The war room beneath Velmarin's shattered tower echoed with tense silence. A single crystal map glowed at its center, displaying the full breadth of the Council's hidden strongholds across the continent.
They had gathered around it—Ryuuji, Elysia, Sierra, Duncan, Reina, and Raphtael—the original five who marched to defeat the Demon Lord, plus the dragon queen who had once made Ryuuji's heart stumble mid-battle. The reunion was full, and now, it burned with purpose.
"There are five of them left," Elysia confirmed, eyes narrowed. "Each one more dangerous than the last. If even one escapes, they'll vanish underground and rebuild. That's what Velmarin was counting on."
"Then we burn them all at once," Ryuuji said, voice steady. "Five flames. Five hammers. We strike together, spread out, same hour, same breath. No more running. No more rebuilding."
Duncan grunted in agreement. "And if we fall?"
Ryuuji turned his gaze to each of them. "Then we fall together. But we don't lose. Not this time."
Reina's tail flicked. "Let's tear down the old world."
The Plan
They spent one day preparing. Just one.
Each Council member was embedded deep in different regions—fortified by illusions, armies, twisted magics, and influence.
Ryuuji would take on Councilor Harvendil, the War Mind, in the ruins of Fort Drelheim.
Sierra and Duncan would head east to Marcelos, the Illusionist, who ruled the seaborne castle of Veilspire.
Raphtael and Reina would cut south into the forested court of Lady Altraen, known as the Silent Thorn, who cloaked her power in beauty and poison.
Elysia, the most magically potent among them, would take the skies alone and descend upon Sorvian, the blood mage of the north, whose lair was guarded by storms and elemental curses.
As the sun rose, Ryuuji and Elysia stood together one last time before parting.
"Don't die," she whispered.
He smiled. "I've got a village to come back to."
They kissed once—soft, quiet, as if to say what words couldn't.
And then the heroes scattered across the realm like sparks.
Ryuuji – Fort Drelheim
The fortress stood cold, empty...until Ryuuji stepped inside.
"You came alone?" boomed a voice. Harvendil strode forward in massive armor, flanked by metal golems, each thrumming with deadly enchantments.
Ryuuji didn't answer. He unsheathed his sword, which hummed in the air like a held breath.
The fight was brutal. Harvendil fought like ten men, and each golem was like a walking war. But Ryuuji had faced worse.
He broke the golems, shattered Harvendil's enchanted breastplate, and stabbed his blade through the man's throne—pinning him down in a final burst of ancient magic that rendered the entire fortress inert.
"I was never alone," Ryuuji whispered as Harvendil gasped. "The world watches now."
Sierra and Duncan – Veilspire
The sea battered the castle's stone walls as Sierra glided through illusions like wind parting fog. Duncan cleaved shadow beasts in half with brutal sweeps of his sword.
Marcelos laughed from his high perch, crafting duplicates of himself with every breath.
But illusions didn't fool those who had marched to hell and back.
Sierra found the real one with her cyclone magic, blowing away layers of enchantment, while Duncan tackled the councilor bodily and held him down.
"You live in dreams," Duncan growled. "But this is reality."
They cast him into the sea, and Veilspire cracked in half with their fury.
Raphtael and Reina – The Court of Thorns
Altraen's gardens were beautiful, blooming with impossible flowers. Her attendants were perfect—until they opened their mouths, and venom leaked like honey.
But Raphtael's healing light seared through the illusions. Reina stalked through the vines like a panther through mist, claws glinting.
Lady Altraen tried to beg.
"Please," she said, weaving sobs into spells.
Raphtael's eyes were kind—but unyielding. "We trusted you once. Never again."
Reina struck the killing blow, and the court wilted around them.
Elysia – The Storm Keep
Lightning flashed as Elysia ascended the tower in the storm. Sorvian's blood spells coiled around her, trying to bind her wings, burn her flesh.
But Elysia was born in fire.
She tore through every magical storm, shattered every blood ward, and unleashed her dragon form in a roar that echoed for miles.
The top of the keep exploded into flame as she descended with Sorvian's broken staff in hand.
The Aftermath
Five towers fell.
At the same moment, all across the world, the skies shimmered again—Ryuuji's ancient magic once more telling the truth to the people.
"The Council is broken. Its roots burned. Let the world rebuild—cleaner, stronger, freer."
In the village, Kiko looked up at the message and clapped her hands. Marla, belly swollen, smiled beside her husband Jarred. The villagers gathered in the square to cheer.
They had all seen it.
Ryuuji's legend had reignited.
Back at the Island
One by one, the heroes returned to the island.
Exhausted. Bloodied. But victorious.
Sierra embraced Kiko like a doting aunt. Duncan patted Jarred on the shoulder and asked about the new forge.
Elysia walked silently to Ryuuji, placing Sorvian's staff at his feet.
"It's done," she said.
Ryuuji looked at them all—his family, his friends, the ones who survived.
"Not yet," he said softly. "One more step. Then peace."