Eclipse of the Chronicles

Chapter 16: Flames of Phoenixes and Dragons

(Scene opens up with a flashback)

Luna had called for a meeting between the two Amys—present and future—two days before the ultimate battle. They stood in a dimly lit room, their expressions serious as they discussed a plan that only they could pull off. It was a risky move, but if successful, they could save Jessica.

"We only have a short time span to execute this... Are you both clear on what to do?" Luna asked, her voice steady but laced with urgency. She wanted to make sure they all understood the critical timing involved. Both Amys nodded in response, their eyes reflecting a mixture of determination and anxiety.

Suddenly, future Amy staggered, her form flickering. Luna and present Amy rushed to catch her, supporting her before she could collapse. Future Amy's hand began to fade, becoming translucent—a clear sign that the forces of time were catching up to her.

"It seems I was only still here because part of Lilith's mind was in me... Now that's gone, I'm starting to disappear..." future Amy said weakly, her voice tinged with sadness. Luna and present Amy exchanged panicked glances.

"How much time do you have left? Is there anything we can do to stop this? Should we tell our bro?" Present Amy's voice came out in a frantic rush, echoing Luna's silent worries. They both searched future Amy's face for answers, hoping for reassurance.

Future Amy shook her head. "I don't know how much longer I have... but we can't tell him. Sean needs to focus on the fight ahead. We can worry about me after Lilith is taken down. I won't leave until she's gone... I promise."

Luna and present Amy looked at her with a mix of fear and admiration. They wanted to help but knew future Amy was resolute. "I won't let myself fade until it's over," future Amy added, clenching her fists. "Not without taking that witch with me."

The room fell into a brief silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on them all. Present Amy's eyes softened. "Thank you girls...it's been nice having this time with you both...no matter how short..." she said, her voice thick with emotion.

Future Amy smiled weakly, looking at both girls. "No regrets. Let's finish this together."

(Flashback ends)

(Scene reverts to the present)

Lilith and I had just raised our flags into the air. Mine had changed, no longer just a ball of lightning, but now a swirling combination of fire and electricity, with a dragon coiled around it. The confrontation had finally begun.

In the spectator area, Luna cast a worried glance toward future Amy. Amy's hand was still flickering in and out, but she gave Luna a reassuring nod. "I'm fine," she whispered. "When the time comes, we'll be ready." Luna nodded back, turning her focus to the battle ahead.

With a surge of determination, I drew the sword Daisuke had entrusted to me from the scabbard Simon had crafted. As my hands touched the blade, electricity and flames coursed through me, fusing with the weapon's essence. Even Lilith seemed momentarily taken aback by the spectacle.

"Let's do this!" I shouted, charging forward. Lilith smirked in response, her eyes flashing with sinister intent. She was the first to strike, her blade cutting through the air with deadly precision.

I met her attack head-on, raising my sword with newfound skill from the training Daisuke had given me. Sparks flew as our blades clashed in rapid succession, each blow more intense than the last. The spectators held their breath, their eyes glued to the chaotic exchange.

"Take this!" Lilith shouted, seizing an opening. Her blade came down hard, and despite my attempt to block with Elder Trion's sword, the force of the impact knocked me back. My flag lights dimmed slightly as I took the hit.

"Looks like Daisuke was right," I thought grimly. "This fight feels eerily similar to the one we had together... and Jake's battle with Lilith."

Lilith's eyes narrowed. "That attack should've done more damage... Could it be the sword?" she muttered, momentarily puzzled. But she quickly shrugged it off. "No matter."

We resumed our fierce battle, and this time, I found an opening. Gathering my energy, I unleashed a series of powerful moves.

"Firebolt Comet Dragon, Form 1, 2, 3... Shooting Star! Burning Sky! Blazing Phenomenon!" I cried out, each move landing solid blows against Lilith, forcing her back as her flag lights began to flicker. She winced in pain, clearly affected by the onslaught.

"That makes three forms linked," Daisuke murmured from the spectator area, catching the attention of those around him. Some glanced his way, wondering what he was referring to.

Lilith, though visibly weakened, regained her stance, her eyes filled with malice. "Why are you fighting so hard to save this girl? Is it because you like her?" she teased, her voice dripping with contempt. Her words caught me off guard, momentarily breaking my concentration.

