Dust drifted continuously from the fractured cathedral ceiling while weakened holy inscriptions embedded beneath the prayer hall floor released uneven pulses of fading light through the cracked scripture lines. Cold wind entered steadily through the shattered eastern wall where broken stone from the destroyed God of Light statue remained scattered across the ruined chamber, and the airflow carried loose feathers, powdered crystal, torn parchment, and ash slowly across the polished floor beneath flickering candle remnants mounted along the surviving pillars. Crimson chains still remained partially embedded through several sections of broken wall and floor while lingering blood aura circulated through the ruined cathedral in heavy currents that distorted the weakened holy pressure leaking from the damaged ward systems.
Nocthyrael's lips remained pressed against Noctis's while black feathers shifted softly behind her through the drifting airflow crossing the ruined hall. One hand rested against the side of his neck while the other tightened gradually around his shoulder beneath the lingering blood aura moving around both of their bodies. Dust crossed slowly between them while weak candle flames bent sideways beneath the circulating pressure spreading through the cathedral.
Noctis slid one arm beneath her legs and lifted her smoothly from the shattered floor.
Nocthyrael wrapped both arms around his neck immediately while her wings folded inward to avoid scraping against the fractured scripture pillars surrounding them. The ruined prayer hall remained filled with drifting dust, shifting debris, weakened holy mana, and the low creaking of damaged cathedral stone settling intermittently beneath the lingering pressure damage spread through the structure.
The shattered pedestal where the God of Light statue once stood remained cracked across the center while broken holy crystal protruded from the damaged base beneath dim candlelight. Fading blessing inscriptions embedded along the pedestal surface flickered weakly beneath the surrounding blood aura before collapsing again into darkness.
Noctis lowered Nocthyrael gently onto the fractured stone.
Her fingers immediately curled behind his neck again.
The bishop remained pinned near the collapsed scripture pillars beneath crimson chains still piercing through both shoulders and thighs. Blood continued dripping steadily from the wounds and spreading through the cracks beneath the ruined floor while his breathing came unevenly through pale lips. His eyes remained fixed toward the shattered pedestal while cold wind moved torn sections of his robes against the broken stone.
Noctis deactivated his armor gradually while crimson-black plating dissolved into streams of blood mana that rotated slowly around his body before dispersing through the surrounding chamber. The trench coat peeled apart afterward into drifting crimson particles that scattered through the ruined hall beneath the weakened candlelight still clinging to the surviving wall lanterns.
Nocthyrael pulled him downward before the final traces of armor disappeared completely.
Her wings spread slightly across the pedestal while loose black feathers drifted across fractured holy crystal fragments embedded beneath them. One hand slid upward through his hair while the ruined cathedral continued creaking softly around them beneath the drifting wind crossing through the shattered eastern wall.
The bishop tried pulling weakly against the chains.
The restraints embedded deeper through flesh immediately.
A strained sound escaped his throat while blood dripped harder from the wounds piercing his limbs.
Nocthyrael kissed Noctis again while dust continued falling intermittently from the damaged ceiling arches above them. Weak holy pressure still leaked unevenly from several surviving scripture pillars surrounding the prayer hall, but the remaining divine energy distorted repeatedly whenever blood aura rolled through the chamber in slow heavy currents.
Time passed slowly inside the ruined cathedral.
Wind entered steadily through the shattered wall.
Loose parchment shifted across the floor.
Candle flames shortened gradually while melted wax dripped down the surviving silver holders mounted beside the broken pillars.
The bishop remained conscious throughout all of it.
Several times his lips moved weakly beneath broken prayers while trembling fingers attempted forming holy sigils against the floor beneath him. Faint holy mana gathered briefly around his hand each attempt before collapsing into scattered sparks that drifted upward and disappeared beneath the surrounding blood aura saturating the cathedral.
"No…" The bishop's voice cracked unevenly while his head lowered against the shattered floor. "Please…"
Another prayer circle attempted forming.
The symbol flickered briefly.
Then dispersed again.
Cold wind crossed through the ruined chamber afterward while dust drifted across the broken scripture lines surrounding the bishop's body.
