Reeve opened his mouth to speak—
And the world closed.
The air thickened.
Space folded inward.
Sound dulled, as if swallowed by something unseen.
Everyone felt it.
A barrier snapped into place.
Nyx's voice rang out, sharp and urgent.
「Warning. High-tier containment field detected: Dominion Veil」
Reeve's mana surged violently.
So did Kaelith's.
So did Lunareth's.
"Be careful," Nyx continued. "We are sealed inside the Dominion Veil. External escape is restricted. Internal authority is overridden."
Reeve tightened his grip on his sword.
"What kind of barrier—"
He didn't finish.
A blade flashed.
A familiar presence stepped out of distorted space.
Lynvar.
He tilted his head, eyes glinting with amusement.
"…Wow. Nice sword."
And then—
He moved.
Not toward Reeve.
Not toward Kaelith.
Toward the little girl.
---
Everything happened at once.
Reeve moved before thought.
Steel pierced flesh.
When Lunareth, Kaelith, Elaryn, Nerisse—and Seraphyne—turned back—
Reeve's sword had already passed through his own chest.
Blood burst forward.
Reeve collapsed to his knees, arms still shielding the girl as he fell.
"No—!" Nerisse screamed.
Elaryn vanished—
—and her fist smashed into Lynvar's face with demon-lord force, hurling him backward through the barrier wall.
But before Lynvar could be crushed—
A hand caught his wrist mid-air.
Cold. Elegant. Merciless.
Rivanel appeared.
"…You're still weak, Lynvar," he said calmly.
The sky tore open.
Light descended.
Heaven's enforcers.
Angels poured into the battlefield, blades glowing with judgment—
—all aimed at the little girl.
Chaos erupted.
Eclipse Collectors clashed with angels.
Tsukiyra unleashed spatial ruptures.
Seraphyne's crimson blades danced in lethal arcs.
Reeve lay motionless.
Bleeding.
Dying.
---
Lynvar wrenched free.
His eyes locked onto the girl.
"I'll finish this."
He raised his sword—
—but Kaelith intercepted, steel screaming as it met steel.
"You're not touching her," Kaelith said coldly.
Their clash shook the Dominion Veil.
The girl crawled toward Reeve, tears falling onto his blood-soaked chest.
"…Wake up," she whispered.
"Please… wake up…"
The sky burned.
A presence descended.
🔥🌋 Fire 🌋🔥
The Fire Elemental God's clone emerged, eyes blazing—not with rage, but decision.
He raised one hand.
Heaven's soldiers were erased—
—not burned—
unmade.
Ash fell like snow.
The elemental knelt beside Reeve and pressed a burning palm to his chest.
Golden fire flowed inward.
Healing.
Restoration.
Life.
---
Reeve's eyes snapped open.
The pain vanished.
Mana surged.
He stared at the being before him—then exhaled.
"…You're not the real one."
The clone smiled faintly.
"No. But I was enough."
Reeve stood.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
His gaze locked onto Lynvar.
"…Now I'm not letting you leave."
He raised his sword.
Nyx's voice echoed—clear, resonant.
「Notice: Sword Awakening Ceremony complete.」
Reeve blinked. "The sword… activated?"
Nyx replied, voice calm—almost pleased.
"Yes."
Reeve poured fire mana into the blade.
The flame ignited—
Then twisted.
Darkened.
Blackened.
Nyx's voice sharpened.
「Alert. Flame Evolution detected.」
「Black Flame acquired.」
「Properties: Mana severance. Target tracing. Absolute destruction until annihilation.」
Reeve didn't hesitate.
He swung.
Black fire tore through space itself—
—but before it could consume Lynvar—
Reality fractured.
A Primordial descended, palm snapping shut around the black flame, crushing it like glass.
He grabbed Lynvar.
And vanished.
Silence followed.
---
No enemies remained.
Smoke drifted.
The Dominion Veil dissolved.
Reeve turned to everyone.
"…Let's go."
"To where?" Lunareth asked, still shaken.
Reeve smiled—calm, dangerous, absolute.
"My kingdom."
"Astra Nox."
Everyone froze.
"…You have a kingdom?" Kaelith asked.
"Yes," Reeve replied simply.
The wind howled.
Far away—
Something ancient noticed that name.