Tormented by her own darkness of being used as an instrument of destruction Aria resolves to use her Light to protect those who need her, in doing so she reaches both Eden and Kouga from their darkness and all reach the Core of Darkness. Aria then along Kouga obtain the Core of Darkness. Mars himself then appears intending to take Aria for himself, but is faced with the opposition of the Bronze Saints and Aria herself who openly defies Mars. The Bronze Saints are easily defeated even after using their strongest attacks, but Aria resolves to fight and her Cosmo then resonates with the Elemental Cores merging together into a staff with which Aria can protect the Saints from Mars' Darkness as well as empower them. Mars is pushed back by Aria's light but then throws an energy lance and impales Aria. Mars then takes the staff along with Aria's light before departing with Sonya and an horrorized Eden. A dying Aria asks the Saints to stop Mars and save the world, before being transported out of the Ruins with Aria's body falling into the abyss.