It began with thunder.
But there were no clouds.
No lightning.
No storm.
Just thunder… and the sound of wings.
The divine beasts came at dusk.
Four of them. Massive. Beautiful. Wrong.
Seraphic in shape, each had six wings, golden masks for faces, and halos made of burning scripture. Their bodies pulsed with celestial energy — pure, hungry, ancient.
They didn't speak.
They didn't roar.
They just attacked.
[System Alert: Celestial Executioners Deployed]
Targets: All Members of Kai Veyron's Party
Reason: Harboring an Unbound Catalyst
Trial: Terminal
Objective: Cleanse the Contamination
The forest exploded.
Elira clashed with one, her blade singing through holy flame.
Yulia screamed incantations faster than her mouth could shape them.
Lira fought like a shadow, blinking between strikes.
Akari drew her katana and moved like lightning.
And Kai?
Kai didn't hold back.
He couldn't.
Because one of the beasts went straight for—
Yulia.
She was mid-cast when it hit.
