Subaru's frantic surge was too late. As his hand reached for her, DeathGod was already gone, melting into the air with nothing left but a lingering trail of shadow and a chilling, mocking laugh that echoed through the broken street.
Subaru caught Lizzie before she hit the ground. Warm blood spilled rapidly over his arms, her neck torn by a wound that refused to close. Yet, even in agony, she clung to the two children in her embrace. Her grip was desperate, iron-like, shielding their trembling eyes from the sight of her injury.
"Lizzie… no, no, you'll survive!" Subaru's voice cracked as he sheathed his twin daggers while he pressed his hands against her neck. Light burst from his palms, healing mana searing the air with desperate brilliance. The glow pressed into her wound, but it fizzled, rejected, unable to touch the black taint spreading beneath her skin. It was not a wound of flesh—it was a void-poison, a severance that reached her soul.
Her body trembled violently as the pain wracked through her, a hoarse cry escaping her throat. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling as she gasped for air. Still, she held on to the children, forcing her body to stay between them and death itself.
"Please…" she coughed, her voice barely a breath, blood bubbling at her lips. "Please, Subaru… save everyone."
Her eyes, wet with fear and sorrow, began to lose their light. Her arms slackened around the children, her strength vanishing.
"No. No! You're not leaving like this," Subaru muttered, his voice low, fierce, almost breaking. He pulled her tightly against his chest, shielding the children's view with his body. He forced a calmness he did not feel into his voice, whispering into her ear as her heartbeat faltered. "You can rest well now, Lizzie. I'll take care of them. I swear it."
Her final breath left her in a shudder. A faint, serene smile softened her pain-twisted face, a single tear slipping down her cheek as her body went still.
Then came the voice.
DeathGod's laughter thundered through the ruins, closer now, venom dripping from every syllable. "Congratulations, Heaven. Another soul won. Tell me, Subaru… does this feel familiar? Does her death taste like the others you failed to save?"
Subaru's teeth clenched hard enough to ache. Slowly, reverently, he lowered Lizzie's body to the ground. His hands lingered for a moment, fingers trembling, before he tore them away and gathered the children swiftly into his arms, holding them tight against his chest. He would not let them see. He would not let them remember her like this.
A shift in the air warned him an instant too late. DeathGod sensed the pause, the vulnerability, and struck. He blurred forward, shadow arms outstretched, his voice a roar meant to end. "Now die with her!"
"Don't!" Subaru bellowed back, his fury exploding.
But his body was already in motion. His muscles coiled and released, carrying him backward in a violent flip. His heel twisted mid-air, redirecting his descent in a blur of motion, faster than mortal eyes could track. DeathGod's claws sliced through empty space as Subaru vanished from their path, the ground rupturing as the godlike being slammed into it instead.
The crash split the street, stone and dust bursting upward.
Subaru landed sharply, his boots striking near a panicked knight who shouted uselessly at the fleeing crowd. Without hesitation, Subaru shoved the children into the knight's arms. His voice thundered, leaving no room for doubt. "Protect them with your life!"
There was no time to wait for an oath. Subaru spun, thrusting his arms wide. His aura erupted, and a massive surge of mana ignited the air, crackling like a storm. A translucent wall of power slammed into being, its surface shimmering like glass under strain. DeathGod, rebounding from his failed strike, smashed face-first into the barrier with a resounding thwump that rattled the street and sent visible ripples screaming across the shield.
The civilians gasped, stumbling in their escape, frozen for a heartbeat by the sight of the god trapped.
"How terribly rude," DeathGod hissed inside his prison, his face pressed against the barrier yet smiling as if it amused him. Shadows writhed around him, hungrily testing the wall. "To cage me like a beast. Subaru… you have no manners at all."
But Subaru did not answer him. His chest heaved with fury, his eyes burning with fire. His voice erupted instead at the frozen civilians, raw and unrelenting. "RUN, YOU IDIOTS! RUNNNNN!"
The spell in his tone broke their terror. Panic jolted them alive, and they obeyed at last. The knight, holding the sobbing children tight, turned and fled with the tide, joining the frantic stampede.
