"Toukee!" Soshi shouted. "Aim at those wands floating in the air!"
Toukee readied his bow, but the shadow creature onslaught prevented him from getting a shot off. Soshi flew toward the spire Toukee was standing on to hold them off. Meanwhile, Koujin growled and chased after him, but Kaller waved his sword in the villain's face.
"Oh no, you're going through me first." he declared. Kaller rushed at the Dark Lord, slashing past the swarm of dark creatures. Blade drawn, and with a bloodthirsty gleam in his eye, Koujin countered with a slash of his own. The two blades met with a violent clang and locked in place. As the two struggled for the upper hand, Soshi was keeping the area around Toukee clear from the small shadow creatures. He spewed fire, blasted them with his wand, whatever it took to keep them at bay. Toukee was lining up his bow with the floating treasures when he heard a scream; Koujin had defeated Kaller in the exchange. Kaller was on his back, but he got to his feet and dodged the piercing thrust of Koujin's sword. Toukee fired his bow, and missed his intended target. He was readying another arrow when a firework exploded on the ground below, knocking Koujin off his feet.
"You guys didn't forget about me, did you?" a figure said as he sailed toward the castle.
"Yoshi!" Soshi called to his friend as the green dinosaur gave a salute, then ordered his troops to fire again.
Toukee fired another arrow and this time hit the Radiant Ruby, which detached from its magical resting place in the sky and started tumbling to the sea below.
"Grab it, Kaller!" Soshi yelled.
"You'll die before I allow that to happen!" Koujin roared. With an incredible burst of speed unable to detect, he raced toward Kaller with his demonic claws outstretched. With a mighty swing, the Dark Lord tore through Kaller's flesh, tossing him like a rag doll to the side. Before Soshi could blink, Koujin was upon him and Toukee.
"And you!" Koujin glowered venomously. "You're the next to die! Your parents were pathetic, as are you!" Soshi barely avoided the lightning-quick attacks from Koujin's sword. Toukee was not so lucky, however, as Koujin blasted him with magical energy, leaving him limp but still conscious. He had to act now if he were to have a chance. Leaving Toukee behind, Soshi dove for the Ruby. Grabbing it in his hands, he could feel the power rushing towards him.
Yoshi had climbed to the top of the castle via a grappling hook while Koujin was distracted with Toukee, and now stared down the villain with a menacing grin. He was the freshest of all the fighters, and raced toward him with a flurry of kicks. Yoshi had no weapon of his own, and Koujin was having little trouble avoiding him. Meanwhile, Soshi blasted his two wands at the sole remaining treasure: The Sentient Sapphire. The magical power seemed to conduct like electricity, and Soshi could feel both its magic and his own as he tried to claim it. Koujin, seeing this, flew toward Soshi with his claws outstretched.
"Behind you!" Yoshi cried. The Dark Lord simultaneously slashed Soshi with his sword and struck him with his claws, ripping a fatal gash in the dragon's back. Koujin slashed at the dragon from all sides, tearing away at Soshi's skin. Yoshi knew there was nothing he could do for the dragon, but couldn't bear to watch.
But to Koujin's surprise, Soshi still stood before him. He was wrapped in white light. It seemed that under his own will alone, Soshi had survived, and was still holding onto the treasures.
"I finally understand this power." Soshi breathed. "It is the same power that helped me on Proartica. You will never understand it, Koujin. For it is the power of life!" Soshi yelled. And as if on his command, the Sapphire broke from its hanging spot and into Soshi's hands.
"NO!" Koujin cried. Before his eyes, the light shone brighter, and the Dark Lord could not approach. When the light faded, Soshi was no longer holding the three treasures. In their stead was a golden blade that shimmered steadily, even proudly, almost as if to say "I'm invincible".
Soshi continued "This power was given to me by those who have died for me. My father, and my mother. But the next one to die will not be me, Koujin. It will be you."
"I'm ready, Soshi." Yoshi added.
"Stay out of this, Yoshi!" The dinosaur backed down. "This is my fight. Not yours. One of us will die, and it's not going to be you."
"But I-"
"Just GO! And take Toukee and Kaller with you!" Soshi knew Koujin had no interest in any of them. They were just obstacles for the Dark Lord to get to him.
As Yoshi departed and left the two of them, Soshi concentrated on his promise. To his parents. To Peach. To Rena. And to all of Plit.