Deep within the boundless darkness, the Destrudium Ray and Dark Twin Ray remained locked in a fierce struggle, eating away at each other as explosive energy shrieked and tore through space.
Yet Belial could clearly feel it-his power was rapidly running dry.
Ding-dong, ding-dong.
The alarm from the Color Timer on his chest grew faster with every chime, cold and urgent, like a countdown to his fate. Energy slipped from his body like sand, and his beam began to flicker and tremble.
"Damn it! How could I run out of energy now?!"
The energy the Ultra Brothers had given him was almost exhausted, and his body was nearing its limit.
The Color Timer on Belial's chest flashed faster and faster, its urgent chimes clearly audible amid the roaring energy.
The Destrudium Ray visibly weakened. The black-and-purple Zero Double Ray forced it back inch by relentless inch, the leading edge of its destructive energy almost scorching Belial's palms.
Crushing exhaustion and the weakness of depleted energy bound him like shackles.
"Damn it... am I already at my limit...?"
"Mr. Belial!"
Shinji's voice rang out in his consciousness, carrying no fear, only an almost desperate resolve.
"We haven't given up! And we absolutely can't! I want to bring Zero... back! Just like he pulled me out of despair, again and again!"
That pure conviction was like a stone cast into a deep pool, stirring an even deeper resonance within Belial's heart-a heart tempered by countless battles and hardships, yet never truly shaken.
Yes, he had returned. He had broken free of darkness, cast off Reiblood's shackles, and stood here as a warrior of light.
But now, facing this almost insurmountable power of darkness, Shinji's cry utterly ignited the will to protect and the pride of an Ultra Warrior that he had once