BATTLE WITH THE SHADOWS
During the group's discussion on the 2nd floor, the three shadows on the 1st floor combines their bodies into a giant shadow. Eavesdropping on their conversation from the floor above, the shadow jumps through the ceiling onto the 2nd floor, leaving everyone in shock. The shadow creature then charges at the group, prompting Conor to instruct everyone to run. Despite their attempt to escape to the 1st level, the shadow creature proves too quick, capturing two of the survivors. Conor urges the group to shine their lights at the shadow, but the creature's numerous shadow arms shield its head from the light. Helpless, the group witnesses the shadow creature devouring the two unfortunate survivors. Conor is stunned, and Nakao implores the remaining survivors to flee. Panic ensues, leading to the group splitting into two factions, leaving Conor behind alone. One group, led by Vass, exits through the front door in a panic, while Nakao and the others sprint to the back door. Despite Nakao's warnings, the panicked group opens the back door, only to be torn apart by the mini shadows outside. Nakao watches in despair, falling to her knees as she closes the back door. Vass and his group escape through the front door, with the giant shadow smashing one of the survivors. Vass and the others runs back to the front door. Vass manages to get to the front door as the others behind him are brutally crushed and their bloods splashes onto his back. He turns around traumatized and closes the door.
Conor, paralyzed with shock, mutters to himself that he had vowed to save everyone and escape without any casualties, but he has now failed them. The shadow creature shifts its focus to Conor, at this moment his eyes illuminate with magical radiance, signaling a potential magical evolution within him. Empowered by this surge of magic from his emotions, Conor regains his composure and conjures a mystical bow into existence from his left hand. Fueled by anger, Conor declares his intent to kill Simon. With a swift motion, Conor summons a magical arrow with his right hand and directs it toward the shadow creature. The arrow penetrates the creature's form, leaving a gaping hole in its wake. In response, the shadow emits a pained scream and charges at Conor. Undeterred, Conor skillfully avoids the creature's attacks while continuously launching magical arrows in retaliation.
Using its numerous arms, the shadow creature skillfully deflects Conor's magical arrows. Employing its shadow magic, it summons the trapped shadows from the 2nd and 3rd floors, combining them with itself to enhance its strength. The shadow creature then unleash a formidable blast of shadow magic from it's mouth. In response, Conor swiftly grabs Vass and leaps into a nearby room, narrowly avoiding the destructive blast that obliterates the front doors with a shadowy explosion. As Conor regains his footing, he witnesses the giant shadow in front of the apartment building breaking through the wall, seizing Vass in its grasp. Vass, terrified, pleads with Conor to save him. Conor, propelled by desperation, leaps through the breached wall and fires his magical arrows at the towering shadow. Meanwhile, the other shadow creature within the apartment building is poised to join the fray but is distracted by a glimmer of light behind it. Turning around, the creature is confronted by a frightened Nakao, attempting to fend off the shadow with the feeble illumination from her flashlight.
The giant shadow hurls Vass into the air, its immense mouth gaping wide to consume him. Reacting swiftly, Conor shoots a magical arrow rope, which zips toward Vass's ankle and wraps tightly around it. With a determined pull, Conor yanks Vass from the clutches of the shadow's maw. Infuriated, the shadow retaliates against Conor, launching a series of attacks. Conor skillfully evades each assault while simultaneously charging up a potent magical arrow. Leaping into the air, he releases the charged arrow, directing it into the shadow's head and obliterating the entire entity. Collapsing to the ground, Conor gasps for breath, having exerted considerable magical energy. His attention is drawn to a scream, and he peers through the shattered opening at the front doors. Witnessing the approaching shadow creature closing in on Nakao, Conor rises, shoots a magical arrow into the apartment building, and as it reaches Nakao's face, it envelops her in a magical barrier ball, propelling her safely through the back doors.
Surrounded by mini shadows, the magical barrier around her detonates into numerous beams, annihilating the surrounding shadows. As she descends to the ground, she sees the gruesome remains of the other deceased survivors. The shadow creature rushes to the front of the apartment building, unleashing projectiles from its many arms. Conor skillfully evades the onslaught, charging up yet another powerful arrow and launching it. Recognizing the imminent threat, the shadow attempts to shield itself with its numerous arms. Despite the resistance, the arrow pierces through the multitude of arms, fatally striking the shadow. Exhausted, Conor collapses onto his back, having expended 95% of his newfound powers, causing his magical bow to dissipate. Vass helps Conor to his feet, and Nakao, overcome with emotion, joins them, embracing them with relief that they survived. As they attempt to leave the vicinity, Conor pushes them away, expressing his determination to kill Simon. Vass and Nakao insist that Conor is in no condition to face Simon. Tearfully, Conor conveys his sense of failure at being unable to save everyone, asserting that avenging them is the least he can do. They watch as Conor retraces his steps into the apartment building.
