Douluo Dalu: Eclipse de Almas

The glow of the Eclipse still danced in Xu Tian's eyes as his feet touched the solid ground of a world that seemed as real as it was dreamlike. All around him, a vast landscape stretched out: dark mountains with golden peaks, rivers that reflected both light and shadow, and a sky divided between day and night, as if the universe itself had decided to remain in a state of eternal balance.

"This place…" Xu Tian murmured, looking around warily. "It's different."

"Welcome to the Plane of Balance," a familiar voice replied. The Guardian of the Threshold appeared once more, his form now more defined, with human features giving him an imposing yet approachable aura. "This is where your fate will be decided, Xu Tian. This is no simple place of contemplation; it is the field where the resolve of those who bear the power of the Eclipse is tested."

Xu Tian frowned. "Another test? I have already proven that I can balance the Sun and Moon. What else should I do?"

The Guardian smiled, but his expression was heavy with gravity. "Balance is not a permanent state, Xu Tian. It is a constant act of decision and sacrifice. Here you will not face an external enemy, but the consequences of your own choices. Every step you take will be an affirmation of who you are and who you will become."

Suddenly, the landscape distorted, as if an invisible hand had shaken it. In front of Xu Tian appeared a figure that made his heart stop for a moment: Yue Lian. His partner, his rival, and perhaps something else that he did not yet fully understand, was there, her eyes fixed on him. But there was something different about her. Yue Lian's usual calmness and confidence were absent, replaced by a cold, challenging gaze.

"Yue Lian…" Xu Tian whispered, taking a step towards her. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" Yue Lian replied, her voice sharp as a sword's edge. "I should be the one asking you that. Why do you always feel the need to prove yourself superior? Why do you always try to outshine everything around you?"

Xu Tian stepped back, stunned by her words. "What are you saying? I'm not trying to outshine anyone. What I do, I do because… because it's my path."

"Your path?" Yue Lian stepped forward, his Silent Moon martial soul emanating a silver glow that seemed to challenge the power of the Sun in Xu Tian. "You always think of yourself, Xu Tian. You always think that you can carry everything, that you're the only one who can shine. But you don't understand that the world doesn't revolve around you. Not everything is blinding light. There are times for calm, for reflection, for accepting that you can't do everything alone."

Xu Tian clenched his fists, fighting back the confusion and anger that boiled within him. "Don't underestimate me, Yue Lian. I've come this far because I've worked harder than anyone else. I don't expect you to understand, because you've always had the luxury of hiding in the shadows."

Yue Lian's expression hardened, and the Moon energy around her grew more intense. "Is that what you think of me? That I'm a shadow? That my strength isn't comparable to yours because it doesn't scream for all to see?"

The two of their powers began to resonate in the air, creating an energy field that made the ground beneath their feet vibrate. As the words turned into confrontation, the balance of the Plane began to break, showing fissures that spread like cracks in a mirror.

"Stop!" the Guardian's voice boomed, his tone imbued with authority. "This is not a battle of egos. This is the time to decide how you will move forward together."

Xu Tian and Yue Lian looked at each other, their powers still dormant but their attention now directed at the Guardian.

"Xu Tian," the Guardian continued, "your greatest flaw is your pride. You think you can shine brighter than anyone else, but you don't understand that even the Sun has its limits. If you don't learn to accept those around you, your light will become a burden to yourself and others."

The Guardian turned to Yue Lian. "And you, Yue Lian, cling too tightly to the tranquility of darkness. You are afraid to shine on your own, to take a place equal to the Sun. If you don't stop suppressing your true potential, you will always be a shadow, not because others say so, but because you yourself choose to be."

Both young men remained silent, processing the words. Xu Tian felt a twinge of truth in what the Guardian had said. He had been so focused on being the best, on proving his worth, that he had never considered how his actions affected others. On the other hand, Yue Lian also began to question her reserved attitude. She had always thought that wisdom lay in staying in the shadows, but perhaps she had mistaken prudence for cowardice.

"So… what should we do?" Xu Tian finally asked, his tone more humble than before.

"Decide together," the Guardian replied. "The Eclipse is not just a fusion of powers. It is an alliance, a promise to work as equals. Only when you both find a way to trust and rely on each other will the true power of the Eclipse manifest."

Xu Tian looked at Yue Lian, and for the first time saw beyond the rivalry that had defined their relationship until now. He saw someone who shared his same struggles, someone who also carried the weight of an overwhelming fate. Yue Lian, for her part, found in Xu Tian's eyes a sincerity she had never noticed before, a vulnerability that mirrored her own.

"Perhaps… we have been fighting for the wrong reasons," Xu Tian said, extending a hand towards her. "I do not want to be your enemy, Yue Lian. If the Eclipse is something we must share, then let us do it together."

Yue Lian watched him for a moment, her eyes filled with mixed emotions. Finally, she nodded and took his hand. "You're right. This isn't something we can do alone. Together, we can find balance."

As their hands joined together, a wave of energy enveloped them, and the Plane of Balance shone with unprecedented intensity. The light of the Sun and the darkness of the Moon intertwined, creating a harmonious glow that resonated throughout the universe.

The Guardian watched them with an approving smile. "This is how the true power of the Eclipse begins. Remember this moment, for your union will be tested again and again. But now you are ready to face any challenge."

Xu Tian and Yue Lian exchanged a determined look. They knew their journey was just beginning, but for the first time, they didn't feel alone. They had found something far more valuable than power: mutual trust.