"I hate this plan..."

"Suck to suck, Colby."

"Shut the fuck up, bitch—"

Phoenix and Alexis glance at each other as Afuru and Colby are arguing while trying to get closer to Ray.

Alexis, Afuru, and Phoenix are the only ones who wore the hazmat suit, while Colby used his Cursed to hide in Phoenix's shadow. The hazmat suit they're wearing is not like what it used for, this hazmat suit seems to foolproof Ray's light. It seems the suit was immune to it, but the question is how did Alexis and Afuru get it?

Luckily everyone has been dismissed around the arena and it's only them and Ray. The more they're getting closer to Ray, the suit they're wearing is almost losing its immunity to Ray's light.

Just another few more steps... A few more–

Suddenly a light beam from Ray was let out towards them, noticing this, they quickly dodge. But the more dodges they make, the light beam keeps coming.

Noticing this, Colby quickly coming out from Phoenix's shadow, "What the fuck is happening?!"

"Whatever that circle thing that Ray is in just had to let out a light beam!" Afuru answered, Phoenix noticing her irritated expression, "This mothefucker really used his Cursed against us."

The light beam keeps coming, it seems there's no other choice. Phoenix ripped the left sleeves of his suit and rolled up his shirt. Colby was taken back by Phoenix's action.

"Phoenix, what are you–"

A light beam, thinner than other light beams, was going straight to Phoenix, only for Phoenix to dodge it but pull out his left arm closer to the light beam.

"Phoenix!" Colby is ready to get out from Phoenix's shadow but is halted when Phoenix looks at him with that reassuring face.

'It's okay.' is what he wants to say to Colby as he holds onto his left arm. FInally regained his focus, the blood on his left arm finally started to shape into a sword.

The sword was finally being summoned, Colby was taken back by the sword that was created from Phoenix's blood. He looks back at Phoenix's left arm, the blood won't stop coming out.

"Nix–"

"I'm fine, Colby." Phoenix looks back at Colby fully while shielding himself with his sword to attack the light beam coming after them, "Right now, you need to stop Ray!"

Colby flinched at being reminded what he was supposed to do, he gulped and finally back inside Phoenix's shadow again.

Phoenix came to face forward to where Ray's supposed to be with determination. He started to walk towards with his sword as he slash at some light beam that came at him. Just as he was almost in front of Ray, he noticed some area had been covered with a shelter, Phoenix looked up, only to be greeted with Alexis moving some certain block brick with a string attached to it with his fingers. Afuru also helps him move other blocks to create more shadows.

Phoenix finally understands Ray's Curse was activated and uncontrollable because of the Solar Eclipse, so what are the odds if they just had to cover the Solar Eclipse from Ray's standing?

It was only a theory but it was worth trying. As Phoenix keeps moving forward and keeps slash the beam again and again, finally he is in front of Ray.

The arena was in the dark, Afuru and Alexis finally sheltered the whole arena but Ray... The state he is in, it's not working and it keeps getting worse as the light surrounding him keeps getting brighter.

Phoenix was taken back as he tried to think on how to handle this if blocking the Solar Eclipse does not work...

"Colby!" His thoughts get interrupted by Alexis' shouts, he looks over at Alexis and he can feel Colby almost come out from his shadow, "Colby! You had to try to calm Ray down!"

Of course, Colby is our last hope. Phoenix thought as he glanced at Colby, who had a terrified expression on his face and tried to avoid making eye contact with his friend. Phoenix looks at Colby in confusion until finally, it tells him everything.

His friend, his friend was scared... Colby was scared...

Phoenix turned around completely, still looking at Colby, "Colby..."

"..." Colby still hadn't said anything and was still half way inside Phoenix's shadow.

Phoenix was about to press on more to Colby but stopped himself, that expression, the body language... God, why does it remind him of himself...

"Colby... Are you ready?" All Phoenix could ask his friend.

Colby still looks away from looking at Phoenix but finally comes out from Phoenix's shadow.

Phoenix took a deep breath and exhaled it, looking at Colby with reassures, "Colby, if you are still in doubt, please... Believe me, have faith in forgiving Ray. But if you want to forgive Ray... You need to forgive yourself first..." Phoenix said, as he put both his hands on both Colby's shoulders, "It's hard, I know... Forgiving yourself means something inside of you changes, but change is a good thing too right? Not everything has to turn bad..."

Not everything has to turn bad like he did before...

"Forgiving and apologising means for us to be ready. Ready to repent, ready to redeem... Just, answer me this, Colby," finally Colby looks straight towards Phoenix's eyes, "Are you ready? To forgive yourself? As much as you want to forgive Ray at the same time for Ray to forgive you?"

Colby still hasn't said anything, Phoenix was about to accept his friend's rejection but only looking back when the answer finally given, "Yes, I'm ready."

Phoenix slowly gave out a warm smile, "Do you trust me?"

Colby was confused for a moment, "Y-yes, of course I trust you, Nix. Why–"

"Afuru!"

Before Colby could react, he felt a strong kick behind his back as he was thrown towards the light globes that had Ray inside of it.

The last word he gave out was a curse towards Afuru. Only her.

Wow, favouritism much?