Ryo, Aiko, and Yuki charged onto the stage, their hearts pounding with determination. The hooded figures surrounding the glowing amulet turned to face them, their chants growing louder, more frenzied. The unnatural light pulsed in time with their words, casting eerie shadows across the auditorium.
The corrupted friend, now a leader among the Shadows of the Eclipse, stepped forward, his eyes cold and unrecognizable. "You can't stop us," he hissed, raising his hands. "The Eclipse's power is beyond your understanding."
Ryo felt a surge of anger and sorrow. "This isn't you, Kenta. Snap out of it!"
Kenta's lips curled into a cruel smile. "I am more myself now than ever before. The Eclipse has shown me the truth."
Yuki darted to the side, aiming to disrupt the circle of hooded figures. "We need to break their formation!" she shouted.
Aiko nodded, her mind racing. "Ryo, distract Kenta. Yuki and I will handle the others."
Ryo stepped forward, his gaze locked on Kaito. "This ends now."
With a roar, he lunged at Kenta, their fists colliding in a flurry of blows. Each strike was infused with the weight of their past friendship and the painful reality of their current battle. Kenta's movements were sharp and calculated, but Ryo's determination kept him on equal footing.
Meanwhile, Aiko and Yuki weaved through the chanting figures. Aiko focused on disrupting the rhythm of their incantations, while Yuki used her agility to knock them off balance. The chants faltered, and the light around the amulet flickered.
Kenta snarled, his eyes blazing with fury. "You think you can stop the Eclipse? You're fools!"
Ryo ducked under a punch, countering with a swift kick to Kenta's midsection. "We've faced worse," he grunted. "We won't let you destroy everything."
As Ryo and Kenta clashed, Aiko and Yuki managed to scatter the remaining hooded figures. The chanting ceased entirely, and the oppressive energy in the room began to dissipate. Aiko reached for the amulet, but as her fingers brushed its surface, a surge of dark energy threw her back.
Ryo's heart skipped a beat. "Aiko!" he shouted, momentarily distracted.
Kenta seized the opportunity, landing a powerful blow that sent Ryo sprawling. "You can't save her," he taunted, stepping toward the amulet.
Yuki rushed to Aiko's side, helping her up. "Are you okay?"
Aiko nodded, her eyes blazing with determination. "We need to destroy the amulet. It's the key to their power."
Ryo struggled to his feet, his vision blurring. He saw Kenta reaching for the amulet, and a surge of panic and resolve coursed through him. With a roar, he tackled Kenta, the two of them crashing to the ground.
"Yuki, now!" Ryo yelled.
Yuki grabbed a nearby prop a heavy metal rod and swung it at the amulet with all her might. The amulet shattered, sending shards of dark energy spiraling into the air. A wave of force rippled through the room, knocking everyone off their feet.
The hooded figures cried out in agony as the dark energy consumed them, leaving only empty robes in their wake. Kenta lay on the ground, gasping for breath, the malevolent glow fading from his eyes.
Ryo crawled to Aiko and Yuki, his body aching but his spirit unbroken. "Is it over?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
Aiko nodded, tears of relief in her eyes. "We did it. We stopped them."
Kenta groaned, clutching his head. "Ryo... Aiko... I'm so sorry. I didn't know what I was doing."
Ryo placed a hand on Kenta's shoulder, his anger giving way to empathy. "It's okay, Kenta. You're with us now."
As the first rays of dawn filtered through the auditorium windows, the trio knew their battle was far from over. But for now, they had won a crucial victory, and the bond between them had only grown stronger. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, their hearts united in friendship and resolve.