An hour later, weakened candlelight reflected faintly across the shattered pedestal where Nocthyrael rested against Noctis's chest beneath drifting black hair and scattered feathers. Her wings had fully retracted into her back during sleep, leaving her appearing almost human beneath the lingering blood aura circulating softly around both bodies. One arm remained draped across Noctis while her breathing moved steadily against him beneath the ruined cathedral airflow.
Noctis turned his head slightly toward the bishop afterward.
The bishop's face had become noticeably paler beneath the flickering candlelight while blood continued drying across the torn robes hanging loosely around his body. His breathing rasped weakly through parted lips while one trembling hand still rested against the shattered floor where faded prayer sigils remained partially burned into the stone.
The bishop's lips moved again.
"Please save us…"
Nothing answered.
Only drifting dust crossed the ruined hall while weakened holy inscriptions flickered faintly beneath the surrounding blood aura before dimming again.
The bishop's fingers curled weakly against the stone.
A final prayer attempt formed briefly above his palm.
The holy symbol cracked apart immediately.
Tears mixed with blood along his face afterward while his head lowered again toward the floor.
Several more hours passed beneath the ruined cathedral arches while drifting dust continued settling slowly through the chamber and cold wind moved loose fragments of parchment and crystal across the cracked floor. Weak candle flames shortened farther while lingering blood aura circulated continuously through the ruined hall around the shattered pedestal and broken scripture pillars.
Nocthyrael stirred softly against Noctis's chest.
Her fingers moved first.
Then her crimson eyes opened slowly beneath strands of black hair shifting through the airflow crossing the cathedral.
Noctis looked down toward her while the corner of his mouth lifted faintly.
Warm color spread gradually across Nocthyrael's cheeks beneath the weakened candlelight while her gaze lowered briefly toward his chest. One hand tightened lightly against him while her body shifted closer instinctively beneath the lingering warmth surrounding them.
"If you still feel tired," Noctis said quietly while dust drifted through the ruined hall behind him, "you can rest longer."
Nocthyrael shook her head gently.
"I feel fine." Her wings shifted faintly beneath the skin along her back while crimson eyes lifted toward him again. "Actually… I feel lighter."
The fallen angel slowly sat upright atop the fractured pedestal while loose black feathers drifted from her body across the surrounding stone. Cold wind moved through the shattered eastern wall behind her and stirred the remaining strands of her hair against her shoulders.
"Master…" Her gaze moved briefly across the ruined cathedral before returning toward him. "What should we do now?"
Noctis rested one hand against the fractured pedestal while loose stone dust shifted beneath his fingers.
"First, you need to feed."
Nocthyrael tilted her head slightly.
"Feed?"
"You're no longer simply an angel." Blood aura rolled slowly around Noctis while weakened holy pressure leaked faintly from the damaged scripture lines beneath the floor. "You're a fallen angel now. More importantly, you're also a vampiric fallen angel."
Nocthyrael looked down toward her hands while crimson mana circulated faintly beneath pale skin.
"A vampire…"
"You possess blood abilities, holy abilities, and abyssal abilities simultaneously." The drifting airflow moved the edges of Noctis's reformed trench coat softly around his legs. "A weaker version of myself."
Nocthyrael flexed her fingers slowly while black feathers shifted behind her through the ruined cathedral airflow.
"I can feel different powers moving inside me," she admitted quietly. "The holy mana feels different now."
"It'll stabilize with time." Noctis turned slightly toward the bishop afterward. "But before that, you need your first feeding."
The bishop's body jerked weakly against the restraints.
Fear spread visibly through his hollow expression while blood dripped steadily from the wounds piercing his limbs.
"No…" His voice trembled unevenly. "No… please…"
Noctis brushed a strand of black hair away from her cheek. "Your body has stabilized, but not fully. You need blood."
The two stood up from the pedestal that they had made love on.
Noctis turned his gaze over to the bishop.
Nocthyrael followed Noctis' gaze.
Hunger flickered faintly through her crimson eyes.
Her wings spread instinctively behind her while blood aura pulsed faintly around the black feathers drifting through the cathedral air.
