Cleansing

Cleansing
Description
Defeat Shadow
Chapter	Chapter VII, Part II: Behold the Future
Opponent	Shadow
Main Quest
Next	First Copy
Previous	Behold the Future

“	Prepare to die, Descendant.	”
–Shadow

Cleansing is the name of the last main quest and boss fight in Chapter VII, Part II of Shadow Fight 3. It takes place on the Accelerator Tower.

Story

Upon seeing the Descendant and Bolo approaching him, Shadow comments that Bolo is not a useless old madman after all, as he has brought him his own child. Bolo corrects him, saying that the Descendant has come here on their own accord and they will fight him. Moira, who recognizes the Descendant as her friend who saved her from the Scourge, pleas to Shadow to not fight them. Shadow tells her that it all will be over soon, they will start a new world and Moira will have new friends in it. The final battle between Shadow and his Descendant then begins.

Fight Info

Shadow is fought as the final boss of the chapter. This fight is different from the other fights the player has fought. As a starter, the fight can last up to seven rounds, out of which the player must win four rounds in order to be declared victorious. Unlike other fights, there is no time limit for how long a round will last.

This fight takes place on the Accelerator Tower itself. The fight with Shadow has three phases and features cutscenes, which differentiate this fight from the other fights. In each phase, Shadow utilizes a never-seen-before fighting style different from other opponents and bosses.

Enemy Info

• Name: Shadow
• Fighting Style: All
• Weapon: None
• Armor: None
• Helm: None
• Ranged Weapon: None
• Recommended Power: 20700

Phase 1

In the first phase, Shadow fights using a giant armorwalker he controls from the inside. Moira can be seen crying in the background. Shadow Mind will assist the player in this phase; the player's shadow energy regenerates by itself in this phase and every time the player enters shadow form, Shadow Mind emerges and shoots out an energy beam towards the armorwalker.

Shadow asks Moira to take the Descendant's Shadow Mind from them, and put it into the Accelerator's Core. Moira keeps on pleading to Shadow as she does not want to do it, which Shadow ignores. He threatens the Descendant by telling them to prepare to die, before the fight begins.

After speaking to Moira and the Descendant, Shadow turns around and hops over into the giant armorwalker and enters it. The armorwalker is then activated, ready to fight.

The giant armorwalker is very huge. It has a very limited moveset, on top of moving and attacking very slowly. However, it is compensated by the armorwalker's sturdiness and capability to knock down the player with any attacks and it will not recoil from the player's attacks. If the armorwalker gets hit by Shadow Mind's beam, it will fall to the ground, in which it will take some time for the giant armorwalker to stand up again. The armorwalker's main offense are its energy blades from both of its arms and a pair of missile launchers on its back. After losing once, the missile launchers will be activated.

Move	Description
	Hidden Power: The player's special ability available only during this fight. When the player enters shadow form, Shadow Mind will emerge out and shoot out a powerful blast of shadow beam to attack the armorwalker. The beam's impact is strong enough to knock the giant armorwalker down, which is otherwise impossible to do. The damage dealt by Shadow Mind is proportional to the power of player's equipped helm.
	The armorwalker steps forward as it extends the blades on both arms, and then slams them downward. This move consists of 1 hit, has moderate range, and can deal guaranteed critical hit. This move also ignores blocks.
	The armorwalker extends the blade on an arm and spins that arm backward. This move covers all the area around the armorwalker, therefore this move can also hit the player if they are behind or above the armorwalker. This move can hit the player up to 3 times, has short range, and can deal guaranteed critical hits. This move also ignores blocks.
	The armorwalker charges forward as it spins its body while performing 2 punches, before it punches downward with one fist. This move consists of 3 hits, has long range, and can deal guaranteed critical hits. This move also ignores blocks.
	The armorwalker stomps the ground with one foot. This move consists of 1 hit, has short range, and can deal guaranteed critical hit. Unlike other moves, the stomp can be blocked.
	The armorwalker performs this stance after winning a round.
	The armorwalker is knocked down when it loses a round.
	The armorwalker will perform this stance after losing once. It stands up as it deploys the pair of missile launchers on its back.
	The armorwalker steps forward as it extends the blades on both arms, and then slams them downward. Afterwards, it launches a barrage of missiles from the launcher on its back, dealing heavy explosion. The explosion can deal Head hits.
	The armorwalker extends the blade on an arm and spins that arm backward. Afterwards, it launches a barrage of missiles from the launcher on its back, dealing heavy explosion. The explosion can deal Head hits.

Phase 1 can last for up to five rounds. Once the player scores two wins, the giant armorwalker will run toward the Descendant to grab them. The Descendant dodges its hand by hopping over it and jumps high above the armorwalker. With Shadow Mind's power, the Descendant blasts the armorwalker with a destructive energy beam, sending it all the way down to the Core area, located on the floor just below where they fight. With the armorwalker defeated, Phase 2 begins.

