Maintaining the shield immobilized Kachina. Countless monster attacks crashed against the barrier, cracks rapidly spreading across its surface.
Ishkab focused the Anemo Element at the tip of her sword, transforming it into a streak of light that pierced straight through the distorted core.
The moment Ishkab shattered the core, she heard the shield shatter behind her, followed by Kachina's sharp, pained gasp.
Turning back, she saw Kachina swallowed by a tide of pitch-black darkness. The small figure flashed her one last encouraging smile before vanishing completely.
With the core destroyed, the surge of monsters ceased, but the remaining horde still numbered in the thousands.
They redirected their focus, swarming toward the isolated Ishkab.
The grief over her fallen Trusted Friends and her unwavering resolve now coalesced into pure, unbridled power.
The Anemo Vision on Ishkab's chest erupted with an unprecedentedly brilliant azure light.
Abandoning all sword techniques, she threw her arms wide and began to spin at blinding speed, her shuttle rotating with her.
An endless tempest erupted from her center, expanding into a colossal tornado that connected heaven and earth.
The storm relentlessly swept away, tore apart, and purified everything in its path: shattered rocks, monster remains, and even the monsters themselves.
This cataclysmic vortex consumed all of Ishkab's life force and Elemental Energy, her final swan song. When the storm subsided, the battlefield was utterly cleansed, every Abyss Monster reduced to dust.
Silence returned to the sky, broken only by the wind's mournful whisper, as if lamenting the fallen hero.
Ishkab stood her ground, her single-handed sword planted firmly in the earth, supporting her weight. Her gaze swept across the empty, deathly still battlefield before settling on the horizon, a weary yet serene smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
As her words faded, the azure light in her eyes completely extinguished. Her head slowly lowered, but her body remained upright, a timeless monument.
In the distance, the Abyss Realm Gate, its core destroyed, slowly closed, the ominous aura gradually receding.
Sunlight pierced through the dark clouds, once again bathing the ravaged battlefield in its golden light. It illuminated the marks left by the five warriors' valiant struggle, and it illuminated Ishkab's still-standing, unyielding figure.
The Night Warden Wars had not ended in defeat.
-
Natlan, the People of the Springs.
Paimon: "After soaking in the hot springs for two days, I finally feel recovered! Ugh, if only the Abyss hadn't suddenly interrupted. So annoying!"
"But thankfully, things got better afterward. It finally felt like a real vacation! The Koholasaurus was so well-behaved, always coming to play with me. Its belly was so bouncy when I patted it!"
"Oh, and I can't forget Atea's pastries! They were absolutely delicious! She even packed some for me to take on the road this morning."
Lumine: "What's Atea up to?"
Paimon: "The same as when we first met her. Some kids were throwing stones into the hot spring, and she caught them. I saw her scolding those little troublemakers."
The two chatted for a while before Mualani arrived. She suggested they go sea fishing later, and Lumine and Paimon's eyes lit up at the thought of the scenic fishing trip and the delicious seafood they might catch.
With the plan settled, the trio immediately set off. First, they retrieved their fishing gear from the village, then embarked on their exciting sea fishing adventure.
Lumine and Mualani caught quite a few sea fish, and Paimon even joined in, though she nearly got pulled into the sea by a particularly strong catch!
That evening, the trio returned to the People of the Springs with their haul. They all gathered around to enjoy a barbecue of the day's catch.
Another day passed. Three days had now elapsed since Kachina's team had departed for the Night Warden Wars. By tradition, even if they hadn't won, there should have been at least some news by now.
Moreover... three days... that was unusually long.
Mualani: "Traveler, Paimon, let's go. It seems the Abyss's attacks have intensified again. Every member of this team is highly skilled, and it's been three days without a single message. Something's not right."
"They should be emerging today. Let's hurry."
Paimon: "They've been fighting the Abyss nonstop for three days straight?!"
Mualani: "Considering the stamina required for the Night Warden Wars, if participants haven't emerged by the third day, the Pyro Archon usually forces the passage open and personally intervenes..."
Lumine: "So... they failed?"
Mualani: "We don't know for sure, but if they haven't returned by the third day, it's rarely good news... Let's hope they simply forgot to notify us..."
The trio swiftly made their way toward the Stadium of the Sacred Flame. Along the way, Lumine couldn't shake an ominous premonition.
-
Stadium of the Sacred Flame
As Lumine and her companions arrived, they were immediately greeted by thunderous cheers from the spectators surrounding the Stadium of the Sacred Flame.
Hearing the cheers and seeing the towering torch ablaze above the Arena, Mualani's perpetually worried face finally broke into a smile.
"They've won!"
Mualani explained to Lumine and Paimon, "The Abyss's invasion threatens Natlan's Sacred Flame. The fact that the flame burns so brightly now proves they've successfully repelled the Abyss!"
Lumine breathed a sigh of relief, but her reprieve was short-lived. Kinich's voice cut through the air beside her: "It's not that simple. Just now, the Pyro Archon opened the Abyss Realm Gate, but after a long wait, no one emerged."
Kinich's voice was grave, his tone heavy with concern.
"How could that be?" Paimon exclaimed. "Could something have happened inside?"
Kinich replied, "Since they've completely defeated the Abyss, there are only two reasons they haven't returned. First, all five of them sustained such severe injuries that they can't move. Second, they... may have perished alongside the Abyss."
Kinich's meaning was clear enough. Mualani, Lumine, and Paimon all understood what he implied:
Mutual destruction.
"Hey, you bastard!" Ajaw shouted. "What kind of nonsense are you spouting? There must be another explanation!"
After Ajaw's outburst, a heavy silence descended. After a long pause, Kinich continued:
"Let's wait and see," Kinich said. "The Pyro Archon will emerge soon, and then we'll know the outcome."
Just as Kinich had predicted, Mavuika reappeared in the center of the Stadium of the Sacred Flame. Seeing that she was alone, the surrounding crowd erupted into a heated discussion.
Mavuika wasted no time. She raised her hand, and when the clamor subsided, she announced:
"I regret to inform you that all five of our heroes have perished in battle against the Abyss."
Mavuika's words ignited another uproar among the spectators, but this time she made no attempt to silence them.
Paimon: "What?! All of them perished?!"
Lumine's expression darkened. Her premonition had come true!
Kinich's breathing quickened, and his hands slowly clenched into fists. Such scenes were not uncommon in Natlan's long war against the Abyss; afterward, everyone would be resurrected by the Ode of Resurrection.
But... no Night Warden War his sister had participated in had ever ended like this!
Cough-cough—
Kinich suddenly coughed, a tightness constricting his chest.