The sun had barely kissed the horizon when Hoshimori's streets turned into a battlefield. Smoke and dust hung heavy in the air, mingling with the faint glow of Itsuki's Starblade. The villagers had been evacuated, leaving only rubble and the three defenders standing against the towering figure of Shinraku.
The general's scythes sliced through the early morning haze, each swing sending ripples of darkness across the plaza. Despite their combined attacks from last night, Shinraku had recovered, his violet-tinged armor reflecting the rising sun like a storm cloud trapped in metal.
Itsuki steadied himself, Starblade in hand, the crescent mark glowing with renewed intensity. He had trained, he had grown, but Shinraku was no ordinary enemy.
Tsukihime's silver threads danced around him, reinforcing his movements. "Focus, Itsuki! You can strike the weak points in his defense—don't waste energy on futile blows!"
Yukari crouched atop a crumbling wall, nocking her arrows with practiced precision. "I'll keep him off balance. Follow the rhythm, Starbearer!"
---
Shinraku's eyes, twin embers of malice, glinted as he advanced. "So… the Starbearer has learned to shine brighter. How quaint. Let me see if your light can withstand the Eclipse!"
With a roar, he slammed his scythes into the ground. A wave of shadow surged outward, tearing through cobblestones and sending debris flying. Itsuki barely leapt, Starblade flaring as he deflected chunks of stone.
"You're slower than I expected!" Shinraku taunted. "The Eclipse King grows impatient with this hesitation!"
Itsuki gritted his teeth. "Then we'll give him a reason to wait!"
He leapt forward, unleashing Moonlit Crescent in a sweeping arc, cutting through a wave of shadow and forcing Shinraku backward. Tsukihime's threads intertwined with the blade's light, amplifying the strike into a radiant crescent that split the air with a brilliant hum.
The general hissed and countered with a spinning scythe strike. Sparks erupted where light met darkness, and the force of their clash cracked the plaza's stone.
Yukari fired a flurry of arrows from above, each glowing with starlight-infused precision. Some struck, others forced Shinraku into defensive stances, but the general adapted quickly, the shadow around him shifting like liquid.
Itsuki realized that brute strength wouldn't win this fight. He needed to predict, to synchronize, to trust the flow of starlight like Tsukihime had taught him.
---
"Now, Itsuki!" Tsukihime called. "Merge your intent with mine! The Radiant Surge—combined!"
Itsuki focused, closing his eyes briefly. He felt the silver threads from Tsukihime's pendant wrap around his blade, merging their intent into a single pulse of energy. His Starblade flared, brighter than ever, crescent arcs dancing like comets across the sky.
With a shout, he struck forward—Radiant Surge, amplified by Tsukihime. Shinraku roared as the energy collided with his armor. Darkness twisted and screamed, unable to resist the fused power of Starbearer and Hoshikage's pendant.
The scythes were torn from his grasp, clattering across the plaza. Shinraku staggered, his armor cracked, revealing the shadows beneath.
"You… cannot… stop the Eclipse…" he rasped, voice trembling.
"Not tonight!" Itsuki shouted, pressing forward, his blade ablaze. Yukari rained arrows from above, striking with pinpoint accuracy. Every movement was synchronized, every strike guided by light and trust.
Finally, with a surge of combined strength, Itsuki plunged the Starblade into the center of Shinraku's chest. A shockwave of silver light erupted, tearing through the shadows. The general shrieked as his form disintegrated, feathers and darkness dissolving into the wind.
The plaza fell silent. Smoke curled upward, carrying the faint scent of ozone and starlight.
---
Itsuki sank to his knees, exhausted. Tsukihime placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, silver threads swirling around them. "You have done well, Starbearer. Tonight, you faced a general of the Eclipse King—and survived. You are no longer just learning. You are becoming a true protector."
Yukari jumped down beside him, her bow slung casually across her back. "Don't get used to compliments, kid. But… yeah. That was impressive."
Itsuki looked around the ruined plaza, at the remains of Shinraku, and then at the horizon. Far off, where the sky met the distant mountains, a shadow shifted—a faint, almost imperceptible ripple. Something vast, something patient, something alive.
Tsukihime's voice dropped to a whisper. "That is the Eclipse King himself… watching. He knows you exist now, Itsuki. And he will come for you."
Itsuki's hand tightened around the Starblade. His chest heaved with exhaustion, fear, and determination all at once.
"I don't care how strong he is," he said, voice steady. "I'll face him. And I'll protect everyone I care about—no matter what it takes."
Yukari smirked, though her eyes were sharp. "Finally… a little fire in you. Good. You're going to need it."
Tsukihime looked at him, her silver eyes reflecting the rising sun. "The real battle is just beginning. Darkness does not rest… and neither can we."
Far beyond the city, in a fortress veiled in shadow, the Eclipse King's voice echoed through the void:
> "So… the Starbearer awakens. Let the night fall."