The Announcer moved and went behind a protective barrier as suddenly a shroud of darkness began forming from the destroyed portions of the Arena as Megan got a glimpse of the shadow dragon, Ebon. 




Megan picked her sword and forced herself to stand as Ebon slithered and moved. Ebon spoke and said "We are in a predicament. You are made of flesh, I of shadow" his voice sounding like hundreds as he moved and slithered. "I can not strike you, you can not strike me. Light Magic can not slay me, nor reflections of the sun. Yet, my shadows can not harm you, that is my curse. " 

Megan was still under heavy breaths stated "So why....are you the second to last guy than?" 

Ebon was suddenly behind her and said "Well my dear, I don't fight as much as play a game." his size...shrank he was about as big as Megan. "He suddenly fused into Megan's shadow. "I don't beat you...you beat yourself" 

Megan panicked and flailed as she saw shadows crawl and shamble on her body slithering around as Ebon's head appeared out of the shade coating Megan, who was not feeling it, but was looking quite distressed, as Ebon slithered through her eyes as Megan fell holding onto her head screaming out in pain. She usually had more mental focus to block out mental attacks but...A. This was unlike any mental attack she felt before and B. She just went through eight, well technically seven, brutal fights and her mind was to worn down to will Ebon out if she had the chance. So clutching at her head her cries echoing hauntingly in the arena as they seemed to have several echoes. Megan heard a voice as Ebon smirked "Such...demons." 

Megan doubled over in pain, added on top of previous internal injuries, as her mouth was open as black gunk just spewed out of her mouth uncontrollably, as Megan looked horrified and shocked as she fell backwards, forcing herself to sit, then she saw the gunk forming into people and she was starting to get delirious as the shadows did look like those she saw before Megan said confused "Gilly?" She shook her head "No, you're...You're Ebon, you're not real" 

She suddenly felt the "Gilly" punching her in the stomach sending her crashing to the ground as the "Gillly" spoke saying "You preach to me about your damn life philosophy after you know I could have been sold to Xillhur!" 

Megan shook her head trying to ignore her and grabbed her blade going to strike, but her mind tricked her into seeing the real Gilly instead of this shadow, and stopped as the "Gilly" punched her away as she landed hard on her back, as the Shadow Gilly spoke again "Xiluhr! I could have been dead within a week! Those slavers deserved to die and you spared them! You're not even sure they're in prison, they could still be roaming. People like that will never change, killers don't change!" 

"Gilly" Megan said delirious "They can...that's why..." the Shadow Gilly kicked her in the back of the head as she landed face first. 

Megan then felt a much heavier boot on her back then looked up and whispered "D...Daddy?" 



The Shadow Gilly walked next to him as the guy spoke "Look at you, half dead lying face down in the dirt due to something you know isn't real? This is pathetic, Megan. I trained you to be better than this. I wasted my time on you. You're worthless garbage" She then felt the shadow version of her father stomping harder and harder on her back as he took out a wispy looking blade and went to slash down as Megan elbowed up and rolled out of the way. 

Groggily, Megan stood and kept her blade ready as the Shadow version of her father spoke again "Maybe your fears should be your future. Find a male hooker or maybe act the part of a tramp, and bring someone better to the Nocturne bloodline. A worthy, hero not a pathetic failure" 

Megan held her head and said "Knock it off! You aren't my father, he's dead!" She then reacted fast as she blocked the blade then suddenly felt a boot hit her face from Shadow Gilly. 

Shadow Gilly ripped into her again "And will you stop wining to me about your insecurities! There are bigger problems in the world, than my ancestor made me to famous! Slavery, murder, abusive gods, and all manner of evil, and you whine to me about how 'it's so hard to be so famous' " She kicked Megan again and again and pushed her over a rock causing her to crash backwards. "Or maybe you're afraid that if you complain to me about other things...I'll find out about what you did" 

Megan said "Don't bring that up" As she held her head "Shut up, Gilly" 

Her father smirked and said behind her "Oh, she doesn't know about what you did?" She then felt a slash on her side from her Shadow Father, as she held the bleeding wound. "Is it because you want her to see you as a hero and not what you really are?" 

Megan shouted "Shut up!" 

She then flinched as she listened to something she didn't expect, her own voice as she saw a shadow version of herself. Her shadow chuckled and in a flash, the Shadow Gilly and Shadow Father got their heads sliced off.  As Megan shouted "No!" but her shadow laughed. 

Her shadow spoke and said "See how much easier you would make your life if you just..shut up...people?" 

"Kill them" was Megan's response. 

