet. She turned around to face Ryuuji, and the two charged at each other*
***
*Back at the Fire Monk temple in Zegkirche, three monks could be seen lying outside of a room, unconscious. Standing over them was Oraine. She opened the door and entered the room. Slowly, doing her best not to make a sound, she made her way over to the balcony where she saw a figure looking out over the horizon and toward the ensuing battle. Inching closer and closer to the individual, she held out her right hand and set it ablaze. Once she was at a good distance, she charged forward and thrust her right hand into the body of the figure and out the other end to kill them*
(Oraine): Glory toward the Sun.
*Oraine’s joy in her victory was short-lived as the head fell off the body and rolled to the ground to reveal a melon with a face drawn on it. Oraine quickly analyzed the body to see that it was made of other cheap appliances you would find lying around a house*
(Dust): Hey.
*Oraine looked up and saw Dust hanging from the ceiling of the balcony. Before she could react, Dust fell down, kicking her in the process and causing her to fall backwards into the room*
(Dust): I was wondering when one of would show up.
(Oraine): What’s the meaning of this? Is this not the sage’s room?
(Dust): It is, but she’s not here. We had a feeling one of you infiltrated the city before the attack and would use it as a chance to sneak in and kill Moona, so we set up this dummy to fool you.
*Oraine was mad that she had been played for a fool and rose back to her feet with an angry expression on her face*
(Oraine): Where is she? Where is the Fire Sage?
(Dust): We sent her to a place where she would be safe from you guys.
(Oraine): Very well. If you won’t tell me where she is, I’ll kill everyone here. Starting with you. Fire Grid Form 20: Pyro Breath.
* Oraine aims at Dust on the balcony and shoots flames from her mouth only for Dust to disappear. He reappears behind Oraine, wraps his arms around her waist and disappears with her. The two reappear above the temple’s garden where throws Oraine into a pile of show while lands safely on the ground. He feels slight pain in his ribs upon landing and grits his teeth to fight the pain. He knew he was in no condition to fight and had to end this fight quickly. Oraine emerged from the snow with rings of fire floating around her hands*
(Oraine): Fire Grid Form 90: Sun Halo.
*Oraine launched the rings of fire at Dust who dodged the attack by jumping upward and twisting his body horizontally in mid-air to let rings pass above and below him. Dust lands on the ground and Oraine shoots fire from her mouth at him. Dust snaps his finger and disappears. Oraine stops shooting fire and quickly turns around*
(Oraine): Not this time!
*As Oraine turns around she delivers a fire chop to who she believes is Dust but in truth, it’s a log*
(Oraine): So he can teleport other things as well.
*As Oraine confirms a better understanding of Dust’s powers, a log fell from the sky and she quickly dodged it. She didn’t have time to rest as more logs fell from the sky and she had to move fast to avoid them*
***
*Outside Zegkirche, the knights and monks continued to fight against the Eclipse. Sanada charged at a group of seven Eclipses and slashed through them with ease. Jade was bashing the heads in of Eclipses with her club when all of sudden she smelt a familiar scent in the area*
(Jade): Hey Sanada. Our friend is back.
*Before Sanada could ask what she meant, the ground began to shake*
(Gael): What the hell is that? An earthquake?
(Jade): You wish.
*Out of the ground emerged the big snake Eclipse that Sanada and Jade fought yesterday*
(Sanada): You!
*The Eclipse let out a roar and tilted its head upward*
(Sanada): Take cover!
*The knights and monks heard Sanada as the Eclipse fired ice shards from its mouth hitting other Eclipses in the wide area. Knights and monks quickly hid behind hills and pillars to avoid the shards. Those who couldn’t find cover used their magic to protect themselves. Others who couldn’t use their magic to protect themselves were saved by Sanada who spun his sword around to deflect the ice or Jin and Gwen who used their shields to protect others. Once the snake stopped firing ice shards it surveyed the area where everyone could see it was missing an eye*
(Morgan): Is it missing an eye?
(Jade): Yeah, that was me. Now, I’m going to make sure they match.
*Jade came out and charged at the Eclipse. Sanada saw this and sheathed his sword to pull out Kaze Sakura*
(Sanada): Raika. May I please borrow your lightning saber?
*Raika grabbed the saber from her waist and tossed it to Sanada who caught it in his free hand and turned it on. Sanada then charged forward and caught up to Jade to engage the snake. The remaining Eclipses who survived the ice shards began to charge as well. Three of them being big polar bear Eclipses. Jin was preparing himself to fight before he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Nate, Ember and Rika*
(Nate): Don’t forget your mission is to hold the line. Focus on taking down the smaller ones. We’ll handle the big ones.
