The sea of blood trembled.
The soul of Karsath stood atop the tide of blood, his massive blade raised high. The radiance of the blood moon poured down through his tattered divine robes, like an endless curse.
"Ashen flames are but illusory fires, and I—am the eternity of the blood moon!"
He roared, bringing the giant blade crashing down.
Lucian met the strike. Flame-wreathed sword clashed with blood blade, unleashing a searing shockwave that all around.
The sea of blood churned into a tide, as if it would swallow the entire world.
Elya pressed close to Lucian, the oath brand burning on her chest. She panted softly, "Our ashen flames… are nearly suppressed."
Lucian turned his head, his eyes blazing with resolve. "Then let them burn brighter."
He pulled her body toward him, and a scorching kiss ignited amid the crimson tempest.
Their union caused the ashen-flame phoenix to spread its wings once more behind them, its plumage tearing through the surging tide of blood.
Elya let out a soft whimper, her body claimed by both flame and the rhythm of battle.
"Don't stop… or the oathfire will die out."
With each embrace, the phoenix's wings grew brighter, and the oathfire burned a path of survival through the sea of blood.
Yet the soul of Karsath laughed wildly, swinging his blood blade again to rend the sky.
"Desire and love? Before the blood moon, they will only serve as sacrifices!"
His attack forced Lucian back. Hands of the blood sea suddenly coiled around Elya's wrists and waist.
The cold touch mingled with the scorching oathfire, lacing her moans with pain.
She bit her lip, yet still reached up to cling tightly to Lucian's neck.
"Don't let go of me… no matter what happens."
Lucian roared, rolling with her in his arms. Ashen flames erupted violently, incinerating the blood sea's hands to ash.
He whispered in her ear, his voice hoarse but steady: "Elya, remember—our ashen flames are not sacrifices. They are destruction."
They embraced again amid the tide of blood, the oathfire nearly consuming their very selves.
The ashen-flame phoenix let out a tearing cry, its wings spreading like a canopy, diving straight for the soul of Karsath.
Sea of blood collided with ashen flames, and the entire core of the blood moon began to crumble.
A different kind of radiance filtered through the cracks in the sky, like the first light of a newborn dawn.
Elya lay in Lucian's arms, tears glistening in her eyes: "I see it… The blood moon is shattering."
Lucian her hand, his flame sword pointing forward: "Then let it end tonight!"
The ashen-flame phoenix carried them both in a,meeting Karsath's final roar.