Hugo flexed his massive arms, ice-blue aura pulsing around him like a winter storm. The cold light made stark shadows against the burning houses behind him, creating a surreal contrast of fire and ice.

"Dual auras..." Blue whispered, his perfect posture faltering for the first time since the battle began.

Angelo's eyes narrowed as he processed the implications. "So he's a Duoron..."

"Just like Harry!" Red's voice bounced through their shared mental link.

Hugo caught their bewildered expressions and his smile widened, satisfaction radiating from him like heat from the burning buildings. His gaze shifted to Dray, who had tensed his body in preparation for whatever might come next. Without warning, Hugo leapt skyward with explosive speed, miniature tornados swirling around his boots as he shot toward Dray like a human missile.

The two powerhouses locked hands mid-air, muscles straining against each other. Dray's eyes narrowed with sudden understanding.

"An interesting predicament you face," Dray observed, his voice smooth despite the strain. "Your thermal manipulation ceases when you use your flight capabilities. A critical vulnerability, wouldn't you agree?"

Hugo's smile never faltered, teeth gleaming in the firelight. "Victory is assured then, right?" His aura shifted colors, the swirling tornados vanishing as bone-chilling cold returned to his gauntlets.

No longer supported by wind, Hugo's considerable weight hung entirely from Dray's grip. Though not overwhelming for an evolved Auron, the awkward distribution made Dray's arms tremble as he struggled to maintain his hold.

Hugo tightened his grip, his ice gauntlets consuming Dray's hellfire armor like hungry beasts. The black flames retreated from the extreme cold, leaving Dray's flesh exposed. He winced as the freezing touch seared his skin, desperately trying to reignite his protective fire.

Dray shot through the air frantically, smashing Hugo against every building in reach. At the last impact, Hugo summoned a massive water burst that exploded outward upon contact. With a flick of his wrist, he transformed the spray into ice shards that flew toward Dray like deadly hail. The hellfire cloak kept its master protected, melting the ice before it could reach him.

The distraction created just enough opening for Hugo to break one hand free. He delivered a thunderous punch straight to Dray's face, launching him through several houses like a wrecking ball. Black flames spread everywhere Dray touched, consuming wood, stone, and fabric with equal hunger.

Dray recovered mid-tumble, shooting back into the sky. Hugo's aura flickered back to ice blue as he followed, wind propelling him upward.

Across the battlefield, Neiva remained frozen on her knees, struggling to process the chaos erupting around her. She watched Hugo's impressive display against Dray with wide eyes.

"How could Angelo possibly stand against someone like THAT?" she whispered, biting her lip. The thought of her mentor facing the mountain of a man made her stomach twist.

Without warning, the world shifted around her as a strange darkness washed over—suddenly she found herself on a gently rocking boat, endless ocean stretching in every direction. She could sense invisible people moving nearby. She screamed in panic.

As reality reasserted itself, Neiva realized what had happened—a black bubble-like field had passed over her position before continuing across the battlefield like oil on water. She spotted Nova clawing desperately for freedom. The twin's victim trying to escape the same illusion Neiva had just experienced. Before Nova could break free, the strange phenomenon stretched upward to reclaim her, enveloping her completely.

"Is that... some kind of light manipulation?" Neiva murmured, fumbling for her phone to compare it with a photo of her father's messed up illusion.

Her head snapped up at a bone-chilling howl that echoed across the sky. A massive sphere of black tar had appeared overhead, violently contorting as if trying to consume itself.

"DARK SUPERNOVA!" The words boomed across the battlefield like thunder.

Hugo landed beside Angelo with surprising grace for his size, his trademark smile still firmly in place.

"Well damn," he remarked, rolling his massive shoulders. "That flame-boy's tougher than he looks."

Angelo kept his eyes fixed on the roiling mass above them. "Don't worry. Should be his strongest attack—mostly defensive."

Their momentary relief shattered as the black sphere began to rise higher. Dray emerged from beneath it, arms raised toward his creation as he gazed down upon the town with cold determination.

"Desperate times," Dray announced, "call for desperate measures." His muscles tensed visibly, veins standing out on his neck as he shouted: "BLACK SUN!"

The sphere stopped its violent contortions, settling into an ominous calm. Its surface bubbled and shifted, simultaneously liquid and flame, growing steadily larger against the darkening sky.

Hugo turned to Angelo, annoyance finally cracking his confident facade. "Thought you said that other flashy light show was his big move."

"Apparently he's been holding out on us," Angelo replied with a tense shrug. "Just cool it down like you did before."

"If I could, I would, kid." Hugo's voice hardened as he studied the expanding black sun. "Flame-boy up there isn't stupid. He's spreading his fire over too much surface area."

"In layman's terms," Blue interjected, stepping forward with perfect poise despite the apocalyptic scene, "our adversary has opted for an area-of-effect strategy rather than concentrated attack, rendering singular countermeasures exponentially less effective."

"Exactly," Hugo confirmed grimly.

