"All right then! Here's how we shall end this. I shall give you one last chance to give me all you got. If it's not enough... then I end you." Nightmare declared. Yoshi drew forth Brim, but Ethan put a paw on his shoulder. "Hold on... I... have an idea." He stated. He then turned to Neko. "We use our books together. Radiance and shadows." Ethan said as he summoned the book of radiance. "Waaait a minute." The feline said with a step back. "Isn't mixing the books a bad thing? Like chaos levels of bad." He pointed out. "Light and dark don't mix well do to opposing magic forces. But from what I've seen and researched, radiance and shadows are more aura based than magic based." Ethan lectured. While still a bit hesitant, Neko dismissed his shadow aura form and summoned the book of shadows. "Alright... but if this goes wrong you better be ready for all the told you so's in existence." Neko said. They then turned to Yoshi. "You ready for a power boost?" Ethan asked. "As ready as I'll ever be." The pirate said with a shrug.
~ Ch.12: Final Fight with Aura's Might
As Ethan and Neko held forth their books, the pages rapidly flipped and began to glow. The two began reading a similar spell together. "In the presence/absence of light... under the brightest/darkest moon... may radiance/shadows grant thee right... and flow/rage forth like a great monsoon... bestow upon thee now, aura's radiant/hidden might!" They chanted. As they finished the spells, they turned the books toward Yoshi. The books then converted into energy before bursting forth and colliding with the pirate. He let out a cry of pain as the energy coursed through him. When Neko tried running to him he held up a hand. "I- I'm ok... the power's just... a bit overwhelming." Yoshi reassured in ragged breaths. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on it. The energy was both coursing through him and emanating greatly around him. As he focused, he felt more control as the energies calmed. When he opened his eyes, they glowed with bright whites blacks and greys from the power within him. He gave Brim a swing forward and the energies flowed through him as well, making his runes a shifting light and dark. "Are you ready to finish this, Nightmare?" The pirate stated serious yet confident. Nightmare gave a grinning chuckle. "Let's see just how much power your little boost gave you." He said before swirling a cloud of dark magic. "And just to make it more interesting..." He grabbed the cloud as it solidified into a broadsword of his own. "Let's make it a battle of blades. Solid magic versus your animated." He stated as dark magic crackled through the blade like lightning.
The two stood across from each other, eyeing their opponent for any movement. Yoshi gave a swift sprint forward and in a blink was behind Nightmare. He then spun around with a slash toward the surprised shadow beast who barely managed a block. "Well now... that's some serious speed." Nightmare stated impressed. "Thanks… surprised me too honestly." Yoshi said as he jumped back. Nightmare wasted no time following the pirate and taking the offensive, but Yoshi was ready for him.
Neither of the two gave an inch. Each slash was met with a counter or blocked. Each time an attack and block collided it sounded like explosions with the force and energy behind them. The two moved so fast that the air in the room began gusting into turbulent winds. Meanwhile, the rest of the group took shelter from the battle outside the room. "This... this is insane!" Remmy exclaimed. "How is Yoshi's body able to handle such speed and force?!" The zurg questioned as he watched the battle. Diesel, who barely came back online when the clash began, monitored the battle with the scanners. "I am picking up-up-up great strain and damage in Yoshi. Also-so-so, signs of regeneration." The mech stated with static in his voice. "That would be the magic aura. It does give regenerative properties." Neko pointed out. "But if the power of the magic is causing damage though..." Wendy said with worry. "He has to finish this fast." Ethan stated.