"You don't have to insult them now," DeathGod mocked, pacing the confines of his shimmering prison as though it were a stage. His voice was light, amused, yet every syllable carried a blade's edge. "Treat them nicely, Subaru. You cannot blame them for being so… stupid, can you? Very well then, I will give them ten seconds."
He began his count with deliberate slowness, each number a hammer blow echoing across the battlefield. "One… two… three…"
Subaru gritted his teeth, forcing more mana into the force field. Sweat ran down his temples as he gauged his limits. How long can I keep him bound? How long before this prison shatters? His heart pounded with the knowledge that if he faltered, the civilians would pay the price.
"Eight!" DeathGod suddenly leapt forward in the count, his voice sharp with mockery. "Nine! TEN!"
The barrier detonated in a shower of fractured mana, shards of light scattering like broken glass across the ruins. The shockwave ripped at Subaru's arms, forcing him back a step.
DeathGod was free.
The void-born creature stretched lazily as if testing new muscles, then launched his leg outward in a vicious arc toward the stampeding civilians. Subaru lunged, reaching to intercept, but his fingers grasped only emptiness as the shadow-limb phased through his hand.
A cruel grin split DeathGod's face. He surged forward, a streak of darkness cutting straight for the helpless.
The ground erupted.
From the torn earth, thick luminous vines burst upward, radiant with life-energy, stabbing through DeathGod's form mid-air. The impact stopped him short, pinning him in a web of blazing light. His laughter broke into a half-choked sound, more annoyed than pained. The vines, woven of pure mana, could not wound him, but their radiance held him fast.
In a flash of brilliance, Thorn materialized beside him, his massive frame wreathed in teleportation light. His greatsword was already raised, the weight of mountains in his grip, descending with deadly precision.
For a heartbeat, the street held its breath.
But DeathGod slipped free, sliding like smoke through the radiant bindings. Thorn's blade crashed down through empty air, striking only cobblestone with a thunderous crack.
DeathGod's laughter rang out again as he reformed beside a splintered barrel, shadows flickering wildly. Yet before he could fully settle, the earth answered Morganna's call once more. New vines, thicker and more radiant, shot upward in relentless pursuit, piercing through his shape and forcing his body to twist unnaturally.
Subaru seized the opening. He darted forward, rage burning in every step, and his fist slammed into DeathGod's chest with enough force to shatter the glowing bindings. The blow launched the shadow-being across the street, tearing a smoking hole into the wall of a nearby building. Dust and brick rained down in a choking cloud.
Morganna was already moving, skirts flowing as she approached from the opposite direction of the fleeing crowd. Her voice was urgent, commanding. "You gentlemen must keep within my radius!"
Thorn and Subaru met her eyes. They understood. The Kings gave sharp nods, ready to fight where her power was strongest.
Then, impossibly quick, DeathGod struck back. From the collapsing building he materialized, his form sharpening, now gripping a short, razor-thin shadow blade. With terrifying speed he appeared behind Thorn, the tip of the blade already thrusting for his spine.
Morganna's breath caught. Her heart lurched. THORN
But Subaru could.
His daggers flashed in a blur, intercepting the shadow weapon with a ringing clash just before it found Thorn's back. Sparks of mana and shadow scattered through the air. Thorn did not hesitate. He spun on instinct, his boot slamming into DeathGod's chest with bone-shaking power, hurling the void-being back into the broken building he had just left.
Morganna dropped to her knees, slamming her palms to the ground. Her voice was low, trembling with prayer. Please, my baby, lend me strength.
The earth split with her plea. Radiance erupted outward as the Verdant Aegis of Eternus unfurled in its full glory. Blossoms of impossible beauty bloomed from cracked stone, thick luminous vines coiling through the rubble. A sacred perimeter of purifying light rose around the Kings, saturating the battlefield with life-force so potent that the shadows hissed in retreat. Within the circle, the air felt alive, holy, untouchable.
Subaru's eyes flicked toward Thorn, his tone urgent and hard. "Thorn, watch his blades. Do not underestimate them."