*Loosening his tie, Nate charges forward where fox Eclipse tries to attack him from the side, but Nate delivers a left hook to destroy it. Five wolf Eclipses then rushed him but he jumped in the air to dodge them. He removed his tie and wrapped it around his right hand. Once he landed, the Eclipses came charging at him, but Nate showed emotion or fear as they headed his way. Instead, he planted his feet and swung his right fist forward releasing a gust of wind that shredded the Eclipses into pieces. He then turned his attention to the polar bear Eclipse who was standing on its hind legs ready to attack*
(Nate): Buzzsaw uppercut.
*Nate did a jumping uppercut attack releasing a gust of wind that sliced the Eclipse in half vertically. As Nate finishing up the polar bear Eclipse on his end, Ember managed to kick her way through other Eclipses to reach the second polar bear Eclipse. Ember delivered a kick to the side which was blocked by the polar who stopped the kick with its arm and then grabbed it*
(Nate): Big mistake.
*On one leg, Ember jumps up to delver a kick to the side of the Eclipse’s head to daze it. The kick caused the Eclipse to let go of Ember’s leg and she landed into a handstand where she sprung forward to deliver a burning dropkick to the Eclipse’s chest to push it back. Ember landed on her feet and then performed two cartwheels to build up momentum. Purple flames appeared on her feet as she cartwheeled toward the Eclipse*
(Ember): Crescent Moon Buzzsaw!
*After the second cartwheel, Ember spun around on one foot and extended the other foot releasing a purple flame in the form of a crescent moon that chopped the Eclipse in half horizontally*
*Rika was surrounded by the polar bear Eclipse and wolf Eclipses. However, instead of panicking, she grabbed the hilt of her sword*
(Rika): I release death to all of you.
*Upon drawing her sword, Rika released a purple smog in the area that begin to erode the bodies of the Eclipses until they disappeared except for the polar bear Eclipse who was not effective by the smog*
(Rika): Hmm~, it appears you don’t fear death.
*The polar bear Eclipse charged at Rika who sheathed her sword*
(Rika): Not to worry. I have many other ways to kill you.
*The polar bear Eclipse swiped at Rika with its claw only for the attack to bounce off of Rika and hit Eclipse, decapitating its head*
(Jin): No way. They took them down just like that.
(Gwen): That’s what it means to be a vice-commander of the Brister knights.
(Gael): Ember’s not a vice commander.
(Gwen): Only because she chooses not to be. Holding the title of vice commander is great, but that means you have to sacrifice a few things for it. Working under a commander, limited field work, more office work, and possibly splitting up your team. For Ember, she feels that she can contribute the most to Brister in her position as a ranger in the field and leading this wild group of animals. I’m sure from your position that sounds crazy.
(Jin): No. I get it. I’m kind of the same way. I actually had a chance to go to any order I chose yet chose to stick with the Black Tortoise order. Because this is where I can contribute the most to Brister. And I’ve got to let the seniors know that I’m gunning for them.
*Jin rises from the ground and heads out to fight Eclipses. Gael and Alita follow his lead. Jin stops and opens his umbrella weapon where he fires eight missiles at the Eclipses taking out a good number of them. Those that were still standing were taking out by Gael and Alita who charged ahead of Jin and watched each other’s back. Jin soon joined them in close combat after pulling a sword from his umbrella to slash through Eclipses*
(Amarti): Alright. We can’t let the rookies show us up. I guess it’s time for me to try.
*Speaking Elfan, Amarti summons all 72 of his blade discs and sends them flying toward the Eclipses where they begin to slice them in half. The rest of Shadow Eye, knights, and monks follow his lead and come out of hiding to begin fighting again. Even those who were once tired or injured felt reinvigorated and began going all out*
***
*Back with Ryuuji, he was still in the middle of fighting Cinder who was throwing fireballs at him. Ryuuji hid behind stone structures to avoid the fireballs only to come out and fire a flamethrower from his mouth at Cinder who rolled out of the way but Ryuuji continued his attack as flames appeared on the soles of his feet to propel him forward*
(Ryuuji): Fire Grid Form 161: Blazing Kick!
(Cinder): Fire Grid Form 181: Fire Screen!
