Grant wasn't finding the situation to be of any benefit. His own shadow-clone-whatever's accuracy was pinpoint, and while he was certain the shadows' strengths were matched to their originals, he found himself entirely on edge. His sleeves were torn from all the near-misses, though he had gotten in his own shots. The darkness they encompassed was taking the hits with grace, not slowing them down for even a second, which was an advantage Grant didn't like. While he staggered and hesitated, his shadow marched through the damage.

Emiri seemed to be having better luck with him as she was taking on a more aggressive approach. As her opponent wasn't human, her strikes were all aiming to maim. Her defense was never giving her opponent a chance to strike, and Grant found himself mildly impressed. He may have admired it until the stinging pain of his clone's blade sliced through his cheek.

On cue, Wesley would mention how 'exhilarating' his own duel was. "[color=darkorchid]I believe Nadeline is rubbing off on you,[/color]" Grant quipped dryly, not quite having the same sense of humor Wesley possessed. 

Wesley's humor was shared by Rio, who watched the trio with much amusement. "[color=dodgerblue]I'm honored,[/color]" Rio told him, though his eyes were elsewhere as an explosion of Mist eradicated several books, with Shion climbing out of the debris. "[color=dodgerblue]Back so soon, are we?[/color]"

Shion shared Grant's displeasure, though she had no time to recuperate as her own shadow began to twist itself. Rather than wait for it to fully form, Shion placed her hand on her katana, kneeling slightly as she began to gather magicks in her sheathed blade. Within seconds, she had what she needed, and she withdrew her blade in a flash; the shadow dissipated into Mist, fading before it could be formed. As she stood straight, she turned to Rio, her eyes sharp.

"[color=dodgerblue]Always with the flair, it's always a treat to see your power,[/color]" He admitted with a grin. "[color=dodgerblue]Let's see if I can entertain you just a bit longer...[/color]"

Without waiting to see what he would do next, Shion lunged forward, though she stopped in her tracks and spun around, bringing up her katana to meet with another shadow. To her surprise, however, it wasn't the only one, and she soon realized Rio had graced her with three copied of herself. The silhouette of her stance made her alert; there was no way she could turn her back on any of them.

But even this wasn't enough to entertain Rio. He surmised that Wesley had a point, simply standing around and watching wasn't going to get him anywhere. As he contemplated what his next move would be, a chilling aura seemed to fill the area. For the rest that walked in the light, it would be warm, but for him it was as subtle as ice water. A smirk played on his lips as he looked in the general direction of where it was coming from. It seemed Jaakuna was done playing with the trap, and he was alone. The princess remained with the general, it seemed, the two depleted of their magicks. 

Letting out a sigh, Rio walked past the fighting Shion and Wesley, who no doubt would make an attempt to strike at him, but he would simply make sure his shadows kept them occupied. He only stopped when Emiri's sword landed in front of him, clattering for a moment before it was still. His eyes landed on Emiri, who at first glance seemed outmatched. As her opposite would close in, however, Rio watched as Emiri would grab its face. Within seconds the Mist within it would churn, its body twitching as it was returned to nothing. As she was usually very liberal with her time magicks, she seemed not to heed his warning as she fell to her knees shortly afterwards.

"[color=dodgerblue]Exhausting, isn't it?[/color]" He asked her, altering her to his precense. 

Emiri immediately pushed herself to her feet, her chin held high in defiance. "[color=springgreen]Whatever nonsense you have to say this time, save it,[/color]" She told him bluntly. "[color=springgreen]I won't fall prey to your words anymore.[/color]"

"[color=dodgerblue]So you say,[/color]" He began, though he was surprised when Emiri lifted her hand to stop him. "[color=dodgerblue]Deep in denial, are we?[/color]"

"[color=springgreen]Even if you're wrong?[/color]" She asked, shaking her head. "[color=springgreen]Truly, I pity you.[/color]"

Rio frowned at her, though he was unsure what she was getting at. Deciding to indulge her, he would put on another smile and ask, "[color=dodgerblue]Do you now?[/color]"

Her eyes had a rather sad look to them as she stared at him. "[color=springgreen]I'll admit you have some truth to what you said before. Power is something I've struggled with quietly...but I wouldn't stoop to your level,[/color]" She said. "[color=springgreen]My weakness is my own, there is no blame to be placed on anyone. Even then, I can rely on my friends when I falter.[/color]"

"[color=dodgerblue]Let me guess, 'my friends are my power'?[/color]"

"[color=springgreen]My power is my own, and so are my weaknesses,[/color]" Emiri corrected him. "[color=springgreen]I blame no one for my shortcomings, no one owes me anything! I don't need power beyond what I have because unlike you I accept myself for who I am![/color]"

His smile faltered for a moment as he let out a laugh. "[color=dodgerblue]That's a lot of talk, all things considered,[/color]" His voice seemed to drop in tone as he started to walk towards her, a rather ominous mist surrounding him. "[color=dodgerblue]Who are you exactly to be talking down to me like that?[/color]"

But Emiri showed no fear, meeting his gaze with relative ease, even as he stood less than a foot away from her. "[color=springgreen]I'm talking to a child who doesn't understand what power is,[/color]" She said. "[color=springgreen]You're terrified of the idea of someone stronger than you are--going so far as to harm someone you 'love'...Face it, you're just a coward![/color]"

Saying he was less than amused to hear her rather confident response was putting it lightly. "[color=dodgerblue]Let's see, then,[/color]" He stated, extending his arm to her.

Emiri quickly swung, shocked when her swords seem to phase right through him. How?! Her confusion doubled as his hand managed to grab her neck, and she was promptly slammed into the ground with her weapons skewed around them. He was still calm as he loomed over her, his own Mist corrupting the area around them. Not too keen on wanting to know what he was planning, her hand grabbed his arm close to where he held her, her own magicks slowly clicking into place. Their two forces seemed to collide with one another, an unnatural air grasping at the area around them. Rio's confidence seemed to wane slightly, his eyes narrowing as he realized he couldn't quite cancel her time magicks like this.

Raising his free hand, he would take a hold of one her swords. "[color=dodgerblue]I know how to show you exactly what you're dealing with,[/color]" He said, plunging it into her abdomen. She let out a gasp, the pain stinging as she struggled. "[color=dodgerblue]You're entirely convinced [I]his[/I] light will be your salvation.[/color]"

Rio would leave it at that, sending his magicks through the sword and into her wound. Every nerve in her body would then feel as if it was set ablaze, the air around her suffocating and setting her lungs on fire. She couldn't see anything on the outside, but she felt like he was burning her from the inside out. As he pulled the sword out of her, the pain remained, but was amplified as he stabbed her again. The second time earned him a cry of pain, though he continued to her horror, easily pushing aside her outstretched arm as a scream escaped her.

"[color=dodgerblue]Once I extinguish that light, you'll learn what darkness truly is.[/color]"