In the polar night of the Northern Realm, a blood moon hung high, and cold winds howled like wolves through the ruins of Crimson Flame City.
Avelyn's cloak snapped wildly in the wind, her long sword hanging at her side, still stained with the fresh blood of tonight's battle. Before her, the apostle of the Lunar Rift King—"Tarhe" in his crimson armor—advanced step by step. His eyes glowed with eerie purple light, and the blade in his palm seemed sharp enough to slice through the very essence of souls.
"The fire on your body... he gave it to you." Tarhe's voice hissed like a wraith, "The mark of Casas now burns on a 'fake king' like you. How ironic."
Avelyn lifted her gaze, a flicker of fire passing through her pupils: "Fire chose me. Your understanding is irrelevant."
Tarhe blurred into a,lunging forward with seven streaks of blade light slashing down. Avelyn met him alone, her flame sword cutting through three strikes, while the remaining four were scattered by Eria's spear as she burst forward.
"Got here a step late." Eria smirked, "You always love getting into trouble alone."
Tarhe huffed coldly. The void around him cracked, and over a dozen shadows darted from the darkness—all descendants of the Lunar Rift, fallen soldiers fused with the will of the dead and the blood of the god-forsaken.
"Tonight is no night for escape." Tarhe murmured.
Avelyn's gaze sharpened. She formed a flame seal with her left hand: "Then—we burn until dawn."
The battlefield erupted again.
Eria faced five shadows alone with her spear, her movements as elusive as a ghost. Each thrust precisely pierced the enemy's heart. Her rage, suppressed for so long, finally erupted tonight—since Casas "died," she'd forced herself to stay calm, but no longer.
"You false believers—you dare touch his remaining soul?"
She roared, impaling the last fallen soldier, then spun to drive her flame spear into Tarhe's back. Blood sprayed.
But he laughed.
In the next instant, a blood curse talisman exploded in his palm, sending Eria flying ten-odd yards to crash beneath a broken tower.
"I never planned to return alive." Tarhe whispered, his form transforming into a pitch-black whirlwind that lunged straight for Avelyn.
On the other side of the battlefield, Lucian led the Flame Prison Legion in a breakout to the southern bank. His left arm was wounded, blood soaking through his armor, yet he still cut down two apostle soldiers ahead.
He had to get back to Avelyn.
That from the depths of his soul had never burned so fiercely.
He recalled last night's intimacy—
Avelyn lay naked in his arms, her back marked by the lingering heat of his armor. He kissed her shoulder: "If you fall, I'll burn down this world for you."
She said nothing, only laced her fingers through his, guiding him into deeper union.
"Don't say that." Her breath trembled, fingers sliding into his hair, "I want to live to destroy it with you."
They tangled like flames, like stars crashing into mountains and seas. That night, she gave herself completely to him, and he vowed to guard her until the end in fire.
Now, he would keep that vow.
Lucian roared, transforming into a flame shadow that shattered Tarhe's barrier.
"You won't touch her." He growled.
Tarhe turned, surprise flashing in his eyes—but it was too late.
A flame spear pierced his heart from behind, flames searing his spirit core.
Avelyn struck,their dual flames merging as one sword incinerated his form.
Tarhe whispered with his last breath: "Fire will devour you... fake king..."
He crumbled to ash, scattered by the wind.
The night finally fell silent.
Avelyn knelt beside the fallen Eria, gently lifting her into her arms. Eria opened her eyes, smiling faintly: "Don't let the fire die."
"I won't." Avelyn said softly.
Lucian approached, draping his cloak over her shoulders. Their foreheads touched.
"You said you'd destroy this world. I'm still waiting."
Avelyn lifted her head, kissing his lips deeply and lingeringly. Her traced the scar on his waist, settling over his chest with a sigh: "Then together—we burn until the end."
Firelight rose slowly from the ruins, casting their intertwined shadows like a royal flame oath, unextinguished in the night.