*Cinder rose to her feet and wave her right hand upward to creat a blue screen of fire to protect herself from Ryuuji’s attack. Ryuuji’s left foor made contact with the screen of fire to stop his attack but after a few seconds the screen began to crack and finally shattered. This allowed Ryuuji’s attack to push through and strike Cinder in the chest. Even though Cinder got her hands up in time to catch the kick it still made contact with her chest and began to push her back. Fighting through the pain, Cinder activated Phoenix Caliber. As blue markings began to appear on her face and arms, Cinder stopped getting pushed back and let out a primal scream before lifting Ryuuji up by his leg and slamming him to the ground. Ryuuji bounced off the ground and saw blue flames gathering in Cinder’s left hand*
(Cinder): Fire Grid Form 213: Fist of the Fire Beast.
*Cinder unleashed a blast of fire in the form of a lion’s head at Ryuuji that sent him flying backward. He slammed through a rock structure, which shook the cave before rolling onto the ground and coming to a stop. His shirt was burnt throug,h exposing his chest and warts. As Ryuuji slowly rose to his feet, he saw Cinder charging toward him and prepared to counterattack*
(Ryuuji): Fire Grid Form 74: Fire Thrust.
*Gathering fire into his right hand, Ryuuji did a straight punch. Just when it looked like the punch was going to strike Cinder, she slid underneath the punch to dodge it and then turned her body around to take up a running position*
(Cinder): Fire Grid Form 297: Prometheus Knee!
*Cinder dashed forward before jumping in the air, delivering a running knee to the back of Ryuuji’s head, which brought him down. Cinder landed on her feet and grabbed his head to turn him around, where he was facing her*
(Cinder): Fire Grid Form 74: Fire Thrust.
*Cinder delivered a straight punch to Ryuuji’s forehead to presumably knock him out. As Cinder straighten herself, she was about to walk away when out of a sudden she sensed powerful magic around her. She looked down at Ryuuji to see orange markings starting to appear on his arms and face. All of sudden, Ryuuji’s eye opened where he quickly rose to his feet and headbutted Cinder in the nose. Blood started to drip from her nose but she ignored it to focus on Ryuuji who activated his Phoenix Caliber as well*
(Cinder): You’re persistent to the very end. You couldn’t stay down.
(Ryuuji): I know a wolf and elf who hit harder than you. They’d never forgive me if that was the end.
*Cinder wipes the blood from her nose as she and Ryuuji circle around each other waiting to strike. Cinder decided to strike first and charged only to get beat by Ryuuji who struck her first with a shoulder tackle and palm strike to the stomach to push her backward. She felt the pain in her chest from the attack but recovered to focus on Ryuuji*
(Cinder): You’re certainly a lot stronger than when we were kids.
(Ryuuji): Thanks. I’ve met a lot of interesting people who have made me stronger.
(Cinder): I’m glad that you’ve lived an interesting life. I on the other hand watched people suffer at the hands of cruel rulers, poverty, and Eclipses.
(Ryuuji): I know. I’ve seen the same things as well.
(Cinder): Then why fight me? With our combined powers, we can restart the world. Become its new rulers and lead it down the right path.
(Ryuuji): We’re not gods, Cinder. I won’t deny the world is cruel, but there are people out there fighting to make it right. I have seen the next generation.
*Images of Jin, Gael, Alita, Ren, and Erina pass through his mind*
(Ryuuji): They are young, hopeful, and ready to fight for the future and this current generation is preparing the way for them. This world isn’t beyond salvation as you say. We’re only just beginning and you have no right to take that away from them.
(Cinder): You’re even more of a fool than I thought. If you only knew the power the blue flame has given me and what was in my mind. You would join me immediately.
(Ryuuji): I used to think I did. But now I see that girl is no more. Let’s see whose will is right.
(Cinder): Yes. I’ve been waiting years for this. Let’s decide a winner once and for all.
*Ryuuji and Cinder charge at each other*
***
*Back in Zegkirche, Oraine was searching for Dust in the garden just outside the temple*
(Oraine): I know you’re injured. You can’t hide forever.
(Dust): When the spider creates its web, does it hide waiting for its prey?
*Oraine heard Dust’s voice coming near the bridge. She worked her way over there only for the bridge to collapse on her. She fell in the shallow water that was only a foot deep. On the other side of the collapsed bridge, she saw Dust looking at her*
(Oraine): You!
*As Oraine gains her footing, she prepares to attack him with a fire technique only to get electrocuted. Oraine screams out in pain before getting pulled out of the water by Dust’s wire and getting knocked out with a lariat. Off to the side Hibana appears with a yo-yo in her hand shooting off electricity*
(Hibana): The answer, no. It’s simply waiting for the prey to fall into the trap and deliver the final blow.