"Admit it, you felt so liberated when you fought Yandava's ice clones" stated her shadow form as Shadow Megan started to circle. "You could kill them. You couldn't see them bleed but you could kill them. That power...in your hands, and you loved every second of it." 

Megan shook her head and slashed as her much healthier Shadow Form slashed Megan several times then kicked her away like she was garbage. "This is power! Your blood, your training your further training, all of it! Why should the guilty live? Why should evil get second chances? They don't change, ever," Megan then was slashed down on the back by her mercerless and brutal shadow version. 

Megan couldn't even stand up at this point as her shadow form just sat on her causing Megan to cry out in utter agony. "You know it's true. Once a killer always a killer, you can feel it in your blood. Other Nocturnes killed their enemies, you are no different from that night. It haunts you? No no...it's what's holding you back Megan. Embrace those feelings of power you felt that night. Let go of this stupid code." 

Megan began stiring as she cried out and forced her Shadow Form off of her as Megan did something strange and sat crossed legged. Her shadow began taunting her brutally, calling her a fool as she sat in silence the world around her seeming like a distant memory. Her body, her agony, her misery, they were all but in the background as the Shadow Megan got more and more frustrated. SHe grabbed her blade and went for the killing strike on Megan. The blade inched closer and closer to Megan, going for a fatal stab. 

Megan calmly moved her head quietly, as the Shadow Megan missed, as this started to keep up as Megan was almost like she was in a trance. 

"Megan," stated a calming voice in her head, a female one that came from a beacon of light piercing through the shadows. "Megan, this is how insecure you are?" 

Megan grew quiet and said "It's not easy. Everyone thinking you have it easy because of what you were born as, No one understanding why you don't kill, not unless you tell them your reason why." 

She felt a hand touch her shoulder "You are more than this, better than this." Her mind traveled back as she remembered the moments before the arena as she smiled hearing Gilly's voice

"I don't care about your blood, I cared that you saved me" echoed in her head. She then started to think back to Ivan and chuckled at bit at what she found annoying at first. The shadows in her mind cracking a bit. 

Megan's mind opened as she grabbed Shadow Megan's blade causing her hand to be cut pretty badly as Shadow Megan looked at her confused "How are you?" 

"You forgot your training...one of the most important parts. The Heart of the Sword" Shadow Megan flinched as Megan used her good hand to bash the Shadow Megan in the face sending her flying as Megan stood up and quietly grabbed her sword flipping it again to it's back as Shadow Megan charged in anger and Megan got into her signature Ittosu Ryu stance and slashed causing Shadow Megan to get sent flying and struggling to stand as Megan did the same but actually stood over her shadow. Megan stated "My fears, they'll never go away. I'm afraid that Gilly will hate me for my code. I'm afraid that bad people will get sent free with no concequences, I'm afraid of just being the next link of the chain" 

She remembered back to the fight, to every single one of them, "Yet, right now, my fears have to be a distant memory. For the sake of those who believe in me" her shadow...slowly vanished as Megan looked up as Ebon appeared again

Megan said "Are we actually going to fight now?" 

Ebon stated "Trogar is going to be happy, he hasn't fought anyone in decades because most fall by this point." Ebon then said "You don't have to be so hard on yourself by the way. You are more than your past and your blood. Your morals are admirable, and I am very happy to conceed to you, Megan Clover." The Dragon bowed in respect. "I wish you only the best from this moment forward as a true warrior of Arenith, blood of legend or not." 

Megan said quietly "Thank you...so much" as Ebon left leaving Megan alone with heavy injuries but...renewed confidence as she looked at the gate, the Crowd stirring. They were wetting their appatities with anticipation. 

"That Megan girl is incredible, 9 Fights solo." stated one of the dragons in the stand.

"Not only that, we get to see Trogar fight!" theyt said with such joy. "I never thought I would see this again in my lifetime. Usually people lose by now!" 

(Since this is the Penultimate Battle before the Final Two part act. I have to ask this once again. What is your favorite fight, and who do you guys want as the Arena dragon that quits and joins Megan at this current moment? Remember, I'm accepting only one that you two, three if ILD wants to weigh in, agree on. I'm actually really curious) 

(Yeah I agree)
Gilly was disturbed watching everything that happened, even more so as her fake form died, but the part that stuck with her was that Megan was keeping secrets, secrets she didn't want her to know.

Megan got back up from the shock-wave but then felt Trogar bashing her away with his one of his front arms, he then knocked her away again with his tail and soared into the air and dropped down slamming himself on top of Megan causing the stadium to quake under his power. He lifted and slammed his giant hand several more times on Megan, as he picked her up and flung her having her slam against the side of one of the Arena walls. 

