Eclipse of the Chronicles

Chapter 13: It's Time to Get Serious!

The scene opens at Daisuke's temple, where Luna, Charlie, and Daisuke gather late into the night following the events of Chapter 12.

"It was only for a moment, but I definitely saw it," Charlie said, his voice trembling as he recalled the last confrontation with Lilith.

(Flashback to the dojo house)
In the midst of the flashback, Charlie narrated, "When the chronicle particles were converging into Sean, I saw Grandfather Elder's aura forming around him."

(The flashback ends, and the scene returns to the present)

"I saw it too," Luna confirmed, her voice steady yet filled with quiet intensity. Daisuke furrowed his brow, lost in thought.

"It seems that Sean may be more than just another fighter in this battle. He could be our grandfather's successor—perhaps even the successor to the Trion Society itself," Daisuke said, his words hanging heavy in the air. "If that's true, then Sean's power might already be on par with Grandfather Elder when he mastered the abilities granted by the comet."

Their eyes drifted to a framed photo of Elder Trion, Daisuke and Charlie's revered grandfather. The three stood in silent respect, bowing their heads in a brief prayer. Elder Trion, in this timeline, had passed away from old age, leaving the temple—and his legacy—in Daisuke's care.

"What should we do now, brother?" Charlie asked, his tone anxious yet resolute.

Daisuke took a deep breath before answering. "The Firebolt Dragon God's power is overwhelming. But if Sean cannot master it, he will undoubtedly fall to Lilith, and Jessica will remain trapped under her control."

He paused before continuing. "I will train him myself. Now that my powers have returned, it's my responsibility to prepare him for the battle ahead."

Luna, her voice tinged with both surprise and admiration, said, "It's been a long time since you've trained anyone, Daisuke."

In the timeline that was erased, Daisuke had mentored many individuals, helping them hone their powers and lead them into battle under the Trion Society. Now, he was preparing to pass that knowledge to Sean.

"However," Daisuke added, his expression grave, "if Sean proves incapable of handling the Firebolt Dragon God, then I will face Lilith myself."

Charlie and Luna exchanged worried glances at his words.

"Charlie," Daisuke continued, turning to his younger brother, "I need you to watch over Sean and bring him here tomorrow."

Charlie nodded without hesitation. "I'll do it."

Luna, who had remained quiet for a moment, finally spoke up. "There's something I need to take care of myself. I'll need help from both versions of Amy—present and future."

Daisuke and Charlie looked at her, curious but trusting. "What's your plan?" Daisuke asked.

Luna hesitated before answering, "As someone who was once possessed by Lilith, I have a lingering connection to her. If I can tap into it, it might help us defeat her—and save Jessica."

Daisuke and Charlie exchanged a glance but didn't press for details. They both knew that too much knowledge could become a liability if any of them were captured. Lilith couldn't discover this plan—not until it was time.

"I'll also issue a warning to all the Fated and Destined Chronicles," Daisuke said after a moment. "Everyone should stay on high alert and stick together. We don't know what Lilith might try before the final battle in three days."


The next morning, a knock at my door interrupted my thoughts. I opened it to find Charlie standing there. Assuming he and Present Amy were going out, I called for her. Amy emerged from her room, and the two lovers embraced tightly, sharing a warm moment. However, Charlie regretfully explained that he was here for me, not for a date. Amy's initial disappointment faded quickly, understanding that it was likely preparation for the upcoming battle.

I followed Charlie as we headed to the temple, curiosity and anxiety mixing within me. "Daisuke has arranged to train you for your battle against Lilith," Charlie explained along the way. My mind swirled with conflicting emotions. The idea of training under Daisuke was both exciting and terrifying—I couldn't help but feel the weight of the expectations on my shoulders. What if I failed? I couldn't afford to.

When we arrived at the temple, Luna greeted us at the entrance, her expression calm yet focused. I nodded back, acknowledging her as I stepped through the temple gates. Luna led us through the winding hallway, eventually stopping at a dojo. "This is where I leave you," she said. "There's something I need to take care of immediately." She hurried off, leaving Charlie and me to enter the dojo.

Inside, we found Daisuke seated on the floor, meditating in silence.

"Dai?" I called out to announce our arrival.

Daisuke opened his eyes and rose from the floor gracefully. "Welcome, Sean. I assume you know why you're here?" he asked.

I nodded, determined to face whatever lay ahead.

Just as I was steeling myself for the training, I noticed movement from behind the dojo doors. Spike and Simon stepped into the room.

"Guys? What are you doing here?" I asked, caught off guard.

"We're here to help train you, of course. Don't think we'll go easy on you, either," Simon replied with a grin. "We've got a score to settle from the Fated Chronicle Clash."

Spike nodded, his eyes sharp with the same intensity.

