The battlefield roared.
Steel clashed against steel, arrows rained like dark hail, and the scent of blood hung thick in the air beneath the crimson sky. The rain had not ceased — a cursed deluge of blood that painted every soldier, every banner, every blade. Beneath that unnatural storm, the war for Dreadhold began in full.
The Twelve Thorns moved like legends of old.
Valdran, clad in his onyx armor, cleaved through enemy lines with his massive blade, shattering their vanguard with each swing. Luna and Eclipse danced through the chaos — twin shadows ripping apart siege lines, vanishing into mist and reappearing behind terrified generals. Nereza's cursed storms twisted above the battlefield, bolts of violet lightning crashing into war machines and scattering troops like frightened crows.
But for every victory, a new wave came.
The Allied Armies, united in hatred and fear, pressed forward in endless ranks. The battlefield became a storm of clashing ideologies — freedom and fear, loyalty and betrayal, hope and ruin.
And above them, Kael fought.
His descent had not gone unnoticed. He had come in silence, black wings unfurled, his Crown of Thorns gleaming beneath the storm. He did not speak. He did not scream. He fought.
Kael moved through the enemy lines like a god of death — his blade dancing with unnatural precision, his expression hollow. None who faced him survived. Yet… none of his strikes ever turned toward the Thorns. Even in this cursed state, something remained.
Lyra saw him.
From atop the shattered ridge, she watched him — her heart torn. This was Kael, but not the one she loved. His eyes glowed with divine fury, but one… just one, flickered with sorrow.
And that was enough.
She ran. Through flame and fury, past falling soldiers and breaking ranks. Her silver hair whipped behind her, soaked in blood and rain. She dropped her blade, cast aside her shield.
He stood alone at the heart of the storm.
And she wrapped her arms around him from behind.
The battlefield seemed to pause. Even the rain slowed.
"You promised to protect me…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Even if it costs you everything, you're still keeping that promise. Aren't you?"
Kael didn't move.
But slowly, his head turned. His breath hitched.
"I remember your voice in my nightmares…" he whispered. "It was the only thing that kept me sane."
A single tear fell from his right eye.
Blood wept from the other.
"I can't stop this… But gods, Lyra, I wanted to."
The rain fell harder.
All around them, the war raged on.
But in that one moment — where love met ruin — time stood still.