Illumes POV:

That's Shadow? No way. That thing looks disgusting. How could that be him?

"Hey you, there's no way that's him. That thing creeps me out too much. It's almost like it's alive and beating."

The Angel: "It is a harsh truth that you need you to come to terms with. The fact that your friend is no more. That is him. He is no longer human."

I'm still coming to grips with this, I can't accept this, I can't accept that my buddy has turned into.... THAT.

"No way, he's not. Shadow is not that thing, he is not some kind of monster!"

The Angel sighs in resignation while saying: " Oh but he is, believe it or not. One thing I might have forgotten to mention to you is that he has not fully awaken yet."

I ask: "What do you mean?"

He then just gives a giggle... a giggle, really? Why does he laugh at the weirdest times. This angel might seem more human then the rest of us if not for the weird light and immortality. So anyway he continues talking while pointing at the orb.

"He has yet to unleash the darkness and become an even greater monster then what he is now. Those dark energies will soon merge into his body."

"Did you just say body? I thought he was all orb?"

The Angel: "No, his body is still alive within that orb. The orb is what has been created due to the excess of power."

So I just heard something interesting. He just said Shadows body is alive. I thought he was just a massive ooze monster but I was wrong and I'm happy for that.

I then start running towards it without thinking while hearing the Angel behind me sounding a tiny bit worried but who cares I gotta go.

"I gotta yank him outta there! I'm coming Shadow. I'm here to save you for real this time and once I do I promise I'll protect you no matter what!"

I'm so excited I can’t even keep my words to myself anymore. I get to see my bro! Here’s where the real shit begins. Him and I are reunited...

Or so I thought.

I ran as much as I could closing the distance between me and the dark orb. As I got closer I could feel something eerie wash over me like my instincts were telling me directly "no dude stop" but I ignored it. I ignored it and boy was I wrong to do so.

As soon as I reached that orb I could feel the life and air get sucked out of me. It was a shit feeling really but obviously I ignored that too. I then reach out towards the orb and placed my hand on it but as soon as I do something goes off in my senses.

The world felt like it's spinning. It's as if everything has been turned upside down. Not just that, it's as if the colours of everything has been inverted. What the fuck is going on?

I suddenly fell to my knees because I began feeling weak. I feel like throwing up. What is happening? I try and look at the orb and for some reason it’s stopped growing, completely.

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I think in this moment I know that what I just did was the worst thing I could've done. I look at it again and it starts cracking and once it does the Angel appears behind me saying: " Light Bringer what have you done? I fear that your best friend is about to make an appearance. It might be best we leave this place for what he would do to us is of no joke."

And of course I refuse. So I cry out while kneeling and reeling on the floor:" Fuck. No. I... need... to see...if Shadow’s alright. Leave me be!"

The Angel hesitates not even for a second and leaves the place. Leaving me alone with my best friend who's about to show his face.

The orb finally breaks open and when it does I see him. It's almost as if he's posing like some sort of villain while floating towards the ground. He has his legs together while his arms are stretched out fully, hands open, head down. You'd think he's some sort of evil prince. I'd definitely laugh at him in this moment if it wasn't for this bad feeling I got in my gut.

I try talking to him: "Hey buddy you been giving ‘em hell?"

As soon as I opened my mouth I got blown away by some forceful wind and it happened as soon as Shadow heard me and lifted his head. Whoa! This is why I hate wind. Well mostly cause it blows sand in my face but hey let's get back to Shadow. So I got blown away who cares.

After that I look at Shadow who is completely still and quiet. Weird. He never could keep his mouth shut so why is he so quiet all of a sudden?

I lift myself off the ground and wipe the sand off my clothes. I then try and look at the place where he was standing and guess what. He's gone. I look to my left and then my right and there he is. He's standing right next to me. When did he? I think he's about to say something. Yeah say how much ya miss me you idiot.

But he doesn't he just says: "DIE."

Then kicks me off to the side. I flew probably a school yards length before I was able to stop myself. That really stings. What's happening. Why would he?

"Shadow... what's your problem. Are you tryna get me killed buddy?"

I know, I know... he IS trying to kill me but I can't believe it. I refuse to believe that my bro would try to do that.

"Shadow, c'mon buddy let's go home. Forget all this talk about darkness. I know you've been through some stuff but I'm here buddy, we can have funny moments like we used to. Remember that time with the pup?"

He just looks at me then finally says something else besides die.

He pushes his hair out of his face and starts speaking: "Look here 'buddy' I'm sure you'd love to live those moments with your beloved Shadow but he's gone. Forget about him. I just desire to destroy everything and kill everyone including you."

"What are you tryna pull, you ain't no bad guy Shadow stop t-...."

He looks at me, smiles widely and grabs me by my neck and lifts me up with no effort at all while saying: "Listen, just shut up. I'm about to kill you."

He starts choking me even harder. I begin feeling my consciousness slip away. Damn! Why does it have to be this way. Before I decide to do something I try once more while I struggle to breath: "Shad...ow... stop before... it's too late. Buddy I don't want to give up on you."

He laughs: " Hey loser shut it, you know you'll be dying soon so save your breath for the afterlife."

I can’t believe this, I refuse to. Shadow what happened to you. Right then I hear the Angels voice in the background:" I have warned you that he is no longer Shadow, he is a monster bent on the destruction of the world. Therefore for the sake of your life and the world. Fight Light Bringer. Fight as if your life depends on it and it does."

I shout out: " Fuck! Why! I hate this shit!"

I grab onto Shadows wrist with one hand and use my other arm and elbow to hit him directly onto his arm trying to loosen myself from his grip. He barely flinches and loosens his grip only slightly. Guess that's not enough.

"Shadow! Let me go!"

Right then all my weapons show up, my swords of light. I use them and point them at Shadow. He jumps away from me. I guess he knows what these does.

"Oh Shadow it almost looks like you're afraid of these." I point at the swords.

He replies: "Yeah you celestials love your weapons but even though they are cliché I think they have a certain allure."

He looks at the weapons and what really surprises me is that he starts to form the exact same weapons behind him as he smiles. Although the look of them is... more evil.

Same power as me huh? Shit. Is this really how it's gonna go? I'm fighting my best buddy, who would've thought.

I call out to him: "Hey Shadow, would you ever have thought it would've gone down like this?"

We both smile while he says: "Yeah."

This is something that’s unavoidable I guess.