Phase 2

In the second phase, Shadow fights by himself, using his martial arts skills. The player's shadow energy regenerates by itself in this phase. Shadow Mind will assist the player in this phase; every time the player enters shadow form, Shadow Mind emerges and shoots out an energy beam towards Shadow.

Shadow's fighting style consists of a combination of many punches and kicks, which he uses to create a devastating combo. His moves are deceptively fast and strong, making it very difficult to dodge or counter him.

Moira can be seen in the background, still watching helplessly.

Move	Description
	Protective Concentration: Shadow has a shield that protects his health bar. Any attacks received by him will be absorbed by his shield instead. If Shadow performs any attack (it does not require to hit the player), the shield will be recharged to full. Once all the shield has been depleted, the player can then damage him. The shield will be regained after 5 seconds of Shadow not taking any hit.
	Hidden Power: The player's special ability available only during this fight. When the player enters shadow form, Shadow Mind will emerge out and shoot out a powerful blast of shadow beam to attack Shadow. The beam's impact is strong enough to instantly pierce Shadow's shield, which is otherwise very time-consuming to deplete manually. It can also damage Shadow's health regardless of his shield. The damage dealt by Shadow Mind is proportional to the power of player's equipped helm. If timed right, the beam can deal Head hit.
	Shadow's Basic Punch combo, consisting of 2 hits. The flow of these punches resembles the Herald Basic Punch (1st hit) and the Legion Basic Punch (1st hit)
	Shadow's Heavy Attack, consisting of 2 hits. It covers a long range and is also very fast. This move is a combination of: 1st: Fling, first hit 2nd: Legion Heavy Punch
	One of Shadow's Special Moves: a flurry of quick, merciless punches consisting of 6 hits. This move is a combination of: 1st: Legion Basic Punch, first hit 2nd: Dynasty Spinning Punch, third hit 3rd: Legion Spinning Punch, first hit 4th: Dynasty Uppercut 5th: Legion Spinning Punch, second hit 6th: Heralds Heavy Punch
	Shadow's Kick combo, a series of aggressive kicks, consisting of 4 hits. This move is a combination of: 1st: Torque, first hit 2nd: Torque, second hit 3rd: Cannonball, second hit 4th: Heralds Sweep
	One of Shadow's Special Moves: a series of lighting-fast low hits combo, consisting of 4 attacks. This move is a combination of: 1st: Floorwork, first hit 2nd: Heralds Low Punch 3rd: Dynasty Low Punch 4th: Dynamo, third hit
	One of Shadow's Special Moves, and the most dangerous one: Shadow displays his amazing legs strength, performing acrobatic kicks before ending the combo with a leg throw that almost seems like defying gravity. If the player gets thrown by the finisher, they will be left open long enough for Shadow's next attack; it is technically possible for Shadow to stunlock the player by executing this move over and over again if he wishes to do so. 1st: Ape Rampage, fourth hit 2nd and 3rd: Bend Trick, fifth hit (modified) 4th: Unique
	Shadow can also move like a normal person. He may throw the player, attack with Dynasty Jump Kicks, side step around the player, or duck to dodge ranged weapons.
	Shadow will perform this stance after winning a round.

Phase 2 can last for up to four rounds. Once the player scores one win, Shadow is defeated, as he gets launched toward the debris of the armorwalker. The Descendant walks towards him, and Shadow forces himself to stand back up to continue fighting, albeit visibly hurt from the fight. Moira then runs to stand between the two fighters to stop them from approaching each other. However, Moira loses control over herself for a moment, causing her to release a shockwave, pushing both the Descendant and Shadow away, and causing Shadow Mind to emerge. As the shadow being realizes it is now out of the Descendant, Shadow Mind tries to attack Moira. Shadow shields Moira and as a result, Shadow accidentally fuses with Shadow Mind. He then enters shadow form. This begins Phase 3.

Phase 3

In the third phase, Shadow fights with his newly-obtained shadow powers, in permanent shadow form, although he does not have his shield anymore. As Shadow Mind had said before, Shadow has become god-like. Since Shadow Mind is no longer inside the player's body, the Descendant has lost their ability to regenerate shadow energy.

Moira is still watching in the background.

Shadowsmith: In addition to his unique fighting style, his permanent shadow form makes him capable of using many deadly shadow attacks that are enhanced to their original version.