Trogar looked at her quietly, his mind calming down, and then reigniting again when he saw Megan standing up. 

Megan breathed heavily, blood covered her chest, and she could hear her bones cracking with every step she took. She was starting to hallucinate, having her life flash before her eyes. While she closed her eyes to not witness certain events, her mind reawakened a conversation that she had with her father when she was a little girl

Her father sat and looked out at the stars with his daughter as he asked her, seemingly out of no where, "Megan, do you know why our bloodline is so special?" 

"Because we only had one god, the rest of us only have a little bit of god in us" Megan said innocently, and correctly. 

"No, not that" was the response she got 

Megan said "That our bloodline has every race in it's ancestry?" 

"Still not right" was her father's response

Megan gave up and asked "What it is it than daddy?" 

"Do you know about the Heart of the Sword?" the simple question that came up as Megan shook her head not knowing a thing about that. A smile creeped upon her father's face as the night air blew across the ground "The Heart of the Sword Megan is something we all share" 

Megan looked confused "Our hearts are made out of swords?" 

Her father chuckled and said "No, no,it's an explanation for those in this world who can take absurd amount of punishment and live, or have temporary feats of incredible strength in spite of injuries. Never forget what I am about to tell you. 

The Heart of the Sword exists in all beings, most just don't tap into it because they are unaware. It means that your will is so strong that it can be wielded like a blade, either to block by you taking absurd amount of punishment, or by using it by busts of strength in battle. Those who have a strong one usually have either the former or the latter. Our blood is unique in that we always seem to have both. It's something not even the gods can explain" 

"If there a way to use it outside of combat?" Megan asked innocently. 

Her father playfully rubbed her head "Sure, those with a strong heart of the sword usually have another thing in common. Sticking to their morals and their goals no matter how hard it is." Her father looked up and said "One day, you'll have your moment where you are tested, and on that day. I can't wait to see what you can do." 



Megan looked at Trogar her mind waking up as she grabbed onto Trogar's hand as it came right at her, but she felt him grip her and then squeeze her, the bones in her body audibly popping as Megan squirmed and freed her hand, then freed her sword hand and went to stab his had  but her blade bounced off his skin. Trogar squeezed more and more, causing Megan to cry out in pain as she suddenly gripped onto Trogar's hand and forced herself to pry out but just feel out of his grip landing face first onto the ground. Blood dripped from her head as she slashed as Trogar, the blade bouncing off his skin. She saw his tail and forced herself to duck barely avoiding it. 

Megan looked at him as he reared his head back and breathed a torrent of fire coming right at her, causing her to used her sword to once again slice through it, but her body was getting burned by the incredible heat that was getting to much as Trogar just kept it up the angle becoming more ariel in nature. She took the opportunity and managed to roll out of the way, learning very soon that was a mistake

As soon as Trogar's true dragon flame hit the arena, the whole thing became a bed of fire which scorched Megan who had no where to dodge, as Trogar dropped down at her intent on driving her further in the fire to finish her, Megan did a desperate leap behind as the shockwave was so bad that she was blown across the arena and slammed against the wall, but fell on the extinguished but still blazing hot, arena floor. Trogar rushed at her with his long horns pointed right at her as Megan barely had time to dodge but was glad she did as Trogar's head got stuck in the arena wall. 

Megan panted sitting down for a little bit as Trogar roared out in frustration as he was beginning to lose his patience even further. Megan was just happy to have a break and saw the Arena wall cracking and the civilian barrier flickered. She paused and saw where he was. He was directly under Gilly and the others as their side of the stands shook and rumbled like it was getting hit by an earthquake. If Trogar yanked himself free...

Megan reacted quickly and pushed against Trogar's body, she kept pushing and pushing until finally his head popped out as Megan sighed with relief, Trogar looking at her in confusion. "You could have used that time to take a break or even plan the counter attack. Why did you do that?" 

"Look where you were" was the comment given to Trogar as he looked up and saw the shaken but not broken fans that were in the stands. He paused and realized that he could have killed a lot of people. "Are you saying that a match is worth more than their lives?" 

Trogar looked at her quietly, and resumed the match and slapped her away with his hand as Megan bounced against the rubble this time. Then saw Trogar falling on top of her. 

The only thing the audience saw was Trogar slamming in her area as he roared out flapping up but paused and noticed she wasn't there. He looked around then felt something as he heard a blade clashing around on his back. He flew high into the air after knowing where Megan was then paused as he noticed Megan standing up below him, and then turned seeing her sword falling towards her as well. Why did she do that?