Conor proceeds down to the basement, navigating the hallway and opens the doors that reaches a chamber where Simon sits beside Mai, surrounded by the ongoing healing embrace of shadow magic. As Simon rises to his feet, he turns towards Conor, expressing Conor's preference for confrontation over evasion, ready to face the impending conflict. Conor sternly declares his intent to end Simon's life. Simon, however, reflects on the challenges of being a man of honor, expressing his frustration that individuals like Conor often fail to appreciate a clear victory and instead opt for self-destructive courses of action. The two lock eyes in a tense standoff, with shadow magic enveloping Mai in a protective dome. Simon observes Conor's rekindled magical abilities, noting that Conor has depleted a significant portion of his magic in the battle against his shadows.
Meanwhile, Frank and Michael are destroying many shadow creatures in the town. Suddenly they get intercepted by Aiden. He intervenes forcefully, shooting shadow blasts from his hands that propel both Frank and Michael into nearby buildings. Aiden then employs his shadow magic to draw all the shadows in town into himself, declaring that this marks the final battle and signals his hope for a normal life with his companions afterward. Surrounded by potent shadow magic, Aiden becomes a formidable force. Michael, attempting to counter, attacks Aiden with lightning magic, only to be taken aback upon realizing Aiden's youthful appearance. Aiden skillfully employs his shadow magic to deflect the lightning, responding with a counterattack using a shadow arm. Michael deftly dodges the assault and questions Frank, pondering if he is prepared to kill a child to rescue Mai. Frank emerges from the wreckage, wielding the magical knife, and swings it at Aiden. Aiden attempts to block, but the magical knife cuts through his shadow magic. Forced to retreat, Aiden jumps away, and the slash from the magical knife leaves a visible mark on the ground. Frank, resolute, asserts that he will go to any lengths necessary to save Mai.
Aiden proceeds to envelop half of the town with a dome of shadow magic, plunging it into complete darkness where neither Frank nor Michael can see. Abruptly, Frank is attacked by numerous shadow hands within the dome, resulting in him spewing blood from the impacts. It dawns on him that he would have died to these assaults if not for the influence of Conor's magical knife. Following this, a colossal shadow pillar descends upon Frank, shattering the ground throughout the town upon impact. Through the dark chaos, Michael, cloaked in lightning magic, hurtles into view and delivers a powerful kick to the shadow pillar, infusing it with intense lightning that courses across the shadow dome. The shadow pillar succumbs to the onslaught of lightning magic, breaking apart within the dome. In the aftermath, Michael tells Frank that they can forge their own light within this darkness. Frank acknowledges the truth in Michael's words, and the knife in his hand emanates a brilliant magical glow that pierces through the shadow dome. Rising with an aura of formidable magic surrounding him and blood dripping from his body, Frank prepares his next magical attack.
Simultaneously, Simon and Conor remain locked in a gripping magical standoff. Conor tries to summon his magical bow, but with the little magic he has, he could only manifests magical sparks from his hand. Observing this, Simon acknowledges his miscalculation, realizing that Conor has indeed depleted his magical energy. Without hesitation, Conor charges forward, delivering a forceful punch towards Simon's face. However, Simon, utilizing his shadow magic, summons a defensive barrier to block the punch. In response, Simon comments on the apparent lack of respect in aiming for his face, particularly considering Simon's recently acquired new body and that he needs to be presentable for Mai. Employing his shadow magic once again, Simon propels Conor upwards, causing him to collide with the ceiling before descending back down onto the floor.
