("The Last Temple of Asterra")
The temple was quiet. Far too quiet. The faint scent of burnt corpses hung in the air, like a whisper clinging to the stone.
At both sides of the central hall stood the Six Heralds of Light, clad in pure silver armor — the mightiest guardians of the faith. But among them lingered something… not human.
It was the presence of the divine.
From beyond the gate came the echo of heavy footsteps. The whispered spells inscribed on the walls flickered and faded, as if something far greater approached.
"He is coming…"
Suddenly, the temple doors buckled, then exploded open.
Smoke. Shadow. Silence.
And a lone knight in black armor.
Kraan.
Dark aura pulsed around his shoulders, and his blade — Dark Moon Light — shimmered with violet-blue flame.
His face was cold as the sky; his gaze, deep as the void.
The first to step forward was Laurian, commander of the Holy Heralds, wielder of an ancient blade of light forged in the forgotten age.
"This place is the last refuge of God. Turn back, blade of darkness."
Kraan drew in a slow breath.
"I have nowhere to return to. Your so-called 'divine light' is built upon the bones of the suffering. I've come to bring it all to an end."
"Then… meet your end!"
The battle began.
Clash I: Kraan vs Laurian
Laurian's radiant sword struck first — a blinding arc of holy power that split the air.
Kraan moved without haste, raising his blade in calm deflection.
CLANG!!!
The hall trembled. Runes etched into the stone shattered from the shockwave.
It was as if god and devil had crossed swords — and yet the balance tilted.
"You think your light can cut me?" Kraan growled. "Your light is false."
Blow after blow followed. Sparks danced through the air.
Then — Laurian's sword cracked. Blood spilled.
But still, he did not fall.
"I… do not yield. God is with me!"
"Then your god shall fall with you."
With a final surge, Kraan unleashed his full force. The blow hurled Laurian across the chamber.
His white armor shattered, his body struck through the temple's stone wall.
Clash II: The Final Three Heralds
With Laurian down, the remaining three Heralds rose in unison.
One summoned fire — unleashing blazing infernos through the sacred halls.
Another cast a psychic spell of shadow, attempting to unravel Kraan's mind.
The last launched a blade of pure light, aimed directly at his heart.
But...
Kraan focused his soul.
He raised Dark Moon Light, dipping its edge into his own blood.
"Severance of Shadow."
It was not just a strike.
It was a fracture of reality.
The temple cracked open — a rift tore upward through the sky.
The very air screamed.
All three Heralds fell — split apart by light, fire, and blood.
Ending: In the Ruins of the Temple
The last Herald collapsed into flame.
The central pillar groaned, then broke, and the final temple of Asterra began to fall.
Kraan dropped to his knees. His body trembled. His blade pointed to the earth.
He remembered Farella's corpse.
He remembered Sofia. Casmir. Sephist. Nevan.
His childhood.
The sorrow.
The betrayal of hope.
"Some light is born from darkness..."
He reached down and touched Farella's chest.
"Then why can't darkness give birth to light? I know the truth... but you — you were too late."
Smoke curled into the night.
The city screamed.
What had once been a temple now stood as a smoldering grave.
Sofia stepped beside him, her hands trembling slightly, though her face remained calm.
"It's done. The first temple has fallen."
Kraan nodded.
"Go to the city gate. Draven needs backup."
Casmir approached, his blade held at his chest.
"Draven will handle the bottleneck. But... I'm worried."
Kraan met his eyes.
"Can the remaining three temples fall so easily?"
A pause.
Then Kraan looked toward the distant ridge.
"Sephist and Kyrell will succeed. Nevan and Kyrell have already taken the last two."
Suddenly, the ground shook. From beneath the castle, a hidden chamber's door burst open — a thick wave of dark energy surged outward. Casmir turned.
"There's something else… beneath us."
Sofia didn't panic. Instead, she focused.
A faint whisper echoed from the depths — like an ancient spell:
Et relinquam te in tenebris…
Kraan turned quickly.
"What is that?"
From the heart of shadow, a figure emerged.
A black-armored warrior with ancient sigils etched into his mask.
It was Nevan.
"The second temple has fallen," he said quietly.
Yet his words carried a bone-deep dread.
Kraan stood.
"Go toward the third. The palace is encircled — but tonight… it ends."
Outside, horns and orders echoed.
The soldiers of Light began regrouping at the central square.
Kraan clenched his blade. Lightning split the sky — and in its glow, his eyes burned with frost.
"We began on the path of true darkness… Then let us finish it."