The shattered floor cracked softly beneath her next step.
Then she vanished.
Air pressure displaced violently through the ruined prayer hall while Nocthyrael appeared instantly beside the bishop. One hand grabbed the side of his head while the other forced his shoulder backward against the broken floor, exposing the neck fully beneath torn robes and dried blood.
The bishop trembled violently.
Nocthyrael stared toward the exposed neck while crimson light brightened gradually within her eyes. Her breathing deepened slightly while instinctive hunger spread visibly through the tension moving beneath her body.
Then her fangs extended.
The bishop froze beneath her grip.
Nocthyrael lowered her head and bit into his neck.
Blood aura surged immediately around her body while crimson mana spread through the ruined cathedral in expanding currents. The bishop convulsed hard enough for the chains piercing his shoulders to grind deeper through flesh while blood, holy mana, memories, and accumulated experience flowed directly into Nocthyrael through the feeding connection.
The bishop initially remained too weak to resist strongly.
Then his eyes widened.
Holy spell structures began disappearing from memory.
Years of accumulated knowledge unraveled rapidly beneath the feeding.
"No…"
His body suddenly struggled violently against the restraints.
"No! Stop! Stop!"
The chains tightened deeper through his limbs while blood poured harder from the wounds.
Nocthyrael continued feeding calmly while black feathers drifted around her through the ruined cathedral airflow. Crimson eyes glowed brighter beneath the flickering candlelight while the bishop's body gradually shriveled beneath the extraction spreading through him.
His screams weakened steadily.
His memories continued vanishing.
Finally the body dried completely into a brittle husk beneath Nocthyrael's grip.
The crimson chains retracted afterward.
The corpse collapsed sideways onto the shattered floor.
Cracks spread across the dried remains.
Then the husk broke apart into drifting dust.
Nocthyrael stepped backward slowly while one finger wiped blood from the corner of her mouth beneath the ruined candlelight. Her tongue slid instinctively across the remaining smear while blood aura circulated faintly around her wings.
Noctis approached her while crimson-black armor reformed gradually around his body beneath rotating streams of blood mana.
"How did your first feeding feel?"
Nocthyrael's crimson eyes brightened slightly.
"Exhilarating." Her fingers flexed slowly beside her while lingering holy mana continued circulating unevenly beneath her skin. "I could feel everything entering me. His blood. His memories. His holy mana."
Wind crossed through the shattered cathedral wall while loose feathers drifted around both of them.
"I inherited his experiences too," she continued softly. "The holy spells he knew… I can use them now."
Noctis lifted one hand and patted her gently atop the head.
"Good job."
Warm color spread visibly across Nocthyrael's cheeks beneath the candlelight while her wings shifted softly behind her. She stepped closer afterward until her chest pressed lightly against Noctis's armor.
Then she kissed him.
Blood aura drifted around both bodies while weakened candle flames flickered harder against the nearby scripture pillars beneath the lingering pressure surrounding them.
Several moments passed before they separated slowly.
A thin strand of saliva stretched briefly between them before snapping beneath the cold airflow moving through the ruined cathedral.
Noctis brushed his thumb lightly across her lips.
"We can continue later. There are still several things we need to do first."
Nocthyrael nodded obediently while black feathers shifted around her through the drifting dust.
"What should I do, Master?"
"First…" Noctis looked slowly across her body beneath the weakened candlelight. "You need clothes and armor."
Warmth spread across Nocthyrael's face again while her gaze lowered briefly.
Noctis stepped closer afterward and placed one hand gently against the center of her chest.
Nocthyrael's wings twitched immediately while her breathing lost rhythm briefly beneath the contact. She obeyed regardless while drifting dust crossed through the ruined cathedral around them.
Blood seeped outward from Noctis's palm.
Crimson liquid spread gradually across Nocthyrael's body while blood mana hardened section by section into layered crimson-black armor plates that formed around her limbs, waist, torso, and shoulders beneath the candlelight. The armor adapted naturally around her wings while a dark mantle settled around her waist with slitted openings allowing the feathers to spread freely through the surrounding airflow.