(Dust): Exactly. Well done, Hibana. Did you get all that?
*Dust doesn’t get a response from the unconscious Oraine*
(Dust): Meh. We’ll write it down for you.
***
*On the battlefield outside of Zegkirche, the knights and monks continued to fight against the wild Eclipses. As Rika was slicing through every Eclipse she saw, she looked off to the side to see an injured monk clutching his leg and bleeding. Rika ran over to check on the monk*
(Rika): Are you alright?
(Monk): Those monsters bit my leg. Leave me, I’ll only slow you down.
(Rika): A knight never leaves a comrade behind.
*Rika gets the attention of a monk and knight who see the injured monk and pick him*
(Rika): Get him to safety. I’ll cover you.
*The monk and knight nod and begin to move as Rika covered for them. However, she was getting overwhelmed by the Eclipses and could barely keep them at bay. Just when it seems like they would overrun, a man came jumping over her*
(Zeke): Fire Grid Form 219: Heat Wave!
*Zeke struck the ground with his fist unleashing a wave of fire magic the burnt the surrounding Eclipses and sent them flying*
(Rika): Well, well. This day is just full of surprises.
(Zeke): Woman! I mean, Rika. I’ve come to help you.
(Rika): I thought you were with the Citizens.
(Zeke): I follow the strong. That’s how it’s always been for me. And you. . .are the strongest I’ve ever met.
*Zeke said this with a slight blush on his face*
(Rika): *Chuckles* You flatter me. Don’t fall behind.
(Zeke): Right.
*Rika and Zeke at the next group of Eclipses and begin fighting them as more knights and monks join them. Meanwhile, Sanada and Jade were fighting against the giant snake Eclipse. Slashing and bashing it with their weapons but doing little damage*
(Sanada): This creature’s skin is as tough as I remember it.
(Jade): I have a suggestion.
(Sanada): Is it slicing it very hard?
(Jade): Yes. Also, the head’s skin isn’t as thick as the body’s skin.
(Sanada): Interesting. Jade, clear a path for me.
(Jade): You gonna slice it’s head off?
(Sanada): Indeed I am.
(Jade): Bitchin’!
*Jade charges forward followed by Sanada. The snake fires ice spears at the two with Jade blocking them. Despite some of them hitting her, she still led the way for Sanada. Once they were finally close to the snake, it swung it’s tail at them but Jade managed to grab it. Sanada then jumped up onto the snake and began running along it’s body. Once he was at a good distance from the head, Sanada jumped up and stabbed the good eye of the snake with the lightning saber. The snake screamed out in pain as it tried to squirm away but Jade’s grip kept it from leaving*
(Jade): Ha! Now they match.
*Sanada then pulled himself up to the top of the snake’s head and drove his Kaze Sakura blade into the head. Just like Jade said, the head’s skin was thinner than the rest of the body*
(Sanada): Tornado Style: Spiral Slash!
*Sanada spins around the head of the snake and decapitates the head from the body. Sanada falls from the head and lands on the body where he slides down to safety as the head hits the ground and begins to disappear*
(Sanada): How was that?
(Jade): Eclipse Kill of the Year.
***
*Back and the cave, flames flew all over the place as Ryuuji and Cinder exchanged blows trying to defeat. They ran throughout the cave as mini explosions could be heard until they finally made it outside where they each delivered one strike to each other’s jaw which seemed to knock both out for five seconds on their feet. Once they both regained consciousness they swung their arms back to prepare for a big attack*
(Cinder): Fire Grid Form 233: Burning Lariat!
(Ryuuji): Fire Grid Form 236: King Flame Pistol!
*Both of their attacks collided with each other and unleashed a sphere of fire that was half orange and half blue. The sphere could be seen as far as Zegkirche before it faded away. In the area where Ryuuji and Cinder were at, the snow was completely gone and the two were on their knees separated from each other breathing heavily. Steam could be seen emitting from their bodies as they rose to their feet. As Ryuuji stared down Cinder, he couldn’t help but see himself fighting the kid version of Cinder. His first rival, his strongest opponent, his first real friend. Cinder couldn’t help see herself fighting the kid version of Ryuuji as she stared him down. Her greatest rival, her fiercest opponent, and her first and only love. Cinder’s right leg caught fire, while Ryuuji removed the elbow pad on his right arm as it caught on fire. The two warriors charged at each other knowing that the next move they land would decide the fate of this fight.
(Ryuuj): Fire Grid Form 250: Hidden Flame!
