It began with thunder.
But there were no clouds.
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.
[System Alert: Celestial Executioners Deployed]
Targets: All Members of Kai Veyron’s Party
Reason: Harboring an Unbound Catalyst
Objective: Cleanse the Contamination
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.
Kai didn’t hold back.
Because one of the beasts went straight for—
She was mid-cast when it hit.
The impact launched her backward, spine cracking against a stone pillar.
Blood burst from her mouth as she hit the ground, unmoving.
A burst of energy detonated from his chest, shattering the wings of the nearest beast.
He skidded to her side, dropping to his knees.
"Did I... do good?" she whispered.
"You did perfect. You just have to hold on."
She gave him the faintest smile.
[System Alert: Party Member – Yulia Astrem – Status: DECEASED]
Soul Preservation Window: 300 seconds
A divine choice is available.
Do you wish to sacrifice part of your life to revive her?
Cost: -12 years from maximum lifespan
Warning: Once triggered, cannot be undone
Elira screamed his name.
Akari was battling two beasts at once.
But all he saw was her.
The one who always planned three moves ahead...
[Life Transfer Initiated...]
Lifespan reduced: 12 years
Revival Sequence: Stabilized
Yulia Astrem – Status: ALIVE
Bond: Reforged by Sacrifice
Light enveloped her body, pulsing once, twice—
"You idiot," she croaked. "Why would you do that?"
"Because I didn’t want to win without you."
She sobbed once — and it wasn’t from pain.
Then passed out in his arms.
The battle raged for another five minutes before Akari decapitated the final beast.
Kai looked ten years older.
Later, Lira sat beside him as Yulia slept.
She said nothing for a long time.
Then: "You’d do that for all of us, wouldn’t you?"
"That’s what scares me," Lira said softly.
[System Update: Divine Repercussions Accelerated]
Kai’s Lifespan: Severely shortened
Prophecy Thread Entangled
New Passive Trait Gained: Martyr Instinct
+15% Resistance to Divine Trials Read full story at novel~fire~net
-10% Resistance to Emotional Collapse
Far across the world, Hana felt the pulse.
She gripped the edge of her war table.
Then looked up at her generals.
"Now?" one of them asked. "We’re not ready."
"Neither is he," Hana said.
And her voice cracked—just once.
"But he keeps dying for them... and I’m running out of time to stop him."