Megan got very quiet as Trogar dived down as Megan gripped her scabbard and then unsheathed it, as a loud smack was heard around the arena as Megan noticed that she made a weak point as there was a notable bruise on the top of Trogar's head who looked very angry and slashed at Megan with his claws. Megan used her metal scabbard to block, which worked for a little bit but she still ended up getting severely slashed and the blood splattered as Megan slammed next to her sword and gripped it finally having a chance to finally beat him. 

Megan felt Trogar grip her and then chucked her into the air, then punched her into the air and kept punching her up and up until he smashed her against the arena barrier over and over again. The surprise of everyone, say Megan who was being pummbled, the arena barrier was cracking and cracking more and more until, he roared out and punched her through the mystical barrier causing it to shatter into dust as the Announcer looked visibly worried, the crowd had no protection anymore. Trogar kept kept punching Megan further and further into the air and the opened his jaw ready to finish her with a firey blast. 

Megan's eyes opened suddenly and as she gripped her blade's hilt with both of her hands, flipping it to the blunt end and slammed down on the weak-point she made as Trogar recoiled and fell from the sky in shock as Megan kept her grip tight and lifted it again as they fell at the same time, him falling faster due to his size, she forced herself to dive down further and further, and slammed down her on the weak point on Trogar's head once again, driving his head into arena ground. 

Trogar lifted up his head as blood trickled down it, Megan falling to the ground, and rolling away getting some distance. The two eyed each other, as Trogar swiped at her, causing Megan to jump into the air. Trogar recoiled in shock that Megan could jump that high as Megan took advantage slamming down once again, her sword shattering from the force she delievered that made Trogar visibly recoil. Megan crashed onto the ground, and looked at Trogar silently. Trogar stumbled and wobbled looking like he was going to fall on top of her, then fell to the side...defeated and unconcious. Megan waited for a few more seconds as The announcer blinked in shock. 

Before Megan hit the ground she heard the Announcer say "And the first ever winner, of the Trials of the Mighty is..MEGAN CLOVER!" the crowd roared with approval as Megan's hearing faded and she finally just blacked out. 

Clerics came rushing in to help Megan, and Trogar, using a lot of healing magic on her. The Audience looked at her, as her eyes fluttered open and Trogar stood turning back to his Dragon Kemono form and bowed towards her in respect. Megan went to do the same, but Trogar said "Don't bother, you've done me a great good. I thought I hit my ceiling in life...that I would never be beaten again. There were times where I felt it was time to retire. I thank you, you have shown me there is always further limits to go." 

Megan chuckled a little "Glad to help, lets not do that again though" 

Trogar said "Well, Carvas get down here!" The announcer moved down and as he motioned. 

Carvas heard whispering and blinked making sure that Trogar was serious. The announcer said "Ladies and gentlemen, I was just informed by the champion that because of Megan's historic first victory...he is rewarding her with...5000 Gold, in addition to the secret prize" 

The crowd cheered for Megan who looked at her and went to say something when Trogar said "Don't worry about it, you've more than earned it" 

Megan said "I'm tired" panting a bit. 

Trogar said "Well my potion is one of kind, healing magic doesn't restore that much stamina." 

Megan stated "Rematch some time?" 

Trogar smirked and said "I'll be waiting" 

The annoncer said "This concludes the Trials of the Mighty! Enjoy the rest of your night!" 

Ivan came up from behind Gilly and said "I watched on the viewing scrolls, and when the barrier shattered I snuck in." He looked out at Megan who was being escorted back. "Megan really is one of a kind isn't she?" 

Ivan chuckled a bit "Though it was a bit weird seeing Megan fighting you" He then suddenly hugged her "And horrifying when the shadow version of herself kill your own"

"We should go see Vlad," Gilly said.

As they walked, Owain commented to the group "I wonder what the secret prize was."

"Oh, right, there was a secret prize, wasn't there?" Darst asked.

"Indeed. Though, one of a kind or not, I'm not sure." Ymira replied. "We'd have to ask if we ever come back to attempt it ourselves."

"This is going nowhere," Ana huffed. "Come on, I have a surefire way to make it seen, but we have to bail immediately afterwards."

Gilly began making her way back down the stadium, quiet.

"Lead the way then." Troy replied. "Just fill me in on the way there."

"You can do that?" Troy asked, confused. "That's quite the range of options. Maybe I should try and learn magic some day."

Ana waved her hand, the word "Hi" floating in front of her. "Shadows. They're everywhere. I just...speak their language," she said. "We should head to the middle of town. I'll be able to reach the most that way."

"I know," Gilly sighed.

"I think that'd be the market, market streets are usually centralized so people walk through them constantly." Troy stated.