The sky cracked open at dawn.
No sun. Just a pillar of flame descending from the heavens.
Birds fled. Trees withered. The very mana in the air trembled in terror.
Lira clutched her staff tighter. "She's here."
Zar grinned, fangs bared. "Good."
Kael stood atop Redfall's black tower, cloak billowing behind him, his hand resting on the hilt of a newly forged weapon — one that whispered madness.
[New Weapon: Abyssbrand – S-Rank Prototype][Forged from Wraith Core, Oath Fragment, and Voidsteel][Bonus: +35% damage vs Holy targets | Passive: Shadow Memory Imprint]
SAGE buzzed inside Kael's mind.
"Warning: Seraph Elandriel descending. Threat Rank: A. Element: Celestial Flame. Combat Style: Mid-Air Precision. Recommended Counter: Grounding Trap, Anti-Light Field."
Kael's silver eyes narrowed.
"Deploy everything."
Battle Begins – Redfall's Sky
Elandriel fell like a comet — golden wings blazing, spear glowing white-hot.
[Boss Encounter: Seraph Elandriel – Rank A | HP: 100%][Objective: Survive | Optional Objective: Kill or Corrupt Seraph]
"Demon-king," she called, voice echoing like cathedral bells. "You rise in a world that was never yours. I shall correct this."
Kael raised his clawed hand.
"I wasn't born to be welcome. I was born to change it."
She hurled her spear — it tore the sky, vaporized trees, and cracked half the fortress wall. Kael shadow-stepped just in time, reappearing behind her with Abyssbrand slashing upward.
It scraped divine armor — and actually cut.
[Seraph Elandriel: HP – 6%][Status: Surprised]
"You dare harm a seraph?"
Kael grinned.
"I intend to break one."
Team Formation Activated
Kael: DPS/Disruptor (Abyssbrand, Shadowstep)
Zar: Tank/Berserker (Draws aggro, rapid regen, fear aura)
Lira: Support (Twilight Barrier, Lightbreaker Heal, Mana Surge)
Lira chanted. Twilight shields glowed, weakening Elandriel's divine light. Zar leapt, grappling the seraph mid-air, bringing her crashing down.
[Combo Skill Activated: Groundfall Slam][Elandriel – Status: Grounded / Mobility Severed 10s]
Kael surged forward.
[Skill Chain: Phantom Claw + Oblivion Drive + Crown of Grief → Throne Execution Lv.1]
He struck through flame and fury — darkness pulsing like thunder. The earth cracked beneath them.
[Elandriel – HP 22% | Armor Damaged | Emotion: Furious][Kael – HP 54% | Abyssal Pressure Maxed][Zar – Bleeding / Raging][Lira – Mana 40% | Shield Breaking]
Then Elandriel roared.
Her wings expanded. Fire surged outward, vaporizing everything in a 50-meter radius.
Redfall's outer towers crumbled. Zar was blasted backward. Lira screamed and fell unconscious.
Kael stood alone, cloak shredded, skin burned.
Elandriel landed, blood down her lip. "Fall."
Kael looked up, smiling.
[New Trait Evolved: Sovereign of Dread → Abyss King Ascended][New Passive: Death Denial – Cannot die instantly. Health holds at 1 HP for 10 seconds after lethal damage.]
He stood.
Even gods wouldn't kneel him.
"I don't fall. I rise through fire."
[Final Combo Activated: Abyssbrand + Shadow Clone + Devour Core → Throne Piercer Lv.1]
He lunged. Screamed.
Pierced her chest.
[Seraph Elandriel – Defeated (Stabilized)][Status: Alive | Unconscious | Seal Fragment Corrupted]
As the flames died, Kael stood over her broken body.
He turned to his ruined fortress, smoke rising, blood soaking the stones.
Victory.
But at a price.
[Kael – Rank: D++][Title Gained: Seraphslayer][Followers: Zar (D+), Lira (F+) – Injured][Redfall: Damaged | Core Stable | Infamy: MAXIMUM][Global Reaction: Divine Host Preparing Retaliation][Faction Update: You are now considered a World Threat]