Yoshi could feel pain in him. He knew he was pushing his body beyond its limits... but he couldn't lose. He couldn't let Brim's story of what this guy has done become reality once more. Would he even stop with just the island? The two clashed blades once more. "You know... your fighting style reminds me a lot of who your sword once was." Nightmare stated. "Oh, is this you saying I'm gonna win like he did?" Yoshi taunted as a sharp pain surged through his arm making him lose some ground and need a step back. "No, you are just a thorn in my side keeping me from my rule of these realms. And I think it's about time to pluck out that thorn." Nightmare said with a grin. Before Yoshi could respond, Nightmare drew back his blade causing the pirate to fall forward. Nightmare then sent forth a full force punch into Yoshi's face sending him tumbling across the room. Yoshi dug Brim into the ground to drag himself to a halt, but looking up, he had no time to block the spinning kick to his shoulder making him release his hold on Brim. He once more tumbled across the room and pain was felt all over, especially in his shoulder. He couldn't let the pain stop him. He quickly jumped to his feet and dodged as nightmare swung forth with his blade.
"Oh this is not good!" Remmy exclaimed. "The scans are showing cracks in Yoshi's right shoulder blade!" He informed. "Damnit!" Ethan swore as he punched a wall. Neko meanwhile kept watch on the battle. "Come on, I know you can take him out. After all, we've dealt with greater threats than this guy." The feline muttered as he recalled past battles, battles against bandits, tyrants, the animated, and the tome of chaos. "You got this." The feline stated with confidence.
The pain in Yoshi's shoulder was intense. Pushing it much further would be risky. He would have to use his left arm from this point on. "Ambidexterity training, do not fail me now." He thought aloud as he saw Brim flying back to him. Just as the blade closed in, Nightmare spun around and clashed his blade against Brim. "Tsk tsk tsk, you didn't think I forgot about you, right?" The shadow beast said with a shake of his head. "Now this won't do. This is two on one!" He complained in a mocking voice. He then grinned. "Oh waaait... I have a sword as well." He said as he released his blade. The blade began to move seemingly on its own and gave a few swings. "NightBlade be a dear and keep that other sword busy for me." Nightmare said in a mock sweet tone. The sword then gave a spin and charged toward Brim. The two blades began a clash of slashes and parries. "Now..." nightmare began as he dusted off his hands. "Where... were we." He said in a dark voice as he turned back to the pirate.
Not having much other choice, Yoshi charged forth, ready for a fist fight. He was also wishing he didn't leave his claw gauntlet on the ship, not that it would do much in a battle of this level. His aura enhanced speed was helping him keep up with Nightmare, but his injured shoulder was keeping him from getting the upper hand, and it was becoming obvious. Nightmare grinned. "Is there a chip on your shoulder you want to talk about." He taunted. Yoshi growled unamused. "Was hoping that joke would crack you up. Oh wait... your shoulder already is, isn't it?" He taunted further. Diving back to dodge another punch, Nightmare gave a spin and kicked to Yoshi's right side. He had no choice but to block with his right arm, and a loud crack sounded out from his shoulder as the arm went limp and the pirate let out a cry of pain. "Ooh, I'm sorry. Did that one hurt?" Nightmare asked in a mock kind voice. Yoshi gave a glare at Nightmare, but something close caught his eye. He had a plan. "Wow, congratulations. You really pulled off a big feat breaking a mortal's shoulder." Yoshi said in a mocking sarcastic voice, despite the pain. Nightmare's expression soured. "Come again?" He said annoyed. "Oh nothing, just breaking a human's shoulder must be quite the feat if someone claiming themselves as a deity takes soo much pride in accomplishing it." Yoshi continued his sarcasm as he slowly circled the shadow beast. Now Nightmare growled with anger. "Are you mocking my power? Do you truly have no idea who you are up against?!" Nightmare shouted. "Well… I know someone who knows very well." He stated. Nightmare was about to question that, but he then realized they were right next to the locked together blades. With wide eyes he tried backing up, but Yoshi, with a smirk, put all the speed and precision he could muster into a spin. He grabbed Brim and slashed at Nightmare in one swift motion. Yoshi then got out of the way of Nightmare's blade as it rushed forth from Brim's lock with it being suddenly released. The shadow beast stumbled and fumbled back. He then looked at the gash that went half ways through him, and the sword that impaled him. Wisps of shadow and dark energy were escaping the gash at a rapid rate.