The battlefield trembled beneath their feet, the very ground shuddering as if recoiling from the sheer power swelling in the air. Shattered stone floated weightlessly, caught in the maelstrom of spiraling energy as Torren hovered above, his body fused with a monstrous spirit. His presence distorted the atmosphere, a blackened silhouette wreathed in chaotic aura.
Above his head, he raised a massive orb of crackling power—unstable, volatile, a swirling mass of destruction waiting to be unleashed. Lightning-like tendrils of energy snapped out from its core, tearing through the sky with sharp, shrieking sounds that made the air itself vibrate.
Crista's breath caught in her throat. Eyes wide, she took an instinctive step back. "Please tell me someone can block that thing," she said, her voice tight with disbelief.
"I know I can't," Indra admitted beside her, his hands gripping the hilts of his twin swords. His knuckles whitened with tension as the raw heat from the orb brushed against his skin like the breath of an inferno.
"My barrier won't work on something that size," Sekino added grimly, her expression set with grim calculation.
Gabriella's eyes narrowed as she assessed the situation, her sharp gaze fixed on the monstrous being looming in front of them. "I think the smart thing to do right now… is run. We can't damage this guy while he's fused with that spirit."
"That's easier said than done," Sekino muttered, jaw clenched as her eyes darted over the twisted, terrifying fusion that hovered in front of them. "Look at that thing!"
Torren's laughter boomed across the field, wild and taunting, echoing like a mad symphony. The orb in his grasp grew larger, distorting the light around it, bending the sky itself in waves of chaotic pressure. "I hope you came up with something," he roared gleefully. "Or else this would be too boring!"
Then, with a savage grunt, he hurled the colossal sphere toward them.
Indra's heart pounded. Time slowed.
Look at the size of that thing.
They couldn't run. Not fast enough.
I have to find a way to protect them…
The energy ball descended like a falling moon, tearing apart the clouds in its path—unstoppable, deafening, inevitable.
And then—
Someone landed in front of them.
A flash of divine presence. A ripple of unseen force.
With a simple flick of his wrist, the newcomer slapped the energy aside, as if batting away a bothersome insect. The massive sphere was diverted in an instant, redirected upward into the sky where it detonated in a blinding flash, shattering the heavens with light.
"Just in time," the figure said casually, his tone so relaxed it felt unreal against the backdrop of impending death.
Gabriella blinked, her mouth slightly open as recognition hit her like a wave. "Joseph?!"
Standing there, calm and unbothered, was Joseph, The Throne of Dominion, 1st seat of The Velari. His presence alone shifted the atmosphere from dread to awe.
"Hey, Gabriella," Joseph replied with a familiar grin, brushing a hand through his dark curls as if he hadn't just neutralized the apocalypse. "Been quite busy lately, huh? I haven't seen you in a while."
"I could say the same to you, sir," she said, still trying to process what just happened.
"Still being formal, I see," Joseph chuckled. "You gotta relax sometimes."
"Sorry, I'm working on it."
Joseph's gaze shifted toward the younger warrior nearby. His voice remained light, but there was an unmistakable weight to his words. "And you must be Indra. I've heard a lot about you. Great things, actually."
"Me?" Indra asked, caught off guard.
"Yeah, you. Who else?" Joseph smirked, then gave both of them a once-over. "And why do you guys look so beat up?"
"We've been having some trouble," Indra admitted, almost embarrassed.
"Not Gabriella! Are you struggling?" Joseph teased, raising a playful brow.
"Yes, unfortunately," Gabriella said with a weary exhale.
"Taliyah's been too soft on you. I'll have to put you through my training. You'll be as strong as Olympus!"
Indra shook his head, eyes glancing back toward the still-floating threat. "This guy is different. We can't damage him at all."
"What guy?"
As if on cue, Torren erupted. The fusion-born monster, still hovering in the air, seethed with disbelief and rage.
"Who the hell is that guy?!" he roared, his voice distorting with hatred. "HEY! How dare you ignore me!"
Joseph turned his head slowly. "Oh. Forgot about him that fast."
Torren's face contorted into madness. "I'll kill you along with those wretched children!" he screamed, summoning yet another orb of chaotic energy—this one even larger than before. "And blot you out of my canvas of perfection! Killian, my lord! Watch me as I—!"
"Ugh. This guy talks a lot," Joseph muttered, clearly unimpressed.
Then—
He raised his hand slowly, almost lazily, as if swatting away a nuisance.
And with a soft, effortless pluck of his fingers—
Fwhmp.
The air itself convulsed.
A soundless, invisible pulse erupted from the motion, so concentrated and precise it seemed to tear through reality itself. A lance of compressed divine pressure, shaped like sharpened atmosphere, ripped forward in a perfect, linear blast.
It punched through Torren's chest without resistance. No resistance. No delay.
One moment he was roaring in defiance—
The next, a gaping hole had been carved clean through his torso, wide enough to silence the world.
Torren's eyes bulged in utter disbelief. His body began to tremble, as if it couldn't comprehend what had just occurred.