"You want to be her hero, don't you? Always seeking her admiration... But even if you save her, she'll only love you for the act. Eventually, that admiration will fade, and all that's left will be despair." Her taunts were designed to dig deep, but I stood firm.

"I'm not doing this for admiration," I shot back, my voice steady despite her attempts to rattle me. "I'm fighting for her because she's dear to me. I won't let someone like you take her away!"

Lilith sneered. "Then let me tear you apart... with the very one you claim to save" She lunged at me, her speed and fury more intense than ever.

But I was ready. "Firebolt Comet Dragon, Form 4, 5, 6! Sunset Blessing... Static Firewall... Rainbow Magical Mirage!" I shouted, summoning a wall of flames and static lightning between us. A shimmering rainbow appeared above the battlefield as my magical powers surged. My defensive moves sent a powerful blow crashing into Lilith, hurling her far back across the stage, as her flag lights dimmed further, half the brightness from when we began.

"Yes! He's halfway there!" cheered Queenie from the sidelines.

"But that thing's coming up soon... the dark phoenix..." worried Amy, her gaze fixed on the battlefield.

Lilith let out a chilling laugh, her voice echoing ominously. "Nice try... but now, you have no chance of winning at all!" she sneered as dark-colored flames began forming in Jessica's hands—hands that Lilith had possessed. "It's coming..." Charlie muttered, dread creeping into his voice.

"Witness my true power... taking away all hope and leaving only despair!" Lilith cried as her body transformed once more, the dark flames engulfing her completely. "Unleash the Dark Phoenix! Demonic Dark Phoenix of Valor... Lilith's Purgatory!"

I gripped my sword tightly, my heart racing as I steeled myself for what was coming. Fear threatened to consume me, but I couldn't afford to back down now.

"Take this!" Lilith hissed as she summoned a swarm of dark aura crows that flew straight toward me.

"Firebolt Comet Dragon, Form 7, 8, 9... Burning Bones, Flaming Body... Scorching Heatwaves... Star Dragon Assault!" I shouted, channeling all my energy into the series of powerful attacks. My blade cut through the air, creating shockwaves as I slashed through the incoming aura crows. With a final, mighty swing, I sent a devastating strike toward Lilith, shattering her dark phoenix form.

The spectators erupted in cheers, believing we had finally taken down the monster. But Lilith's sinister chuckle cut through the air, silencing everyone.

"Such attacks are nothing to me..." she said coldly, standing tall despite the apparent destruction of her form.

"That's impossible!" Daisuke exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief. "Sean's attack clearly destroyed her dark phoenix body!"

Lilith grinned, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Allow me to explain why I chose to possess Jessica Tan's body in the first place," she said, her voice dripping with smug satisfaction.

"Because Jessica's hot?" Catherine quipped sarcastically, drawing some confused looks from the others.

Lilith's smile only grew wider. "The Firebolt Comet grants miraculous powers to those it chooses," she began, her tone now condescending. "But as we all know, those powers are bound to their wielders by the comet's chronicle particles. The comet's energy fuses with the wielder's soul, binding their fates together. This is where the Phoenix Angel Force comes into play."

Everyone listened closely, trying to understand what Lilith was getting at. "Jessica's powers were the closest to the Phoenix Angel Force... and with Luna and Amy's powers combined, I've reached the ultimate power! Behold... Dark Wings Rebirth!"

Suddenly, dark aura feathers began swirling around Lilith as her form transformed once again, growing even more monstrous and terrifying than before.

"Can she... revive?" Charlie asked, his voice trembling.

"That's right," Lilith replied smugly. "Thanks to Luna's mastered powers and Jessica's phoenix aura, I can reform into the Demonic Dark Phoenix as many times as I wish... making me truly immortal."

A wave of despair washed over the spectators.

"Does that mean... defeating her is impossible?" Howard asked, his voice filled with dread.

Lilith's eyes gleamed with triumph. "Exactly."

But before the weight of her words could fully sink in, Luna spoke up. "Not quite," she said, catching everyone's attention. "Your revival ability is limited, Lilith. At this rate, you can only use it about... thirty more times." Luna's revelation sent murmurs through the crowd, some expressing shock at the seemingly insurmountable challenge.

"So what?" I cried, raising my voice to drown out the whispers of doubt. "It doesn't matter how many times it takes! I'm going to save Jessica from you, no matter what. Guys... please stay with me till the end." My voice trembled slightly, but I meant every word. I turned to the spectator area, my gaze falling on my friends.