Move	Description
	Thresh: Improved version, consisting of 7 hits - conjures a staff, then slams the staff forward to the ground. Shadow then throws and telekinetically spins the staff vertically in midair, striking upwards many times, before slamming the staff to the ground. The staff hits can deal Head hits.
	Prod: Improved version, consisting of 10 hits - conjures a pair of Sai. Shadow then strikes upwards, throwing the player into the air before dashing underneath them, spawning numerous afterimage copies of Shadow's arms and Sai, rapidly stabbing upwards with them numerous times into the player before they fall. The stabs barrage deals guaranteed Head hits.
	Trip: Improved version, consisting of 5 hits - conjures a Kusarigama, then swings the sickle forward before conjuring two portals, one behind the player and another one behind Shadow. Shadow then launches the sickle into the portal behind him, and it will appear out of the portal behind the player. If the player gets caught, they will be pulled into the portal, appearing next to Shadow. He then strikes the player with the kusarigama three times. The last three strikes deal guaranteed Head hits.
	Tumble: Improved version, consisting of 2 hits - conjures a giant sword, then leaps forward and anchors the giant sword point into the ground with an overhead strike, before using the anchored sword point as a pivot to front flip into an overhead sword slam. The first hit deals a guaranteed Head hit.
	Forceful Awakening: The player's special ability available earlier, now used by Shadow against them, in an improved way - charges up for a moment, before emerging Shadow Mind and releasing a shadow energy beam while levitating into the air. He then bends his body downward while continuing to blast the shadow energy beam, before descending into the ground. Just like before, both beams can deal Head hits. When charging the beam, Shadow is invulnerable to any attacks. The player can avoid the first beam by rolling toward Shadow as there is a safe spot on the lower part next to him where the beam does not reach. The second beam can then be dodged when Shadow is levitating by moving behind him to avoid getting hit by the following beam. Shadow may use this ability up to three times in a round, when his health reaches a certain threshold: 75℅, 45℅, and 10℅.
	The same stance except more menacing.

When the player loses.

Phase 3 can last for up to four rounds. Once the player scores one win, they will be declared victorious.

The Ending

Shadow is defeated for good; he returns back to his human form as he dies. Moira runs toward Shadow, mourning over his death. Due to the grief, she loses control over herself again and gets overwhelmed with rage, telekinetically knocking the Descendant unconscious and pulls Shadow Mind from Shadow's lifeless body. Moira then forcefully throws Shadow Mind into the Accelerator's Core. With this, the Cleansing starts and everyone is killed and the entire world is obliterated.

This marks the beginning of the Transformation story mode.

References

• The armorwalker's design resembles the Eraser armor suit; although it can be safely assumed as the other way around.
• The stance performed by Shadow is a similar one he performed in Shadow Fight 2 when he entered a fight unarmed. While the last part of his stance is based on his stance when he wielded the Knuckles type weapon.
• The shadow weapons conjured by Shadow resemble the weapons encountered by the players in their journey.
  • The staff is a Gilded Staff.
  • The Sai are Dark Cogs.
  • The Kusarigama is the Blood Reaper.
  • The giant sword, bears a striking resemblance to the Desolator used by Shadow's archenemy in Shadow Fight 2, Titan.
• Just like his martial arts moves, the shadow attacks that Shadow may perform is a combination of various existing attacks or moves, which is improved to be better than the original.
  • The staff attack is a combination of Skyfall, Thresh and Collapse.
  • The Sai attack is similar to the regular Prod, but without the initial windup, therefore it is much faster.
  • The kusarigama attack's first hit is based on a move Shadow did in Shadow Fight 2 when he used Kusarigama. Meanwhile, the following attacks are of Trip.
  • The giant sword strike is Tumble without the long recovery.
• Shadow's shield used to have different animation. It was then changed into the current one, which has the same animation as Helga's Shield of Light.
• The Accelerator Core features the shape of a flaming orb with two energy rings swirling around it. When any of the fighters enter shadow form, the Core will change in color, which suddenly makes it resemble the Eternals' Sphere, a mysterious artifact which contains the essence of worlds.
• Shadow's Basic Punch resembles his Super Punch (Fists)/Double Punch (Pneumo Fists) attack from Shadow Fight 2.
• The Descendant's Hidden Power ability resembles Tenebris's Beam of Fearness ability.

Trivia

• This is the first quest in the game which does not give any form of rewards.
• If the player defeats the armorwalker when in shadow form, the cutscene will trigger with the location still in shadow effect, resulting in the next location to be dim. The lighting will return to normal once the player has exited shadow form again.
• If any of the fighters uses any form of shadow attacks in this fight, then the Shadow Mind will lose the "eye" on its head in cutscenes.
• Shadow in this fight was possible to be encountered in the dream fight of Star of Hope, the thematic event playable during 2020 Christmas. He was dubbed as Hatred in the dream fight, and he can be fought by players who have entered Transformation.
  • The armorwalker was planned to be included in this event as a separate boss, which may also be encountered by players in Transformation. However, due to technical issues, it was scrapped, and replaced by Ling.