The night seemed darker under Obsidian's presence. Shadow energy pulsed around him, and Shadowsteel, the monster he had created, continued its destructive rampage through the streets. Sakura Eclipse and Lunar Bloom stood side by side, preparing for battle. "Shadowsteel, finish them off at once!" Obsidian ordered, his voice firm and relentless. The metallic monster roared, its sharp claws glinting in the moonlight. With a swift movement, it charged at the warriors, striking with a powerful punch. "Watch out!" Lunar Bloom shouted, pulling Sakura Eclipse aside at the last moment. The creature's impact cracked the asphalt, leaving a deep crater in the ground. Sakura Eclipse quickly stood up and raised her brooch. "Eclipse Blossom Strike!" The glowing petals flew toward Shadowsteel, exploding against his armor. But when the dust cleared, the monster was still standing, unharmed.
"What?!" Sakura Eclipse's eyes widened.
Obsidian smiled coldly.
"This monster is made of the purest shadowsteel. Your energy blasts won't affect it."
Lunar Bloom clenched her fists.
"If direct attacks won't work… then I need to confuse its senses!"
She spun in the air and crossed her arms, summoning her magic.
"Lunar Mirage!"
A silvery mist spread across the area, distorting the monster's vision. Shadowsteel roared furiously, trying to locate its prey.
"Now, Sakura Eclipse!"
Sakura Eclipse took advantage of the opening and dashed to the side, preparing another attack.
"Eclipse Blossom Barrage!"
This time, instead of a single blast, multiple beams of petals flew through the air, striking the creature's joints. Small cracks could be heard as parts of their armor began to crack. Obsidian frowned. "Hmph… so you managed to do some damage. But don't think that will be enough." He raised his hand and channeled his dark energy. The shadows around him began to move and enveloped Shadowsteel, reinforcing his armor. "What?!" Sakura Eclipse exclaimed. Lunar Bloom narrowed her eyes. "He's strengthening the monster with the shadow energy itself." Obsidian pointed his blade at them. "You may be lucky now, but not for long. Shadowsteel, end this game." The monster raised its claws, which now glowed darkly, and slammed them down hard, creating a shockwave that threw the warriors backwards. Sakura Eclipse fell rolling to the ground, feeling the impact on her body. Lunar Bloom managed to break her fall, but she still felt the shock.
"He's gotten stronger…" Lunar Bloom muttered, panting.
Obsidian laughed.
"The battle is already decided. You might as well accept your fate and give up now."
But Sakura Eclipse gritted her teeth and stood up.
"I'll never give up!"
She gripped her brooch tightly, focusing all her energy on it.
Lunar Bloom looked at her and nodded.
"Whatever your plan, I support you."
Sakura Eclipse closed her eyes for a second, and when she opened them, her body glowed golden.
"Final Eclipse Bloom!"
A bright aura surged around her, and a shower of luminous petals descended from the sky. The petals stuck to the cracks in Shadowsteel's armor and, in an instant, exploded into light.
The monster roared in agony as its shell began to crumble. Lunar Bloom seized the moment.
"Lunar Crescent Slash!"
She formed a blade of silver light and slashed the creature across the chest. Shadowsteel screamed one last time before disappearing into a cloud of shadows.
Obsidian watched the monster disappear and frowned.
"Tsk… it seems I underestimated you."
He twirled his blade and took a few steps back.
"But make no mistake. Noctis will still prevail. You've only delayed the inevitable."
Before Sakura Eclipse or Lunar Bloom could react, Obsidian disappeared into the shadows, leaving only the silence of the night.
The warriors looked at each other, still catching their breath.
"It was close…" Lunar Bloom sighed.
Sakura Eclipse nodded.
"But we did it. We defeated his monster."
Lunar Bloom looked up at the sky, where the moon shone brightly.
"Noctis is still waiting for the right moment to act... we need to prepare for the next battle."
Sakura Eclipse smiled, despite her tiredness.
"And we will be ready."
But little did they know that, in the shadows, another general was already preparing for the next attack...