Thorn's grip on his greatsword tightened. He lifted the weapon with steady confidence. "That will not be an issue."
Subaru's gaze hardened. His voice cut sharper than steel. "I am serious. That blade is one of Wu's best creations."
Thorn's eyes widened slightly at the revelation. The weight of it sank in. "Then there is no room for restraint."
"Yes," Subaru confirmed, cold and unwavering.
From within the shattered ruin, DeathGod's laughter roared, echoing like a dirge. His shadowed form flickered, eager and unbroken. "This will be fun!"
~~~~~~~~~~~
The air above the graveyard stank of ash, burnt mana, and blood. The defensive barrier had shattered, and with it, order itself. The battle had become nothing but chaos: a desperate, hopeless struggle painted in screams.
Knights and Minotaurs clashed among the fallen. The fanatics, no longer men in robes but twisted Minotaurs themselves, tore through steel and flesh alike. Their roars mingled with the dying cries of men who had once sworn to defend the kingdom.
Lucian staggered through the carnage, blood pouring from a gash across his temple, stinging his eye. His mind was reeling, but his focus refused to break. A massive Minotaur's curved horn swept down, nearly taking his head. Dust scraped across his cheek as he ducked beneath the swing.
He tried to counter, summoning his arcane strike, but pain exploded in his back as another Minotaur emerged from the pile of corpses, slamming a fist into his spine. Lucian collapsed forward, his body folding, agony forcing a strangled cry from his throat.
But even broken, he was not yet finished. Snarling through clenched teeth, he shoved mana into his palms. The first Minotaur bellowed, charging for the kill. Lucian unleashed a sudden blast of pure force at close range. The creature's face tore apart in a grotesque spray of bone, flesh, and dark mana. The concussive wave rebounded, flinging Lucian aside just in time to evade the second monster's crushing stomp.
He hit the ground hard, coughing blood. His vision swam.
Around him, the Knights screamed as they died. One was pinned, gnawed alive by snapping teeth. Three more were skewered together on a single horn, writhing like insects on a spike. Their cries were ragged, desperate, enough to shred the resolve of weaker men.
Lucian's chest heaved. He knew he could not save them. He barely had strength to stand. But the mission… the mission is complete. The barrier's center is intact. The people inside are safe. The others have reached the designated zones. I did not fail.
It was a small, bitter triumph amid despair.
Then claws clamped around his leg.
A larger Minotaur loomed over him, gripping his limb like a child might hold a stick. With a sudden, merciless crunch, its fist closed.
Lucian screamed, his voice raw and jagged, echoing through the graveyard. The sound was almost inhuman, born of bone shattering and nerves tearing apart.
He fought against the black haze threatening to take him. His hand snapped up, clutching the beast's thick forearm.
His lips bled from biting down as he forced every last fragment of his arcane essence outward. His veins burned like fire.
The Minotaur's internal mana surged, spiraled, and then imploded.
With a sound like wet stone splitting, the creature's arm burst apart in a spray of gore, bone shards, and writhing black mist. The monster howled in agony, flinging him down.
Lucian landed headfirst against the broken stones. Blood trickled down into his mouth, thick and metallic. His vision blurred.
The one-armed Minotaur snarled, fury vibrating its massive chest. It lifted its foot, aiming to crush his skull like pulp.
Lucian laughed softly, though blood spilled with the sound. A thin, ironic smile curved his lips. "So… this is it. Who would have thought… a mage like me… would die like this?" His voice cracked into a cough. He whispered, almost fondly, "To Balmount."
The shadow of the beast's foot fell across his face.
Then the body convulsed.
The Minotaur's chest swelled grotesquely, skin splitting as if something inside forced its way out. In the span of a heartbeat, it burst apart in silence, a violent spray of red and black mist. The stench of burning mana seared the air.
Lucian's eyes widened. He tried to focus through the haze. It wasn't only this one.
Low thuds reverberated across the battlefield. One by one, every Minotaur exploded in unison, their massive bodies rupturing into clouds of gore and dark steam.
The graveyard fell into an eerie, mist-shrouded quiet.
The few surviving Knights staggered, blinking in disbelief. One dropped his sword and raised trembling arms. "We… survived! We won!"