Upon awakening in the hospital bed, Mai finds her neck healed and notices Simon with his foot on Conor's back. Anxious, she rushes to the shadow dome, banging on it, and pleads with Simon to cease his actions. Simon turns around, revealing his hatred towards Conor due to the resemblance with Adam's face, the one who had injured him and kept them separated for two years. He mentions Conor's high-quality blood and his intention to keep him for blood-related purposes. Mai demands Simon to release Conor, but Simon, asserting his newfound strength, refuses, claiming that Adam will eventually come looking for his son, leading to a rematch. Mai argues that Aiden wouldn't approve and that he wants Conor to be his friend. Simon dismisses this, laughing off the notion that Aiden will not survive the ongoing battle, suggesting that Aiden's purpose is to weaken the enemy before Simon confronts them for an easier victory.
Simon also declares that Duke will become his new puppet. Utilizing his shadow magic, Simon opens the door and brings Duke in with his shadow hands. Addressing Duke, Simon lays out the condition that loyalty to both him and Aiden requires strict adherence to his commands. Overwhelmed with fear, Duke hastily nods in agreement. Simon then imparts some of his shadow magic power to Duke, causing initial screams of pain that eventually subside, allowing him to control the shadows around him. With satisfaction, Simon remarks that Aiden would be pleased to see Duke matching him in magical prowess. He instructs Duke to promptly extract some of Conor's blood, expressing a strong desire for Conor's high-quality blood. Simon kicks Conor, who slides to Duke's feet.
Duke gazes at Conor and without hesitation, Duke lifts Conor and declares that he's tired of people telling what to do. Duke directs a potent shadow blast at Simon, who quickly utilizes his shadow magic to absorb the attack and promptly strips Duke of his shadow powers. Simon comments on Aiden's questionable taste in friends, suggesting that, in the end, it might just be him and Mai. Mai, however, closes her eyes and attempts to tap into her magic. Observing this, Simon approaches the shadow dome. He corrects Mai, asserting that what she perceived as her magic was, in fact, his own magic assisting her whenever she closed her eyes. Mai, acknowledging this, maintains her focus, and says that this was a mere distraction. Simon turns around just as Conor charges in with a magical punch, channeling all his remaining magic. Conor delivers a forceful punch to Simon's beautiful, shiny face, causing Simon to crash through the shadow dome and the basement wall. Before Conor collapses from exhaustion, Mai catches him. Duke and Mai then carry Conor out of the room and retreat down the long hallway.
Just as they are about to reach the stairs, a shadow hand snags Mai from behind, yanking her back down the hallway. Duke cries out Mai's name, and Conor, attempting to reach her, collapses to the floor. Simon emerges from the room, utilizing his shadow magic to mend his fractured face. Enraged, he declares a change of plans, vowing to kill them all for the damage they caused to his face. Simon releases a huge shadow blast that hurtles toward Conor and Duke. Conor rises, shielding Duke as the blast engulfs them. In a moment, Conor taps into his latent magical potential and summons a magical barrier around them. However, even with this defense, the barrier eventually shatters, propelling Duke and Conor out of the apartment building. They crash onto the ground, where Vass and Nakao discover them unconscious, lying in a pool of blood, severely wounded. Nakao checks Duke's pulse, confirming that he is still alive. However, when Vass listens for Conor's heartbeat, there isn't any. He then desperately tries to revive Conor, begins administering CPR. Nakao, visibly distressed by Conor's apparent death, quickly tears her shirt to staunch the bleeding from both Conor's and Duke's wounds. Despite Vass's efforts with chest compressions, Conor remains unresponsive.
In the basement, Simon releases Mai from his shadowy grasp, arms wide open, expressing that he has done so much for her and envisions them staying together forever, even in the post-apocalyptic world. Mai disagrees, shaking her head, and declares that she will never be with Simon again. As the shadow magic finishes healing Simon's face, he insists that no one else in the world loves Mai as deeply as he does. Mai then tells him, stating that she has no love for him, and that it has been a one-sided affair. Simon argues that she will eventually realize the extent of his sacrifices for her. Mai, however, asserts that she is well aware of his actions and acknowledges that she owes her life to him. Yet, she emphasizes that Simon's attempts to win her back are not the right way to inspire love. She bluntly states that she would rather die than be with him. Before Simon can finish a sentence, he feels a bit of guilt, realizing that all this time he's trying to force Mai into loving him. Mai reveals that she has already fallen for someone else, further angering Simon, whose eyes flare with shadowy flames. Mai expresses that her existence has brought too much harm and death around her, suggesting it might be best to die and end the cycle of others dying for her. Tearfully, she punches Simon in the face, prompting no reaction. Simon, pondering his next move, steps back and ensnares Mai with his shadowy arms, contemplating the situation.