"Bring it on, then!" I responded, feeling the adrenaline course through me.

The training began. Daisuke had orchestrated a two-on-one challenge—me versus Spike and Simon. Fighting either of them alone was hard enough, but together? It seemed impossible. I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed, wondering how I could possibly match Spike's speed and Simon's powerful tech. But there was no turning back.

"Begin!" Daisuke commanded.

We all raised our flags in unison, chanting, "Raise the flag!" The air crackled with energy as our flags hovered above us, signaling the start.

Immediately, I knew I was in for the fight of my life. Spike darted toward me at lightning speed, while Simon unleashed a barrage of drones and machinery. I had to think fast. I unleashed bolts of electricity, setting up my electric terrain to gain an advantage.

"That's not going to work this time, Sean," Simon taunted.

Simon, ever the strategist, smirked as he activated a device that completely neutralized my terrain.

Frustration surged within me as I tried to keep up, converting my electrical energy to kinetic energy, trying to match Spike's speed while fending off Simon's relentless machines. I managed to land a few hits, but both of them were quick to recover.


I gritted my teeth and pressed on, but soon I found myself on the defensive. Spike and Simon were too much.

"Sorry, Cuz, but we're ending this here! Let's finish this Simon!" Spike called out.

"Maximum effort output! Let the fated-changing Star Laser FIRE AWAY!" Simon cried, unleashing a devastating satellite laser. The blast hit me hard, and I barely managed to stand afterward, breathing heavily. But Spike was ready to finish it.

"Chain Lock Repulsion!" Spike shouted, binding me with his chains and neutralizing my powers. My flag lights went out, and I collapsed, unable to activate my revival ability.

Spike and Simon celebrated their victory, exchanging high-fives. I punched the ground in frustration. Daisuke, who had been watching from the sidelines, looked disappointed. He turned and silently exited the dojo.

The defeat stung deeper than any wound. How was I supposed to defeat Lilith if I couldn't even hold my own in a training session? I felt utterly defeated.

Later, we gathered for dinner at the temple. Daisuke had prepared a delicious Japanese meal—sushi, ramen, and other dishes. Everyone else was enjoying the food, but I could barely bring myself to eat. My mind kept replaying the earlier fight.

"You okay, mate?" Charlie asked, noticing my lack of appetite.

"Don't feel bad about the loss, Cuz. You put up a good fight," Spike said encouragingly. Simon nodded in agreement, trying to lift my spirits.

But their words didn't help. "Fight me again!" I suddenly declared. "Both of you! No, wait—Charlie, you too!"

"Oh boy...you sure are persistent," Simon said, raising an eyebrow.

"You sure about this?" Charlie asked, a mix of concern and surprise in his voice.

I nodded firmly. "I have to do this."

"Well, no time to waste, then," Spike said, putting down his chopsticks as we all stood, ready for round two.


The four of us went into battle. This time, I was up against Charlie, Spike, and Simon—together. It didn't take long to realize I had bitten off more than I could chew. With Charlie's protective powers in play, the trio was practically unstoppable. My attacks barely scratched them, and no matter how hard I pushed, it seemed like nothing I did could break through their defenses. Eventually, I was knocked out again.

Undeterred, I demanded a rematch. And another. Each time, all three of them agreed, but no matter how hard I fought, the result was always the same: another loss.

After several rounds of defeat, we called it a night. Exhausted and sore, I texted Amy and my parents, letting them know I'd be staying over at the temple with my friends. As I lay on the futon, staring at the ceiling, my mind raced, replaying each battle in my head. The truth was inescapable: I wasn't ready. If I couldn't handle Spike, Simon, and Charlie, how could I hope to stand against Lilith, who now had Jessica, Luna, and Future Amy's powers under her control?

The four of us gathered around a small table, discussing strategies. "So, she's going to be one hell of an enemy to face, huh?" Simon said, reacting to the information Charlie had uncovered about Lilith.

I barely heard Simon's words. My focus was elsewhere, my mind heavy with doubts.

Just then, Daisuke entered the room. "How are you all holding up?" he asked, looking around at us. I couldn't bring myself to respond, keeping my head down. Daisuke, ever perceptive, noticed instantly. His eyes narrowed, and his voice took on a stern edge. "If you continue to hold yourself back from the past, Sean, you will never learn to harness the Firebolt Dragon God's power."

I looked up, confused. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice strained.

"It's clear that you're still carrying the guilt of giving Lilith's power to Jessica, which led to the way things are now," Daisuke replied, his words hitting like a thunderclap. He was right. The guilt had been weighing on me ever since I realized the damage I had caused to the girl I loved.