Another coughed blood but forced a cheer. "Victory! The kingdom—"
His words choked in his throat. His body convulsed, then collapsed. The others followed, falling one by one, their cheers turning into final, strangled gasps as they sank into the blood-soaked soil.
Lucian tried to rise, to see, to understand—but his body refused him. His limbs were heavy stone.
A new voice cut through the silence. Smooth. Cold. Unhurried. "This will not do. You are all… fortunate I arrived when I did."
Lucian's heart hammered. The voice was unfamiliar, its tone laced with effortless authority, almost boredom.
The figure moved closer. "I wonder… will the ones in the safe house still be breathing? Perhaps I should take a look."
Lucian strained his eyes, the world spinning. Through the blur he saw gleaming shoes, polished and black against the ruined ground. Then—rings of gold, faintly catching the last flickers of light. He tried to focus, but the face refused to take shape.
The figure paused above him. "Not dead yet, are you? No… you will live. That much is certain."
A shadow fell across Lucian's face. The voice softened, final and absolute. "Now… sleep."
A heavy drowsiness rolled through him, deeper than any wound. Lucian fought it, his lips parting in a final struggle. I must… warn them. I must…
Darkness swallowed him whole.
~~~~~~~~~~
The sewer tunnel was a suffocating maze of stone and stench, its air thick with damp heat. The surviving elves stumbled through the darkness, their footsteps splashing in the shallow water, their ragged breaths echoing like ghostly cries against the walls. Fear pressed in on them with every stride.
Astrid, unyielding and watchful, stayed at the rear. Her cord was drawn taut by her side, her sharp eyes scanning the shadows. She measured their pace, her body steady while the others faltered. At last, she raised her voice.
"Stop! Everyone, stop here!"
The elves collapsed in place, clutching their sides, gasping for breath. Sweat traced paths through the grime on their faces, eyes wide with exhaustion and dread.
One of them, an older elf with streaks of silver in his hair, forced himself upright. His voice trembled as he addressed her. "Princess… why have we stopped now? The way is not clear."
Astrid's face softened only slightly. She reached into her pocket and withdrew a smooth, transparent orb, its surface faintly cold to the touch. "Because I must contact someone," she said, her tone steady, almost regal. She tapped it lightly. "Hello…"
For a heartbeat, nothing answered. Then the world above them quaked.
A colossal impact shook the stone overhead. The tunnel groaned as though it might collapse, sending a shower of dust and pebbles raining down. The elves cowered, and even Astrid's eyes flickered with unease.
Can King Thorn and the Reaper truly end the DeathGod?
The orb flickered to life, a dim, lazy glow spreading across its surface. A voice drifted from it, smooth, drawn out, every syllable heavy with indifference.
"Astrid… finally. You managed to gather the elves, did you not?"
Relief broke through her composure, brightening her eyes. "Yes, I have! They are here with me, safe within the tunnels."
"Good," Aurelia replied, his tone languid, like one half-asleep. "And… was he summoned?"
Astrid's relief faltered, replaced by a shadow that hardened her expression. She lowered her voice, though the orb still carried her words. "Yes. He was summoned."
The elves shifted nervously, their fear growing as they tried to piece together the meaning of the conversation they were not meant to hear.
Aurelia's long sigh rippled through the orb, followed immediately by another thunderous impact above, the stone screaming in protest. "Hmmmm… troubling. But fine. The safety of the surviving elves must take priority."
Light shimmered near Isilwen. It swirled in the damp air, forming into a tall, spinning portal, its glow soft yet commanding.
"The portal will take them to the Guards," Aurelia instructed, his tone as unhurried as ever. "They will know how to act."
Astrid's jaw tightened. Her hand clenched at her side. "What of my father? Is he not around?"
"First," Aurelia said, his voice a lazy murmur, "let the survivors through."
Astrid closed her eyes briefly, forcing down the heat in her chest. "Forgive me." She turned to her people, her bearing lifting, regal even in the damp filth of the sewer. Her voice carried with both command and compassion.