Angelo's eyes narrowed with growing frustration. "What's the problem? Just go put it out!"

Hugo turned to Blue with an exaggerated sigh. "Is your brother always this slow?"

"Regrettably, his comprehension capabilities often lag significantly behind the situational requirements," Blue agreed with a solemn nod.

Before Angelo could snap back at either of them, Hugo cut him off with a sharp gesture.

"I can't cool something that size," he explained, each word sharp with urgency. "Takes too much energy to drop the temperature across that much area. He found the perfect counter."

Angelo's expression shifted from irritation to horror as understanding dawned. "So what the hell do we do? That thing will obliterate the entire town—hundreds of people!"

Hugo considered for a moment, then filled his lungs and bellowed: "CLIFFHANGERS!"

Like insects from a disturbed nest, gang members emerged from hiding spots throughout the ruined street, responding with immediate, practiced shouts: "Yes, boss!"

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"We're pushing that black sludge away!" Hugo's voice carried the absolute authority of someone used to being obeyed without question. "On my mark, everyone launches continuous attacks at that thing!"

Dozens of auras ignited across the street, painting the ruins with a rainbow of colored light. Sol and Red finally rejoined the group, taking in the bizarre scene of gang members preparing for coordinated battle.

"Would someone care to explain..." Sol gestured at the assembled Cliffhangers, his silver hair catching the multicolored glow. "What exactly is happening right now?"

"Just..." Angelo nodded toward the sky, his expression grim. "Watch."

Red bounced on his heels beside them, his eyes gleaming with unhinged excitement. "This is gonna be such a beautiful clusterfuck!"

At Hugo's signal, every Cliffhanger unleashed their power simultaneously—energy beams, flames, wind gusts, darkness rays, and water jets all streaming toward the expanding black sun. Dray darted behind his creation to avoid the barrage, his deadly sphere now twice its original size.

The moment the attacks made contact, hope transformed to horror. Instead of pushing back the hellfire, the black flames simply consumed the incoming elements, using them to grow even larger. Worse, the flames began creeping down the attacks toward their sources like hungry predators following trails back to prey.

"ABORT!" Hugo's command cut through the chaos like a knife. "EVERYONE STOP! NOW!"

The attacks ceased immediately, but the damage was done. The black sun hung above them, larger and more menacing than ever, a physical manifestation of the terror that had descended upon Thunderclap Port.

Hugo scratched the back of his head, eyes scanning the growing black sun above them. He turned to Angelo, his massive frame looming like a shadow as he stepped closer.

"Alright, kid," he growled, jabbing a finger toward Angelo's chest. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just hand you over to that fire-freak up there and save my town."

Angelo and Sol exchanged alarmed glances. Angelo kept his voice steady as he stepped back toward Red and Blue.

"Because I have a plan that can stop him," he said simply, meeting Hugo's gaze without flinching.

"Oh?" Hugo's eyebrows shot up, his mouth twisting with doubt. "And why exactly should I gamble my town on your word?"

Angelo paused, choosing his next words carefully. "Because if you hand me over, you're directly helping the terrorists who attacked Luminia." He let that sink in. "Then you'd be more than a gang leader—you'd be a traitor to your nation."

Hugo's eye twitched, just once. The silence that followed spoke volumes.

Angelo turned to his duplicates, wasting no time. "So far only two things have worked against his flames. Joe's sound waves and..."

Blue's eyes widened with sudden understanding. "Trinergy," he supplied, adjusting his non-existent tie nervously.

"Yeah, even our imperfect Trinergy attempt held up against Dray before," Angelo nodded. "If you two can perfect mixing just your energies together, it might be strong enough to counter his flames."

Red and Blue exchanged uncertain looks. Then, to everyone's surprise, Red's face split into his wild grin.

"Well, what do you know," he said, bouncing on his toes. "Guess I can share the spotlight with blueberry here just this once." He turned to Blue with mock sincerity. "Ready to test that fancy breakthrough of yours, professor?"

Blue's confidence visibly wavered. His gaze dropped to the ground as memories flooded back—their failed attempt against Jill, Bill's sacrifice. "I... this strategy carries significant... should our attempt prove unsuccessful... the responsibility weighs..."

Red did something completely unexpected—he placed his hand on Blue's shoulder, making the scholarly duplicate freeze mid-sentence.

"Where's that know-it-all Blue we all know and..." Red hesitated, his grin twitching, "...tolerate? You came up with this theory, right? As a man of science isn't it your duty to put it to the test?"

Blue stared at Red, jaw hanging open at this unexpected support. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and straightened his posture. Then something truly surprising happened—forged energy began swirling around him, materializing into a lab coat, complete with a tie and glasses frames. Red actually took a step back, watching this transformation with wide eyes.

Blue adjusted his now-real tie and glasses, confidence returning to his stance. "Your assessment is surprisingly valid, Red. Let us venture into the unknown and put this hypothesis to the test. While failure remains a possibility, scientific progress demands bold experimentation."

