The nine Crimson Cowls suddenly fell still and silent, their weapons vanishing in puffs of red smoke. Then in perfect unison, they all chanted out, “Azurai!” Suddenly, a huge circle of bright purple runes ignited to life on the ground, and Hikari felt her body freeze in place from the neck down. They had been writing out invisible Mana runes with their feet as they attacked her, forming a Binding Circle. The word Azurai meant Activate in the Arcane Tongue, thus triggering the effect.

“I wasn’t expecting that. I must admit, I’m impressed,” Hikari said with a smirk. “You have rendered me incapable of defending myself. Good job. So… what now?”

Orochihana’s serpent body began to shift into a swirling mass of dark green mist as it shrunk down into the form of a human woman with an appearance strikingly similar to Hikari, but retaining her greenish-yellow snake eyes. “Now, I take what is rightfully mine. What you stole from me, dear sister.” Her demonic voice had vanished with her snake form, now sounding more human.

“Do not call me sister. You are not Asuna,” Hikari said slowly, her expression turning cold. “You killed what remained of my sister the moment you sacrificed our parents to attain your corrupted demonic powers.”

“Perhaps it would have turned out differently if you hadn’t stolen my power!” Orochihana spat. “I was chosen by Vournis to be his successor! Me! It was my right to inherit the power! It’s supposed to be handed down from master to apprentice! That’s how it’s been for centuries! And now, I will claim what it mine by ripping the stolen Chromatic Flame out of your body!”

“You fool, that won’t work,” Hikari scoffed. “Vournis chose Asuna as his successor, but even he could not sense you growing inside her when he took her as his apprentice. The Flame did not reject Asuna - it rejected you, Orochihana! It will do so again! And it was right… Just look at all the lives you have ruined! You will never be worthy of this power!”

Orochihana’s face contorted in rage. Her skin began to crack and turn deathly pale as her greenish-yellow eyes became brighter. “If I can’t have the power, then NO ONE will!” she shrieked out frantically, gray veins beginning to creep up her face as her emotional state rapidly deteriorated. “The Luminary Cycle ends today! KILL HER!”

The Crimson Cowls hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden change of plans. 

“Wait… We’re destroying the power now?” one whispered to another. “The Council will not be pleased…”

“We were instructed to obey Orochihana’s every command…” the other replied with a shrug.

They all rushed towards the trapped Hikari. An explosion of light and energy ignited the night sky above them…