Loose black feathers brushed against the newly formed armor while Nocthyrael slowly looked down across the finished plating.
"It feels natural."
"It was made from my blood." Blood aura rotated faintly around Noctis beneath the drifting dust. "Of course it would."
Nocthyrael's crimson eyes shifted toward the holsters resting beside his hips afterward.
"What are those?"
Noctis rested one hand casually against Nocturne and Ruin.
"My blood pistols. Magic guns that fire blood bullets."
Curiosity spread visibly through Nocthyrael's expression while her wings shifted softly behind her.
"They're beautiful."
"You want guns?"
"I think so." Her gaze remained fixed toward the pistols. "They feel fitting somehow."
Noctis laughed softly.
"If that's the case, then you should create your own instead of copying mine."
Nocthyrael blinked once.
"I can do that?"
"Yes." Noctis raised one hand afterward before slicing his palm open with a strand of blood aura. Dark crimson blood flowed immediately from the wound while dense mana pressure spread through the ruined cathedral. "The best way is through blood communion."
Nocthyrael stared toward the blood while instinctive hunger flickered visibly through her crimson eyes.
"If you drink my blood," Noctis continued while blood dripped steadily from his palm onto the shattered scripture floor, "you'll inherit memories, skills, and abilities from me."
Nocthyrael stepped closer slowly.
"You can inherit skills?"
"Search specifically for Crimson Arsenal." Blood aura rolled faintly around Noctis while drifting dust crossed through the cathedral air. "It allows weapon creation through blood and external resources. You'll also gain Orbiting Arsenal. It'll let you control the weapons remotely."
Nocthyrael nodded quietly.
She took his hand carefully with both of hers.
Then lowered her head and kissed the wound gently first.
Her tongue slid slowly across the flowing blood afterward.
The moment the blood crossed her tongue, heat spread immediately through her throat and chest while crimson mana surged unevenly beneath her skin hard enough for her fingers to tighten around Noctis's wrist. Black feathers drifted from her wings while weakened candle flames bent sideways beneath the spreading blood aura surrounding both bodies.
Nocthyrael opened her mouth again and began drinking directly from the wound.
Crimson eyes glowed brighter.
Memories pushed unevenly through her thoughts while blood aura synchronized between them beneath the drifting dust filling the ruined cathedral. Weapon designs unfolded through her mind beside battle experiences, blood techniques, holy spell structures, abyssal formations, and combat knowledge spreading continuously through the communion.
Her grip tightened harder around Noctis's hand.
Breathing deepened unevenly.
Black wings spread instinctively behind her while crimson mana pulsed outward through the ruined cathedral in expanding waves that distorted the weakened holy pressure still lingering through the damaged scripture lines.
The ruined prayer hall remained filled with drifting dust, broken pillars, weakened candlelight, and circulating blood aura while Nocthyrael continued drinking from Noctis's hand beneath the shattered cathedral arches and absorbed the overwhelming flood of memories, abilities, and power flowing continuously through the blood communion.
Noctis watched her carefully while the communion continued. The memory of Yinxue remained inside him, quieter now but not gone. He did not confuse one woman for the other. Yinxue belonged to Haotian's path. Nocthyrael belonged to Noctis's. Yet the pull that began when he first saw her face had already become part of his decision, and now the bond between them gave that decision form.
Nocthyrael drank until the first wave of inherited memory stabilized. She lifted her head slowly, blood still glistening faintly along her lips, and looked at him with crimson eyes that carried greater understanding than before.
Noctis wiped the blood from her mouth with his thumb. "You are Nocthyrael," he said. "My fallen angel. My blood-born counterpart. You are mine."
Nocthyrael leaned into his touch while her newly formed armor settled around her body and her wings folded behind her. "Then I will stand beside you."
Outside the shattered eastern wall, cold wind moved across broken stone, scattered feathers, and the dust left by the bishop's corpse. Inside the ruined cathedral, the last weakened holy inscriptions continued to flicker beneath the blood aura surrounding Noctis and Nocthyrael before dimming again into fractured scripture lines beneath their feet.