Just after Ian landed with Makia in his arms, dodging by a breath the devastating attacks of Kurt and Elena, both stood, gasping, covered in sweat and dust. Makia held herself beside him, staggering, but firm.
"I don't know how…" she said, voice broken but eyes blazing. "I don't know how we'll get out of this… but we're going to make it, Ian."
Ian nodded, his pupils lit with fury and courage. But then… something unexpected happened.
On the other side, the pupils of Elena Malatesta—Monarch General, implacable, untouchable—dilated as they fixed on Ian. A strange gleam, savage, crossed her feline green eyes, and a tingling ran across her skin, like when cats feel their fur bristle before something unknown and fascinating. Her smile curved, almost overflowing with pleasure, radiating fascination laden with a curiosity that seemed to scratch at calm.
"What is…" she whispered, voice hoarse, possessed. "What is… that beautiful savagery…?"
And without warning, she launched herself.
First running on two legs, her slender and lethal body sliding like dark lightning… and then, dropping to all fours, like a hungry panther. The ground cracked under her speed.
Ian barely had time to react.
Elena leaped. She charged him. She knocked him down.
And then… she began to lick his face.
Once. And again. And again.
"Ah… how exquisite!" she whispered, licking his cheek, his neck, while her sharp nails caressed his chest like playful claws.
"What are you doing?" Ian stammered, trying to break free, confused.
From the side, Makia stood petrified. Her eyes widened. Her breathing cut off. She saw each lick as a dagger piercing her chest. Helplessness gnawed at her guts. Fury… burned in her blood.
And then, Elena raised her game. She began to lick his mouth dangerously.
"W-what the hell do you think you're doing?! Are you insane?!" Ian exclaimed, struggling.
In the Celestial Stadium, the floating screens showed the scene in close-up: Elena Malatesta, Monarch General, licking Ian's face brazenly, possessive, almost animal.
Makia's heart broke. A red flash crossed her pupils.
"Ian…!" she whispered, clenching her fists, trembling.
Aurora, who was right there in the battle, beyond, amid the chaos, watched with a mixture of disbelief, fury, and burning jealousy.
"That bitch!" Aurora growled, her aura oscillating between light and shadow, cosmic energy pulsing from her body.
But before Aurora could act…
Ian took a deep breath. And with a savage roar, he raised his knee and launched a brutal kick upward, striking Elena's abdomen, sending her flying and elevating her in the air with violence.
"Agh…!" Elena gasped as she was propelled.
That was the instant Aurora needed.
"I've got you!" Aurora shouted, and her cosmic energy trapped her mid-flight, floating like a puppet suspended by threads of light and shadow.
"Eh?!" Elena exclaimed, flailing in the air, her long hair billowing wildly.
Makia's heart broke. A red flash crossed her pupils.
"Ian, you shameless!" she whispered, clenching her fists, annoyed. Burning with rage.
Tezca watched it all, stomach aching from laughing so much, unable to contain the laughter escaping her.
Makia disappeared.
A blink. A sonic flash.
And she appeared right below Elena, suspended in the air.
"HERE I AM!" Makia roared, and her fist crashed against Elena's stomach with brutal force.
The impact reverberated in the air, shaking the leaves, the ground, the mountains.
"HAAAAA!" Makia shouted, hitting again and again, a barrage of fists, hammering Elena's abdomen like a war drum.
Elena writhed as Makia's blows elevated her even higher in the air.
Then, Makia disappeared again.
She appeared above.
And from the sky, she discharged a demolishing kick to Elena's back, crashing her like a meteorite against the ground.
"AAARGH!" Elena rumbled as she collided with the earth, a cloud of dust rising in all directions.
Silence.
Ian, still gasping, looked at Makia, eyes widened.
Aurora, satisfied, a luminous and annoyed smile dancing on her lips.
But then…
A low laugh. Grave. A dark purr.
The earth split.
Elena stood up. Her body covered in dust. Her smile even wider. Her green eyes, burning, shining like embers in the night.
"…Insolent brat…" she whispered.
And with a single step, without even seeming hurt, Elena shook the earth from her hair and skin.
"…Was that all?"
Her smile stretched, lethal, charming.
"…Now… it's my turn."
The battle had not ended.
