Season 7, Episode 8, titled “Dying Light,” directed by George Samilski and written by Devon Giehl & Iain Hendry, marks the beginning of the final battle in Lux Aurea between Team Zym and Team Aaravos. This climactic showdown pits two opposing forces against each other: one fighting for peace, the other for hatred and destruction.

The central theme of this episode revolves around vengeance. Aaravos embodies the corrosive power of vengeance, becoming the very thing he once stood against. Once a loving father, Aaravos has abandoned his humanity, consumed by his desire for retribution following Leola’s death. His hatred drives him to burn all of Xadia to hurt the Startouch Elves and destroy the cosmic order they built. If Aaravos succeeds, Xadia will descend into darkness, a realm where corruption thrives, and humanity rules as tyrants under his influence. This dystopian vision mirrors the world of The Witcher, where humans dominate as oppressors, subjugating dragons and elves. Aaravos’s victory would herald a similar fate for Xadia.

Rex Igneous vs. Avizandum

Sunfire Queen Janai (Rena Anakwe), Queen Amaya, Karim (Luc Roderique), and Astrid (Boone Williams) arrive at Lux Aurea to destroy the corrupted sun orb. At the last moment, Karim betrays the group, attempting to strike a deal with Aaravos (Erik Dellums). Karim offers to help Aaravos burn the world in exchange for restoring the cosmic order of the dragons and elves. However, Karim fatally underestimates Aaravos’s hatred for the arrogance of both dragons and elves—qualities Karim embodies. The Fallen Star kills Karim, dismissing his offer.

Aaravos takes the corrupted sun orb to serve as the core of his star staff, using it to bring eternal night to Xadia. Rex Igneous (Ben Cotton) intervenes, challenging Aaravos in a duel. Although powerful in manipulation and magic, Aaravos struggles in physical combat. Claudia (Racquel Belmonte) arrives just in time to hold off the Archdragon of Earth, buying Aaravos enough time to summon an undead army of enslaved phantoms.

The undead Avizandum, controlled by Aaravos, arrives to protect his master. This leads to a fierce battle between the two Archdragons. Rex Igneous’s attention is momentarily diverted by Zubeia’s (Nicole Oliver) arrival, giving Avizandum the opportunity to slay the Archdragon of Earth, devastating Zubeia. Despite this tragedy, the rest of Team Zym, joined by Domina Profundis (Jennifer Hale), arrives to reinforce the fight.

The Final Battle

Team Zym battles the undead phantoms in the skies while Zubeia and Domina Profundis engage Avizandum, Aaravos’s final line of defense. Aaravos watches the chaos with amusement, likening the scene to events centuries ago when humans, elves, and dragons united behind the Orphan Queen to imprison him. The Fallen Star taunts the heroes, claiming his death will not bring peace. He warns that his physical form’s destruction will trigger a massive explosion, killing everyone in Lux Aurea. Furthermore, Aaravos boasts that his essence will merely return to the heavens, waiting seven years and nineteen days for his stars to realign so he can regain a physical form.

Callum (Jack DeSena), however, devises a bold plan to trap Aaravos inside a magical coin using dark magic, imprisoning him once more. Aaravos mocks Callum, asserting that by using dark magic, the human mage will fall under his control. Callum counters with a selfless resolve, declaring that Runaan will end his life if necessary to prevent Aaravos’s influence from spreading. For the first time, the Fallen Star shows genuine frustration, having underestimated Callum’s willingness to sacrifice himself to save Xadia.

Rating: 9/10