The battle before the finale

"can we ask of you that Lumi illandice is set free. Why take her and disrupt the balance in the nations." Histoikie pressed for answears but Rudolf remained silent, his response veiled behind a smirk. Rudolf's smug expression betrayed a confidence that bordered on arrogance. His silence was deliberate, a tactic to unnerve his adversaries and assert his dominance over the situation. Yet, Saturn refused to yield to his intimidation tactics. She stood firm, her resolve unshaken by his demeanor, her eyes fixed on him with unwavering determination.

"We demand answers, Rudolf," Saturn reiterated, her voice steady despite the palpable tension in the air. "Your actions have consequences, and you will be held accountable for the chaos you've sown."

Histoikie, though visibly frustrated by Rudolf's lack of response, maintained her composure. With a subtle glance exchanged between her and Saturn, they silently communicated their resolve to pursue the truth and secure Lumi's freedom, no matter the obstacles they faced. Rudolf's lips curled into a sinister smirk, his eyes gleaming with a cunning glint. "You speak boldly, but you underestimate the power I wield," he retorted, his voice laced with a hint of menace. "Lumi Illandice is under my protection now, and her fate is intertwined with mine."

Saturn's grip tightened on her sword, her muscles coiled with tension as she prepared for any sudden moves from Rudolf. She exchanged a quick glance with Histoikie, a silent reminder of their shared determination to see justice served.Rudolf's words hung in the air like a heavy fog, suffocating any hope of a peaceful resolution. With a flick of his hand, he signaled his guards, who moved to surround Saturn and her companions, their weapons drawn and ready for action. The tension in the grand hall escalated, the atmosphere crackling with anticipation as the standoff reached its boiling point. As the guards rushed forward with menacing intent, Saturn and Histoikie stood their ground, their eyes locked on their adversaries. With a swift, fluid motion, Saturn lunged forward, her sword slicing through the air like a streak of lightning. With each precise strike, she expertly parried the guards' attacks, her movements graceful yet deadly.

Histoikie, her movements calculated and precise, moved in perfect harmony with Saturn, weaving through the chaos with practiced ease. With a flick of her wrist, she dispatched one guard after another, her blows landing with lethal accuracy.

Together, they moved as one, their movements synchronized in a deadly dance of blades and bodies. With each clash of steel, sparks flew, illuminating the grand hall with a shower of light. The guards, caught off guard by the ferocity of their attackers, faltered in their advance, their ranks thinning with each passing moment.

But Saturn and Histoikie showed no signs of slowing down, their determination unwavering as they fought tooth and nail against their foes. With each enemy vanquished, they pressed forward, their resolve unyielding in the face of overwhelming odds.

As the last of the guards fell to the ground, defeated and broken, Saturn and Histoikie stood victorious, their chests heaving with exertion. In that moment, amidst the chaos and carnage, they shared a silent nod of acknowledgement. Rudolf's strike cleaved through the air with terrifying force, narrowly missing Saturn and Histoikie as they barely managed to evade the lethal blow. The sheer power behind the swing sent shockwaves rippling through the air, knocking them off balance and sending them careening in opposite directions.

Saturn felt herself propelled backward, her body twisting in mid-air as she crashed to the ground with a resounding thud. Pain shot through her limbs as she struggled to regain her footing, her senses reeling from the force of Rudolf's attack.

Meanwhile, Histoikie was sent flying in the opposite direction, her body twisting and contorting as she tumbled across the floor. With a grunt of effort, she managed to roll to a stop, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she struggled to push herself upright. As they both staggered to their feet, they locked eyes across the grand hall.

Immediately Saturn rushed at Rudolf. The clash of steel echoed through the grand hall as Saturn and Rudolf engaged in a ferocious duel, their swords flashing in the dim light like streaks of lightning in a storm. With each strike and parry, the air crackled with tension as they matched each other blow for blow, neither willing to yield an inch of ground.

Saturn's movements were swift and agile, her sword dancing through the air with deadly precision. But Rudolf was no ordinary opponent; his skill and strength were formidable, and he met every one of Saturn's attacks with equal force. The two warriors moved with fluid grace, their blades meeting in a symphony of clashing steel as they fought for supremacy.

As the battle raged on, Saturn felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins, fueling her every movement. Her senses sharpened to a razor's edge, and her mind was consumed by a primal hunger for victory. With each passing moment, her control slipped further and further away, and her attacks grew more reckless and aggressive.