"Everyone. This portal will deliver you directly to safety. Do not delay. Step through and do not look back. Your journey ends here… and your freedom begins."
Isilwen, shook her head weakly. "What about you, Princess? Will you not come with us?"
Astrid's lips parted. "I—"
The orb flared faintly, and Aurelia's voice cut across her words, sharp despite its lazy drawl. "Astrid, you are staying."
Astrid froze, her body taut, her shock carefully hidden behind a mask of calm. She forced a steady smile for her people. "I will be fine. Go now. This is my duty."
The elves hesitated, torn between gratitude and fear. Yet the pull of survival was undeniable. One by one, they stepped into the light, each pausing long enough to bow their heads or whisper a trembling, heartfelt thank you before vanishing into safety.
Isilwen was the last. She lingered at the glowing threshold, her eyes shimmering with unspoken worry. Then she bowed low, her voice soft and reverent. "Thank you, Princess… for everything."
Astrid held her gaze for a heartbeat, her chest tightening. Then Isilwen stepped through, and the portal sealed shut with a sudden flash of light, leaving only the heavy silence of the sewer.
The moment it vanished, Astrid's composure cracked. Her hands clenched into fists, her voice trembling with restrained fury. "Why do I have to stay, Aurelia? This is not fair!"
The orb glowed faintly once more, Aurelia's lazy, drawn-out voice drifting through. "Mmm… the reason is simple. If you remain, you will have to join the fight. You must… stop my master."
Astrid's breath caught, her anger sharpening. "But I can't!" Her voice wavered, caught between rage and despair. "I would be dead within moments!"
"Yes. I know that," Aurelia murmured, his tone languid, almost detached. Then it shifted, quiet but serious, carrying a weight that made Astrid's heart still. "But I will protect you."
Astrid shook her head, her hands trembling as she gestured at the empty tunnel around her. "How could you possibly do that? I cannot face him! He is above me, far beyond my strength!"
"That is true," Aurelia replied, the lazy drawl never leaving his words, though logic sharpened them. "But… it seems my master does not have his full power. Not yet. If you fight carefully, from a distance, your cord will restrain him… even if only for a heartbeat."
Astrid's lips pressed into a thin line. "The Reaper is there. King Thorn is there. They can hold him back. I am not needed."
Aurelia's tone wavered, a sigh dragging through the orb. "I am not so sure about King Thorn. As for Subaru… he might hold him, yes. But will he? Hmmm. No. He would not."
Astrid opened her mouth to argue, but Aurelia's voice softened, a strange sincerity breaking through his slothful drawl.
"Astrid. I trust you. All the years I trained you, the strength you carry, every lesson you endured… it was for this. You are not fragile. And while you may doubt, I will not allow you to die."
Her breath hitched, her heart tightening at the unexpected earnestness. Heat rushed to her cheeks, a flush she could not hide. Why now of all times must he speak like this?
Above them, a thunderous crash shook the tunnel, dust cascading from the ceiling.
"It must be getting serious," Aurelia muttered, as if commenting on the weather. "Remember… fight from a distance. Your Moonbind Cord can hold him for a short while. That… will be enough."
Astrid's shoulders trembled. She exhaled shakily, the enormity of the task pressing down on her. "Alright. I will. But you must promise me… you will protect me."
"Yes," Aurelia replied simply, the lazy certainty in his voice strangely comforting.
Astrid inhaled deeply, steadying herself, then nodded though no one could see her. "I will do it." Her voice was low but resolved. "But what about my father? He must be at the kingdom. Surely—"
"No," Aurelia interrupted, his tone final, like the closing of a door. "None of the rulers are back from the summit. That is why you must move now."
Astrid closed her eyes, her disappointment cutting deep. Her hands trembled as the orb's faint glow dimmed, the voice fading until there was nothing but silence. She slipped it back into her pocket, her lips pressed tight.
The silence crushed in around her until she let out a raw, frustrated shout, her voice echoing off the wet stone. It carried all her fear, her anger, her helplessness. Then she turned sharply, her boots splashing against the filthy water as she sprinted back the way she came—toward the distant sounds of the world being torn apart.