"You got it, mate!" Charlie called out, his fist raised in support.

"We're with you, cuz!" Spike added, his voice filled with determination.

Lilith let out a mocking laugh. "How cold-hearted of you, Sean Tey. You couldn't bear the consequences of defeat alone, so you've dragged your friends down with you. As I thought... you're just pretending to be a hero." Her words were designed to cut deep, but I didn't flinch. I couldn't afford to let her get to me.

"Firebolt Comet Dragon, Form 10, 11, 12! Rising Sun Dragon... Roaring Slash... Lightning Storm!" I called out, unleashing three more powerful forms in rapid succession. My strikes tore through Lilith's monstrous form again and again, destroying her demonic dark phoenix body three more times.

But each time, Lilith reformed instantly with her Dark Wings Rebirth spell, the air around her growing darker and more oppressive.

"My turn!" Lilith growled as a menacing blast erupted from the dark phoenix's beak, aimed directly at me.

Suddenly, Emily and Stephanie's aura projections materialized before me, shimmering with power. The real Emily and Stephanie, watching from the spectator area, exchanged confused glances, unsure of how their projections had manifested. But I didn't question it. The aura projections and I stood together, bracing ourselves as Lilith's attack bore down on us. Emily's projection unleashed a psychic blast while Stephanie's projection manipulated the metals around the stage, launching them toward Lilith in a flurry of shards and debris.

Despite the combined force of our attacks, Lilith's body reformed again and again. Her revival spell had already whittled down, but it was still another 24 times before she could be destroyed for good.

"I do not fear your aura projections," Lilith hissed, her eyes glowing with dark malice. "Whatever comes at me... will be crushed by my power!"

But before Lilith could strike again, more aura projections materialized around me. Howard's, then Queenie's, followed by Catherine's and Spike's—all of their powers merged into a synchronized assault on Lilith. Each time, Lilith's dark phoenix body shattered under the barrage of attacks, only to regenerate with her sinister Dark Wings Rebirth spell. We were down to another 20 more times.

Lilith's smirk deepened, her arrogance unfazed. "Like I told you... I do not fear aura projections."

I clenched my sword tightly, rage bubbling within me. "Well, then let's see if I can wipe that smirk off your face! Firebolt Comet Dragon, Final Form... THUNDER HOWLING BLAZER!" I roared, as a massive blazing lightning dragon burst forth from my chest, its scales crackling with energy. The dragon flew at Lilith with terrifying speed, crashing into her with a deafening roar. Her phoenix body was obliterated once more.

But, as expected, she reappeared.

"Dark Wings Rebirth!" Lilith screeched, restoring herself once again. The cycle continued.

Lilith retaliated with another devastating beam of energy, her power amplifying with every strike. The blast obliterated the aura projections around me, reducing them to dust. I barely had time to react as I raised my sword in a desperate attempt to shield myself, but it was no use. The blast hit me square on, sending me flying backward as my flag lights flickered out.

"BRO!" both Amys, present and future, screamed in unison, horror etched on their faces.

Lilith's laughter rang through the air. "It's over!" she declared, her dark aura billowing around her like a storm.

I groaned, feeling the weight of defeat settle over me, but I wasn't ready to give up. "Not yet!" I gritted out, pulling myself up. Unknown to Lilith, the electric terrain I had set up earlier began to hum to life, reacting to the energy around me. "To achieve something cool... all you need is the resilience to push through... and that's what Jessica taught me!"

Lilith's eyes narrowed, but there was a glint of anticipation in her gaze, as if she already knew what was coming next.

"THE SPARK STRIKES BACK!" I cried, as my body surged with electric energy. The field crackled around me, reviving me from the brink. My flag lights flared to life once more, glowing fiercely after they had been extinguished.

Lilith let out a cackle, her wings spreading wide. "All you're doing is delaying the inevitable!" she snarled as she summoned her dark aura crows once again. They swarmed toward me like a relentless storm, and I barely managed to fend them off, but each strike drained my stamina further.

I could feel myself weakening. My energy was depleting fast.

Lilith's voice became cold, foreboding. "The sun... shall never rise for you again..." she hissed, as the horizon darkened and the last light of day slipped beneath the clouds. Night was falling, and with it, the sense of doom loomed heavier.

(Scene cuts to black)