(Cinder): Fire Grid Form 297: Promethe-
*Before Cinder could finish and jump in the air, she was struck in the face by Ryuuji’s elbow strike which knocked her to the ground. After striking Cinder, Ryuuji ran past her and stopped. He turned around to see Cinder struggling to get back up but wasn’t able to and fell back down. Ryuuji walked back over to Cinder to see she was barely conscious and unable to move. The markings all over her body were fading away*
(Ryuuji): Finally. After all these years, we have a winner.
(Cinder): *Heavy breathing* Yes. You finally beat me. But I’ve won the war. I’ve burnt enough Red Eclipse to attract every Eclipse in the area. It’s only a matter of time before the Eclipses overrun your friends and destroy Zegkirche.
(Ryuuji): No. It’s over. For you and the Eclipses.
*Ryuuji takes a few steps forward and looks at Zegkirche. Closing his eyes, he begins to concentrate and his body starts to glow orange*
(Ryuuji): Fire Grid Form 500: Zekell’s Light.
*All of a sudden a huge ray of light emits from Ryuuji’s body and spreads throughout the whole area reaching as far as Zegkirche and beyond. As everyone was fighting the Eclipses outside Zegkirche, the light enveloped the area and the Eclipses who were caught up in it were instantly destroyed while everyone else was fine*
(Zia): Such a warm light.
(Morgan): To think I would get the chance to see it again.
(Monk): Hey, my leg. It’s healed.
(Knight): My wounds are gone too. I feel better.
***
*In the garden just outside the temple, Dust and Hibana feel the effects of the light as they tie up Oraine. Dust could feel his injured ribs beginning to heal*
(Dust): Ahh~, that’s much better. Was wondering when he was going to bust that out.
(Hibana): What’s going on? What’s this light?
(Dust): Zekell’s Light. The final and ultimate technique of the Fire Grid. It harms anyone or anything the user sees as an enemy and heals anyone or anything the use sees as an ally. There’s only one person out there I know who can use this technique.
***
*Back with Ryuuji, the light began to die down and his body starts glowing orange to return to normal. Cinder lay there, amazed at what she just saw*
(Cinder): Zekell’s Light. To think I would get the honor of seeing that technique. You truly are amazing and the only man I could ever love.
(Ryuuji): Unfortunately, I can’t share the same sentiments. I have a confession to make. I cheated to win. You were fighting against two people. Me and my wife, La Fey.
*Ryuuji holds up his left hand and points to his wedding ring*
(Ryuuji): I admit that a long time ago I had feelings for you and saw us being together, but my wife is the greatest woman in the world. We have two wonderful kids and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I’m sorry, Cinder, but this is as far as our relationship will go. The fighting is over, you lost and I’m taking you in. After that, we go our separate ways.
*Ryuuji walks over to Cinder and places her handcuffs. He then picks her up and carries her on his back. Ryuuji begins heading back to Zegirche where not a single word was spoken between him and Cinder. As Cinder was being carried, tears began to pour from her eyes as she cried in secret and wished this moment would never end*
Author’s Note: And that’s the climax of volume 4. This chapter was actually hard to write out. We’ve got three separate fights all happening at the same time. Usually, I would just split them up into separate chapters to give more time and attention to one fight, but I wanted to test myself and see if I could balance multiple fight scenes in one chapter. The weakest of these is Dust and Hibana’s fight, but I wanted to give them something to do instead of just sitting in the temple and watching. The hardest fight to coordinate was the city protection team. So many knights to work with, and giving them each a chance to shine and do something. This fight originally was just going to be everyone taking on that giant snake, but after seeing how Sanada and Jade were able to hold their own against it made sense to give one of them the killing blow and let everyone else have their moment against the other Eclipses. Finally, the fight between Ryuuji and Cinder. This fight took me the longest to plan out. I wanted to make sure I captured the emotional weight and drama this fight would entail. I’ve been building it up all arc so I wanted to make sure I got everything fight. I know some people don’t like intergender fights. I understand where they’re coming from. I’m kind of neutral on them. Don’t mind them as long as they’re done correctly. The ending of the fight, where Ryuuji reaffirms his love for Le Fey was inspired by one of my favorite King of the Hill episodes. The one where the pigeon exterminator falls for Dale and she makes a move on him, only for Dale to remain loyal to Nancy, showing he loves her more than she loves him, and that Dale is too good for her. It’s a bittersweet moment as Ryuuji has moved on from her, but Cinder still loves him and wishes she could be with him. If things were different she probably could have been with him. I could see it happening in a what if timeline. Well guys next week is the volumen finale and it’ll be released on Christmas Eve. Look forward to it. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time.