"Impossible…" he gasped, his voice crumbling like his body.
And then—he disintegrated.
No screams. No flailing. No final explosion.
Just dust.
The silence that followed was deafening, a pause so absolute it felt like the world itself was stunned.
"That's incredible…" Indra whispered. "We had so much trouble… and he killed him in a matter of seconds."
Joseph turned toward Gabriella, his smile returning. "Now I don't wanna hear about you struggling anymore. You're a lot stronger than this, and you know it."
"That's easier said than done, sir. But I'll try," she said, offering a small but honest smile.
"That's what I like to hear." Joseph's voice carried the warmth of pride and a subtle teasing edge. His smile lingered as he turned, footsteps light yet commanding as he approached Indra. "And you, young man," he continued, locking eyes with him. "As far as this prophecy child is concerned, I was expecting a little more. Maybe you just need a little extra training. Guess I gotta whip you into shape."
"Prophecy?" Indra asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Wait," Gabriella interjected quickly, stepping between them slightly. "I think you have him confused with Yuri, sir."
Joseph blinked, pausing for a moment. "No one told you huh?" he said, more to himself than them. He scratched his chin, the grin still lingering faintly. "I guess it's for the best. When you get a chance, stop by Solmere and find me. Understood?"
"Yes sir," Indra replied, nodding earnestly.
Gabriella glanced toward the horizon, her tone shifting back to business. "I hate to rush you, but we still need to make sure everyone evacuated safely."
"I handled that already." Joseph flashed her a confident smile, hands resting casually on his hips. "Everything is okay."
"Really?!" Indra said, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Yup." Joseph gave him a reassuring nod before walking toward Sekino and Crista. His divine aura, though calm now, still hummed faintly with residual power.
"Thank you for your help in supporting these two," he said, offering both a respectful nod. "It is getting late though. It'd be best to head home before demon activity increases."
"Yes sir. Thank you for your help," Crista responded, bowing politely.
"Any time. I'll see you guys later." With that, Joseph launched into the air, ascending effortlessly before vanishing into the skies with a gleam of divine light.
Silence hung for a beat.
"So that's Joseph…" Indra murmured, watching the fading trail he left behind. "I guess we don't have anything to worry about with him around."
"I guess you can say that," Gabriella replied, folding her arms, "but he's only one man. Sure, he's stronger than them—but there's far too many demons to keep in check."
"Well I'm grateful he showed up," Crista said sincerely. "I need to train more."
With no further words, Crista shot into the sky, her silhouette vanishing like a sharp gust of wind.
"Is she ok?" Indra asked, glancing after her.
"She'll be fine," Gabriella said gently. "She's a Valkyrie, so that battle probably affected her pride. She'll come back stronger."
"We'll take our leave as well," Sekino added, his tone calm as he cradled Lumina in his arms. "Thanks again for your help." Then, without hesitation, he took off into the distance, a quiet wind trailing behind him.
"Sure thing. Stay safe," Indra called out as Sekino disappeared from view.
Gabriella exhaled softly and turned to Indra. "We should head back too. It's been a long day."
"Right. Let's go," Indra said.
With that, the remaining team split. Sekino and his group veered off toward the Iodem Compound, their destination shrouded in twilight haze. Indra and Gabriella ascended into the sky, their path leading back toward the gleaming towers of Solmere.
Far from the light, in a realm veiled in shadows, the air hung thick with silence. The ground was dark and cracked, pulsing faintly with a sinister glow that radiated from the throne at the center of the room.
Tahini stepped forward, her boots echoing against the stone. Her long white hair trailed behind her, and her black wings folded in tight arcs at her back. Dressed in flowing, dark attire that shimmered faintly with embers, she moved with quiet confidence. As she reached the base of the throne, she knelt without hesitation.
"My lord, Sir Torren has been defeated," she said, her voice steady.
Seated atop the jagged black throne was Killian. His silver hair fell over one eye, his expression unreadable. Intricate black armor wrapped around his tall frame, etched with faint crimson patterns that pulsed like living veins. Massive black wings curved out behind him, feathered edges flickering with faint sparks of red.
"As strong as Torren is?" Killian asked calmly. "By who?"
"It was a handful of people," Tahini answered. "But Joseph delivered the final blow."
"I see…" Killian leaned back slightly, a faint smirk forming at the corner of his mouth. "Such a pity."
Tahini lifted her gaze. "My lord. That kid you mentioned was amongst the handful as well. Apparently, he was looking for you."
Killian's smirk widened. A low chuckle slipped out—dry, amused, dangerous. "Is that so? Hahaha… Just when I needed some entertainment."
He stood slowly, black feathers stirring with the movement.
"Let's have some fun, hmm?"
He raised his voice slightly. "Carmeine!"
A burst of black smoke exploded beside the throne. When it cleared, a woman knelt low, head bowed in silence.
"Yes, my lord," Carmeine said.
"There's something I want you to do," Killian said.