Shadows of Ascension

59. Awakening of the blades

The battle raged on, with Luca and Riona pushing themselves far beyond their limits as they fought Erebus. Luca’s breath came in ragged gasps, his muscles burning with exhaustion, but he refused to give in. Every swing of his blade was slower than the last, but his determination kept him going.

Riona, meanwhile, was in even worse shape. She could barely breathe, her body covered in cuts and bruises, and her vision was swimming. But she pressed forward, driven by a fierce resolve. She had promised to protect her friends, and she wasn’t about to break that promise now. "I’ll do this… for Kaiden… and for my new companions," she gasped, her voice trembling with pain. "I won’t back down!"

Erebus, on the other hand, was still standing strong. Though visibly tired and carrying a few injuries, he had plenty of energy left. His strikes were powerful and precise, forcing Luca and Riona to stay on the defensive. "You two are impressive," Erebus admitted, his tone almost respectful. "But this won’t end well for you."

As Luca deflected another blow, his arms shaking from the effort, he shot a glance at Riona. She was barely holding on, but the fierce determination in her eyes was unshakable. "Riona… don’t push yourself too hard!" Luca warned, his concern for her evident.

But Riona simply gritted her teeth and pressed forward, unleashing a flurry of desperate attacks. "I can’t stop now, Luca!" she shouted, her voice raw with emotion. "We have to win… for everyone!"

Meanwhile, Aiden was locked in his own struggle against Shadowbane. The battle had been evenly matched at first, but now that Shadowbane had revealed his true power, the tide had turned. Every attack from Aiden was met with a more powerful counter, and it was clear that Shadowbane had the upper hand.

"You’re about to lose," Shadowbane taunted, his voice cold and confident as he prepared to land a decisive blow. But before he could strike, Shin suddenly appeared, shouting as he delivered a powerful strike to Shadowbane’s side.

Shadowbane staggered slightly, momentarily surprised by the unexpected attack. "You’re persistent, aren’t you?" he muttered, narrowing his eyes at Shin.

The battles continued with renewed intensity. Luca and Riona fought with every ounce of strength they had left, their movements growing more desperate with each passing second. Erebus pressed them relentlessly, his attacks precise and overwhelming, but the two companions refused to back down. Meanwhile, Aiden clashed with Shadowbane, the force of their blows sending shockwaves through the air.

As the fight raged on, something extraordinary began to happen. Both Aiden’s and Luca’s blades started to sparkle, glowing with a strange, radiant light. The power within them surged, and suddenly, both fighters felt a surge of strength flowing through their bodies.

Shadowbane’s eyes widened slightly as he observed the change. "Another power-up?" he muttered under his breath, incredulous. Then, louder, he addressed Aiden directly. "First, you power up, and now your blade has been awakened! Just how much power do you hide within you?"

Luca, realizing what was happening, shouted to Aiden, his voice filled with excitement. "Aiden! This is what powerful blades do when they’re awakened! Akuon really made some incredible blades for us!"

With renewed vigor, Luca and Riona pushed Erebus back, their attacks gaining speed and strength. Erebus, for the first time, seemed taken aback, struggling to keep up with the relentless onslaught. Riona, despite her injuries, fought with a ferocity that matched Luca’s, both of them determined to end this fight.

On the other side of the battlefield, Shadowbane found himself momentarily struggling against Aiden’s newfound strength. The relentless barrage of attacks was difficult to fend off, even for him. But despite Aiden’s power, Shadowbane’s experience and raw skill still gave him an edge.

The fight was far from over, but one thing was clear: with their blades awakened, the tide of battle was beginning to shift. The resolve of Aiden, Luca, and Riona burned brighter than ever, as they faced their enemies with everything they had.