"You are not the first to be deceived by Lilith," Daisuke continued, "but you can be the one to stop her from deceiving anyone else. Strength comes not just from your powers but from within. You must let go of the past, Sean, if you ever hope to unleash the Firebolt Dragon God's true potential. Only then can you make things right."

His words struck deep, resonating within me. I repeated them silently, turning them over in my mind. I couldn't change what had happened, but I could still fight for what was to come.

"Get some rest," Daisuke said, his tone softer now but still firm. "We'll resume training tomorrow."

With that, he left the room, leaving the four of us to reflect in silence. As I lay down, I knew one thing for sure: if I wanted to stand a chance against Lilith, I needed to free myself from the weight of my past mistakes. Tomorrow would be my chance to start doing just that.


The next morning, I got up early. I figured it was best to get a good warm-up before training, so I decided to do some workouts around the temple. After a few laps of jogging, I was already breathless. As I finished, Charlie came over, catching me off guard.

"You're up early," he said with a grin as I drained nearly my entire water bottle.

"Yup, gotta get an early start if I want to be ready for what's coming," I replied, still panting.

Charlie and I decided to train on our own for a bit. Facing him alone was much easier than fighting the trio from yesterday. With my fire and lightning powers, I managed to fend off Charlie's beasts and end our match in victory. As we took a break, Charlie complimented my progress. "You've come a long way, Sean. You're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for."

His words were nice, but I stayed humble. After all, I still hadn't won a three-on-one match. Just then, Simon walked over and informed me that Daisuke wanted to see me in the dojo.

I got up from where I was sitting and made my way to the dojo, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. Daisuke was meditating again when I arrived, his focus unshakable. As soon as he sensed my presence, he opened his eyes and stood up.

"You'll be fighting me this time, Sean," Daisuke said, catching me completely off guard. "Through this fight, you will learn to master the techniques of the Firebolt Dragon God."

I was stunned. I had thought my ultimate move was the only way to unleash the power of the Firebolt Dragon God, but Daisuke was telling me there was more.

"There are many techniques within the Firebolt Dragon God's power," Daisuke continued. "If you master them, they can become regular moves, not just ultimate ones."

He pulled out a parchment, showing me a list of techniques. Along with Shooting Star, which I had already been using, there were moves like Burning Sky, Sunset Blessing, Blazing Phenomenon, and many others—thirteen in total. At the end of the list was the ultimate move, one that would surpass all the others if I could master them.

"After all that training from yesterday, you got this, Cuz!" Spike said, cheering me on. But Daisuke quickly reminded us not to take things lightly.

"Do not underestimate me," Daisuke warned. "I have regained my full powers through the ritual and will not be holding back here. This battle will be real, Sean. It will deal real damage, and if you can't handle it, I can't guarantee your survival. Lilith will likely show no mercy either."

Spike, Simon, and Charlie exchanged worried glances, but I couldn't afford to hesitate. I steeled myself, my thoughts locked on Jessica. "To save Jessica, I'd risk everything, even my life. Let's do this, Dai!"

We both raised our flags, and Daisuke's appeared with a samurai helmet and crossed swords beneath it.

The battle began, and I unleashed one of the new moves I'd learned. "BURNING SKY!" I roared, swinging my sword infused with fire and lightning toward Daisuke. But with his supernatural stealth, he dodged effortlessly and landed a hit from behind.

The pain was real. Daisuke wasn't bluffing. This was no training session—it felt like life or death. I continued unleashing move after move, but Daisuke's swordsmanship was far superior to mine. Before long, my flag lights went out, and I barely stayed in the fight, relying on my revive ability.

But it was no use. Daisuke was relentless, his attacks devastating and precise. Each strike felt like facing a force of nature. He finished the battle by striking me down, leaving me sprawled on the dojo floor.

"Is that all you've got, Sean Tey?" Daisuke taunted, his voice cutting deep.

Spike, Simon, and Charlie rushed to my side as I groaned in pain. Daisuke's power was overwhelming. But despite the damage, my resolve didn't waver. "I won't let it end here! I'll do whatever it takes to save Jessica!" I cried out, my voice raw with determination.

Daisuke, seeing my resolve, agreed to a rematch.

We fought again. And again, I was defeated.

"That's enough, Sean! You're going to get yourself killed!" Simon warned after my latest defeat.

"No... one more time!" I demanded, my body screaming in pain but my heart refusing to back down.

Daisuke raised his flag once more. "Raise..." he began, and I mirrored his action.

"...the flag," I whispered, but before I could complete the motion, a sudden tightness gripped my chest. My vision blurred, and my legs gave out beneath me. I collapsed to the ground.

"SEAN!" Spike's voice broke through the haze, full of worry.

"Hang in there, Sean!" Charlie shouted, panic lacing his words.

"Pull yourself together!" Simon added as all three of them circled around me