Elena looked at Ian again, her pupils dilated, a savage spark dancing in her eyes. She began to walk toward him… no, to hop, like a playful beast approaching its prey, each hop accompanied by a small guttural, rhythmic chant, almost childish, with lips together making a curious "mmm-mmm-mmm" in time.
Makia and Ian frowned in unison, barely retreating, bodies tense, muscles on guard.
"But what…?" Makia whispered, ready to fight.
Suddenly, a powerful flapping cut the air. A figure descended right beside Elena. The metallic wings deployed launched flashes like blades of light. Uriel, the Seraphim, floated at her side, her gaze calm, inquisitive.
Elena huffed seeing her, turning with annoyance.
"What do you want, Uriel?" she asked, with an irritated and lazy tone, almost dragging the words.
Uriel looked at her fixedly, unperturbed.
"Elena… don't forget the objective."
Then Uriel slightly raised her gaze, her eyes barely sparkled as they focused on Ian. A slight blink of surprise crossed her face.
"What are you… to Lucifer?" she asked, doubt drawing itself in her tone, intrigued.
Elena blinked hard, confused.
"Huh? What?"
Ian raised his eyebrows, crossing his arms.
"Luci… what? What are you talking about?" he replied, shrugging.
Makia, without taking her eyes off the enemies, spoke in a low voice:
"I've never seen him… but I know who he is. He's the strongest of the Seraphim. They call him the Sixth Legendary Warrior… though there should only be five."
Elena turned toward Ian, tilting her head.
"Ooh… it's true, they look so much alike," she murmured, narrowing her eyes, analyzing his features. Then she smiled sideways, mischievously. "What's your name, handsome?"
"Ian Bekkart," he responded, serious.
"Aaah… that explains it, you're Alistair's son," Elena said, blinking slowly. Then she looked at Uriel again and smiled from ear to ear. "Yes… they're alike… but my boyfriend Ian is much tastier and more attractive."
Her lips curved in a hungry smile as she slowly ran her tongue over them.
"He looks… delicious, don't you think, Uriel?" she added, looking him up and down with a predatory gleam.
Uriel looked at her confused: "What the hell is wrong with you, Elena? You're acting very strange. Why are you behaving like this?"
"I think I just fell in love," Elena responded with bulging eyes, smiling completely flushed while wiping away saliva.
Aurora and Makia paled instantly. Their faces burned, not with embarrassment, but with fury and contained jealousy.
In the imperial box, Kleominsa watched the image with pressed lips, nails digging into her seat's arms. Her gaze was an incendiary mixture of rage, jealousy, and a hatred that burned in silence.
"Damn bitch…" she murmured, her voice barely a poisonous breath, while her aura crackled between light and shadow.
"Are you feeling better, Alistair?" Tiberius asked, turning to him.
Alistair took a deep breath and nodded with a tired smile.
"Yes… I'm better now."
Tiberius observed the screen and let out a deep laugh.
"Looks like your son Ian is doing very well with the girls," he joked, pointing at the scene.
Alistair laughed, a bit nervously, scratching his neck.
"Well… the truth is… all three have many suitors. And I think Alena is heading that way too…" he laughed shyly.
Tiberius gave him a pat on the shoulder, amused.
"Reminds me of when you arrived at the empire! All the girls were crazy about you… but you only had eyes for Anya, eh, rascal?"
"Hahaha… well…" Alistair laughed, lowering his gaze tenderly.
Auron intervened, smiling nostalgically:
"Just like Ian… who only has eyes for my sweet Aurora."
Tiberius laughed again… but his expression soon turned grave.
"They're doing the best they can… but this isn't their battle." His gaze hardened. "Where are the other Seraphim? Where are Rhygar, Aurelius, and the other Monarch Generals?"
His voice was swallowed by the wind.
Back in Amazonia, Elena licked her lips again, approaching Ian dangerously.
"My boyfriend…" she repeated, savoring the words.
Aurora and Makia clenched their fists, the fire of jealousy dancing in their eyes.
A laugh broke the moment. First it was Tezca, then Kyran, then Aelius, then Kael.
Everyone was laughing.
The enemies frowned, disconcerted.
"How… how can you laugh in the middle of this?" one of them whispered, unable to understand.
Because even before death, before the absurd, before chaos… they were still alive.
And staying alive… was sometimes the greatest rebellion.