But Rudolf was no stranger to battle, and he met Saturn's onslaught with calm determination. His movements were measured and precise, his swordsmanship honed through years of training and experience. Despite Saturn's wild ferocity, he held his ground with unwavering resolve, his steely gaze never wavering from his opponent.

The battle reached a fever pitch as Saturn and Rudolf clashed with ever-increasing intensity. Each blow reverberated through the hall, shaking the very foundations of the throne room as they fought tooth and nail for supremacy. But as the minutes turned to hours, it became clear that neither warrior would emerge from the duel unscathed. With every strike, they pushed themselves to their limits, their strength and skill tested to the breaking point.

Suddenly, Plutonia, with a mixture of determination and clumsiness, charged into the fray. With a clumsy swing, she managed to strike Rudolf's heel, momentarily throwing him off balance. Seizing the opportunity, Saturn swiftly used the distraction, her sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. In a swift move Saturn’s blade sliced through flesh and bone as she severed his finger.

Rudolf lashed out with a kick to Plutonia’s stomach. She ragdolled across the room with a cry of pain. Saturn gripped the ring as tight as she could and straight away dashed towards Histoikie on the other side.

“Take the ring!” Saturn ordered.

“No, take the other rings and put them on.”

Saturn froze. She put herself into a state of self realization. Taking the rings means victory and her ego tugs on her brain to do just that. Her mini self begging to do the complete opposite. An angel and devil hovered on her shoulders and each offered a proposition just as good to her.

Histoikie harshly squeezed on her cheeks and directed her head over to Plutonia’s body on the ground.

“Take the rings. Do you want to fail your ancestors? The blood of Santuria runs through you. Our only defeat was our deaths.” Histoikie whispered into her ear which only propelled her ego devil to higher levels.

“Is it one on each finger?”

“One on each and two on the ring finger.” Histoikie replied.

Rudolf barreled toward them, Saturn’s heart raced seeing the brick wall rapidly approaching them and gushed out the way letting him crash into the wall behind. Saturn's hands trembled slightly as she slid each ring onto her fingers, their cool metal sending a shiver down her spine. She felt a relaxing tingle down her body with each one she slid on. Index finger, middle finger, ring finger, pinky – each ring found its place, each one pulsating with its own unique energy. She hesitated with the very last one.

“SATURN!!”

The voice stuck her and her eyes shot up in front of her. Rudolf’s blade flew toward her like a bullet. Her body collapsed as everything slowed down. She could feel every particle of air as her body twisted and fell like a tall apartment block.

‘SHLKT’

“Sis?”

The voice felt warm. Her ears begged for more of it. She finally spun a full ninety degrees and got a glimpse of her sister. She stood there motionless gasping for air as the sword that aimed for Saturn’s body impaled her instead.

Saturn rose from the floor, trembling with both trauma and rage. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, each one a testament to the turmoil within. Every fiber of her being seemed to vibrate with pent-up emotion as she struggled to contain the storm raging inside her. Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms as she fought to control the overwhelming surge of emotions threatening to consume her. With each heartbeat, her vision pulsed with a crimson haze, fueled by a burning desire for vengeance. She staggered upright, the weight of her anguish heavy upon her shoulders, yet her determination burned fiercely within her. Without hesitation the last ring went on.

As Saturn slid the final ring onto her finger, a surge of power coursed through her body, causing her to levitate a few inches off the ground. Her muscles tensed, and her limbs flailed uncontrollably as she lost command of her own movements. With no gravity to anchor her, she floated aimlessly in the air, helpless against the unseen force gripping her.

The rings emitted a blinding light, engulfing Saturn in a dazzling glow. She squinted against the brilliance, feeling as though she were being consumed by the radiance. Suddenly, slender bands of energy emerged from each ring, extending outward like tendrils. They wrapped around Saturn's body.

As the bands tightened, Saturn's struggles intensified, her movements becoming more frantic as she fought against the invisible restraints. The pressure mounted, squeezing the air from her lungs and leaving her gasping for breath. She writhed and twisted, but the bands held firm, their grip unyielding as they bound her in their embrace.

Histoikie's eyes glittered with pride as she rushed over to Saturn. With a surge of emotion, she leaped into her arms and embraced her tightly. Their bodies pressed together in a warm, heartfelt embrace, as Histoikie expressed her joy and relief at Saturn's newfound power and the success of their mission.

Slowly, the bands began to wrap around Histoikie too. Together, the two were engulfed in an orb of blinding light, their forms obscured by its brilliance. In an instant, they found themselves floating in a vast expanse of white, surrounded by an endless abyss devoid of any tangible reality.