Spiritrun Arena

The autumn moon hung low over the Spirit Pattern Plaza, casting a silvery glow over the double-bloomed Starlight Flower that now stood at the tree's base. Lin Ye and Xiao Tao sat beneath it, their fingers laced, as the flower's petals whispered secrets only they could hear.

But peace was fleeting.

A low, guttural roar shattered the night.

From the shadows of the plaza's edge emerged a creature unlike any they'd fought before. Its body was a mass of writhing black vines, studded with shards of the same polluted crystal that had once powered the Eclipse Beast. Its eyes glowed with a sickly green light, and its mouth split into a jagged maw, dripping a corrosive fluid that sizzled on the stone.

"Pollution's spawn," Lin Ye muttered, his Reverse Scale Core flaring to life. "But… stronger. Like it's feeding on something."

Xiao Tao's shadow crow bells jingled sharply. "That fluid—it's eating the Starlight Flower's light!" She pointed; the flower's petals, once glowing silver and gold, were now dimming at the edges, as if being drained.

The creature lunged.

Lin Ye reacted first, his core erupting in a golden aura that shielded Xiao Tao. The vines slammed into him, but the armor held—barely. The corrosive fluid splashed his shoulder, searing through his shirt and leaving a black, oozing wound.

"Lin Ye!" Xiao Tao cried, her bells blazing silver. She darted around the creature, her bells slicing at the vines, but they regenerated instantly, thicker and darker than before.

"Teamwork, remember?" Lin Ye gritted his teeth, his Reverse Scale Core now radiating heat. He grabbed Xiao Tao's hand, their twin patterns flaring in unison. "We fight together."

The creature roared again, its maw widening to reveal a pulsing core of polluted light—a shard of the same darkness that had infected Dragon Lock Abyss.

"Yuehuan warned us," Xiao Tao panted. "This is the Echo of Doubt… feeding on our fear of losing her light."

Lin Ye's eyes narrowed. "Then we show it what our light is."

He pressed his free hand to Xiao Tao's chest, where her Shadow Crow Bell hung. Her heart raced, but her spirit burned bright. "I'm not afraid," she said. "Not of this, not of losing you. Because now—right here, right now—we're unstoppable."

The words hit like a spark.

Lin Ye's Reverse Scale Core and Xiao Tao's Shadow Crow Bell fused into a single, blazing aura—their twin patterns merging into a star-and-moon motif, glowing with the same intensity as the Starlight Flower. The creature recoiled, its vines hissing as the light seared through its armor.

"Now!" Xiao Tao yelled.

They moved as one. Lin Ye's core blazed gold, carving through the vines; Xiao Tao's bells sang silver, shattering the creature's maw. The light from their union seeped into the corrupted core, and the creature let out a final, ear-splitting shriek before dissolving into stardust.

​​The Price of Light​​

The plaza fell silent.

Xiao Tao collapsed against Lin Ye, her legs trembling. He caught her, his arms steady around her waist. "You're hurt," he said, his voice rough.

She shook her head, her fingers brushing the blackened wound on his shoulder. "You're the one bleeding."

Lin Ye smiled faintly. "It's nothing. Just a scratch."

But it wasn't. The corrosive fluid had seeped deeper, and the wound now glowed an eerie green, spreading up his arm. Xiao Tao's eyes widened. "Lin Ye—"

"It's the pollution," he said, his voice steadying. "It's trying to turn me into one of them."

Xiao Tao's hands flew to her mouth. She remembered the whispers in the Root of Eternity—the ones that had tried to make her doubt. "What if you fail?" "Yuehuan's light is a lie." But no—this was worse. This was the darkness inside him, threatening to unravel everything they'd built.

"No," she said, her voice firm. "Not happening."

She pressed her lips to his wound, her tears falling onto his skin. The Starlight Flower above them flared, its petals raining down a shower of silver and gold light. The light seeped into the wound, and Lin Ye gasped as the green corruption receded, replaced by a warm, golden glow.

"Xiao Tao…" he whispered.

"Shhh," she said, pressing her forehead to his. "I'm not letting go. Not now, not ever."

​​The Light Unbroken​​

By dawn, the plaza was thronged with spectators. The World Spirit Arena had broadcast the battle live, and the world had watched as the Starlight Flower's light had vanquished the corruption. Now, they cheered, waving banners and shouting Lin Ye and Xiao Tao's names.

But the couple stood apart, leaning against the Spirit Pattern Tree. The double-bloomed flower hung between them, its petals now fully restored, glowing brighter than ever.

"You were amazing," Xiao Tao said, her voice soft.

Lin Ye laughed, his arm around her shoulders. "You were the one who saved me. Your light… it's stronger than I ever knew."

She blushed, but met his gaze. "We're stronger together. That's what Yuehuan wanted us to understand."

A figure approached—Grandma Chizuru, holding a tray of fresh osmanthus cakes. "Took you long enough to rest," she said, grinning. "And Xiao Tao—your arm's all better. That flower's got some serious healing magic."

Xiao Tao took a cake, her eyes lingering on the flower. "Grandma, do you think… there's more like this? More tests?"

Chizuru's smile softened. "The world's full of darkness, kiddo. But you two? You're the light that turns it back." She winked at Lin Ye. "Just don't forget to hydrate. And maybe lay off the sparring for a day."

As they laughed, a familiar voice echoed from the tree. "Well said, Chizuru," it was Yuehuan's tone, warm and proud. "Remember—every 'now' is a battle worth fighting. And every battle, you fight it together."

Lin Ye and Xiao Tao looked up. The Starlight Flower's petals swirled, forming a single word in the air: ​​NOW​​.

They smiled, their hands lacing tighter.

Whatever came next, they'd face it.

Because the sweetest part of all… was the now they shared.

(Wind carried the scent of osmanthus. In the distance, the Spirit Pattern Arena's broadcast played: "Tonight's featured story? A love that outshines even the stars.")