Falco closed the distance in an instant, landing a devastating punch straight to the face of the special darkside spirit. The impact sent it flying, crashing through over fifty trees and tearing the earth apart in its path.
"What Renshi power… this is insane," the head captain muttered from his own battlefield, locking swords with another special darkside spirit. He narrowed his eyes, sensing Falco's energy from afar. This isn't the aura of a darkside spirit… and it's far too dark to be Shinra Renshi. His thoughts trailed off as he parried a massive, crescent-shaped black attack hurtling toward him from above.
"Captain! Don't let your guard down!" the assistant captain yelled.
The head captain responded swiftly—switching to Sword Change Three, his body sprouting wings of Renshi, another glowing blade forming in his left hand. He soared upward and cleaved the attack in half with a single slash.
"This is the end for you," he declared to his opponent.
Back on Falco's side, the special darkside spirit slowly rose from the rubble. "What incredible Renshi… I haven't felt anything like this for a very long time."
As he looked up, Falco was already sprinting toward him, a furious storm of dark Renshi cloaked around his body.
"I guess playtime is over," the darkside spirit said coldly. A black, dragon-shaped mark burned onto his forehead, stretching tendrils of darkness across his skin. A tail burst from his spine.
"Let's end this, lowly human."
They clashed—Falco struck first again, but the darkside spirit retaliated with a flurry of dual punches. Their fists collided in rapid succession until the spirit wrapped his tail around Falco's legs, swinging him overhead and smashing him into the ground, creating a crater.
Falco retaliated instantly, forming a Renshi sword from his aura and slashing the tail loose. He charged, cutting across the darkside spirit's torso, but the tail regenerated within seconds.
The creature grinned. "You're no match for me!" He summoned two Renshi-forged swords stretching from his elbow and launched a three-way assault—swords in both hands and tail, overwhelming Falco's single-blade defense.
"I can't… keep up…" Falco thought, exhausted. My stamina is fading… The boys… Margaret… I can't die like this…
"I can't die yet!" Falco screamed. He caught the spirit's arms and, gathering the last of his Renshi, headbutted the monster with a violent burst of energy.
The impact sent the darkside spirit hurtling back even farther than before.
Falco collapsed to the ground, gasping. "I… I hope that was enough…all this time I haven't used my Renshi made me so rusty,I can't hold on for long
But the calm didn't last.
"Did you say something, human? I couldn't hear you," the darkside spirit mocked. His tail shot forward, piercing Falco's stomach. Falco screamed in agony.
"It… can't be… that attack should've ended you…" he gasped.
"I told you already—you're no match for me. Now be silent and let me devour you."
Meanwhile, far away, the head captain sensed the fading of Falco's mysterious Renshi.
"I need to move—he might be an ally. That darkside spirit's aura is still present… I have to finish this one now," he said, crossing his swords above his head.
"You're going to use that technique?" the assistant captain warned. "You might destroy the whole forest!"
"I can't take any chances. Step back!"
"Understood. I'll support our court."
The captain raised both blades. "Ultimate Sword Technique: Absolute Erase!"
—Meanwhile—
The special darkside spirit sneered as he raised Falco in the air, his tail still impaled through him.
"Goodbye, human. You put up a decent fight, but it's over."
Through clenched teeth, Falco rasped, "You monster… I make you a promise… my son will find you… and end you."
The darkside spirit paused.
"I've kept this power hidden from him… because it's a power of darkness. But not anymore. I approve it now. Alfie will become a Shinra… and eliminate all darkside spirits."
"Oh? A son with this kind of Renshi?" the spirit smirked. "Another jackpot."
He began draining Falco's Renshi, and Falco screamed as the darkness was ripped from his body.
Stay strong my boys, I'm sorry I won't be able to see you boys grow, forgive me any where you are Margaret,I guess this is where my journey comes to an end,Falco whispers to himself.
—Back in their hometown—
"Big brother, what's wrong?" Elijah asked.
"I don't know," Alfie said, suddenly frozen in place. "I just… have a bad feeling. Like something terrible just happened."
Marcus walked into the blacksmith shop. "Strange… I'm feeling really sad too, all of a sudden."
The three boys stood in silence, the fire of the forge flickering—unaware of the battle their father was fighting with everything he had.