"Hell yeah!" Red pumped his fist, taking position beside Blue. "After you, Professor Blueberry."

"Right then. Follow my lead precisely." Blue extended his arm backward, Red mirroring his movement.

Sol, Hugo, and all the Cliffhangers watched this odd spectacle in bewildered silence. Above them, Dray's black sun continued growing ominously.

"Whatever you're planning," Hugo called out, eyes fixed on the expanding threat, "better do it quick."

"Let us begin," Blue said, azure particles swirling around his hand like tiny blue fireflies. Red followed suit, crimson energy dancing between his fingers. Blue directed his swirling energy between their palms, Red doing the same. Where the opposite energies met, soft popping sounds filled the air, tiny flashes of light sparking like miniature fireworks.

"Now, condense and rotate faster," Blue instructed. Red nodded, focused for once. The swirling energies spun faster, drawing closer together until they resembled a tiny purple tornado. Louder pops—like firecrackers—accompanied bigger flashes as a small dark purple sphere took form between them.

Blue's eyes lit up. "Yes! Exactly like that. Maintain the rotation speed!" His voice carried an excitement rarely heard from the scholarly duplicate. The purple sphere grew steadily larger, spinning so fast it blurred. Through their shared consciousness, Angelo felt the immense pressure building between their palms—like holding back a waterfall with bare hands.

Red suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, making everyone nearby shift uncomfortably. "Hope you're ready for the shock of your lifetime, sticky boy!" he shouted toward the sky.

But they'd taken too long. High above, Dray prepared to launch his attack, his dark silhouette framed against his massive creation. "I wanted to capture you, Angel of Death," he called down, voice carrying on the wind. "But I'll settle for burning you and your loved ones instead." His eyes snapped open wide as he roared, "Now perish! BLACK SUN!"

The massive hellfire sphere began descending toward the town like a falling moon.

Hugo's aura shifted to ice blue as he summoned a powerful gust of wind, pushing against the approaching inferno. The black sun slowed, but the wind also fed the flames, making them grow larger.

"The longer I hold it, the worse it gets!" Hugo shouted through gritted teeth. "Hurry!"

"Ready!" Red and Blue called in perfect unison, their purple sphere now pulsing between them.

"You can name this one, Blue," Red offered with an unexpected smirk.

"Very well," Blue nodded, raising his arms as he and Red aimed their creation skyward. "Prepare to fire: Sub-Trinergy Burst!"

"Eat this!" Red shouted as a brilliant purple beam erupted from their hands, streaking toward the black sun. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, strong enough to make windows rattle throughout what remained of the town. The black mass halted its descent, then slowly began to retreat.

Dray noticed the pushback and responded by unleashing a concentrated stream of black flames to counter. "Just give up and DIE!" he roared, veins bulging on his neck with effort.

"Push... harder!" Red snarled, a sadistic smile stretching across his face as crimson cracks appeared on his skin like breaking pottery.

Blue clenched his teeth, doing the same, azure fractures spreading across his chest. The purple beam widened, growing more intense with each second.

Dray let out a primal scream of rage, blood streaming from his nose and eyes as he poured everything into his attack.

Red and Blue matched his fury, their combined shout echoing across the ruined town. More cracks spread across their bodies, glowing with inner light.

"Come on!" Hugo urged, fists clenched.

"Do it!" Angelo called out, leaning forward as if he could physically help push.

"You got this!" Sol added, silver hair whipping in the energy backlash.

With one final, desperate push, Red and Blue forced the black sun away from the town. Dray dove sideways as his own creation flew past him, pursued by the purple beam as both disappeared into the distant sky.

Dray turned back, his face twisted with rage—but his expression shifted as he surveyed the scene below. Nova trapped in the light twins' bubble, Ashly struggling against Veronica, Lavvy hiding uselessly on a rooftop. He closed his eyes, letting out a shaky breath.

"It's unbecoming of me... Being this foolish..." he muttered.

Before anyone could react, he streaked across the sky, grabbing Ashly with one massive hellfire arm. He darted toward the black bubble trapping Nova, plunging another fiery limb inside. The bubble seemed to pop as the light twins jumped back from the hellfire. With both twins secured, Dray swooped toward Lavvy's hiding place, snatching him with his flaming tail before soaring away from the town he'd partially burned to ashes.

Angelo and the others released collective breaths of relief. The immediate threat was gone.

Or so they thought, until Angelo turned to see Hugo stomping toward him, massive fists clenched at his sides.

Meanwhile, on the road beneath the cliff, a car cruised along peacefully.

"Wow, what's that?" the passenger asked suddenly, pointing skyward.

The driver, wearing a hat and sunglasses, glanced up—and slammed on the brakes, the car skidding to a halt.

"Hey! What gives?" his friend protested.

But the driver wasn't listening. He'd already leaped from the car, sinking to his knees as he watched the black comet streak across the sky, painting a gray trail behind it.

He raised his arms dramatically toward the heavens, face contorted with despair. "NOOOOOO! I MISSED IT!!!"

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