"Auntie Kaiulani… she really cannot be restored through the Ode of Resurrection?"
"Does that mean…"
Mualani's voice trembled, her expression dimming as though she did not dare to finish the thought.
"It seems that Kaiulani's battle against the Abyssal monsters was not recognized as part of the Night Warden War. Therefore, it cannot be reversed through the Ode of Resurrection as before."
After calmly analyzing the situation, Kinich gently consoled the girl beside him. "Mualani, please accept my condolences. Kaiulani fell while protecting her companions. She is a hero beyond question."
Both Mualani and Kaiulani belonged to the People of the Springs and had known each other for many years.
Learning of her companion's death must have struck her deeply.
"Mualani…"
Kachina looked at her friend with visible concern.
"I am… fine."
Mualani shook her head. The bright smile that usually defined her face was gone, replaced with quiet grief. "I just need a little time."
Beside her, Paimon's brows drooped, equally saddened.
She glanced at the Traveler, hoping they might offer words of comfort.
But the Traveler only shook their head silently.
From the moment they first arrived in Natlan, they had heard that its people frequently battled Abyssal monsters and that sacrifices were not uncommon.
Even on their way to the Sacred Flame Arena, they had encountered such an attack.
It was only because the Pyro Archon had personally escorted them that they had not realized how severe the Abyss's encroachment had become.
Now, with Kaiulani, who had stood beside them not long ago, gone, the Traveler finally began to understand the burden Natlan's people had carried for so many years.
A heavy silence settled over the Arena.
"It seems that since it was not a Night Warden War, Kaiulani cannot be restored through the Ode of Resurrection."
After the initial shock faded, many in the Sacred Flame Arena reached the same conclusion as Kinich.
Otherwise, why would the Lord Pyro Archon fail to retrieve her from the Night Kingdom after the Ode of Resurrection had been performed?
Just as the crowd began steeling themselves to accept reality, two jarring voices broke the solemn atmosphere.
"If you ask me, the reason Kaiulani cannot be revived has nothing to do with the Night Warden War."
"It is because she resorted to underhanded methods during the team competition of the Holy Night of the Return of Fire and failed to gain the recognition of the Great Spirit."
"She does not deserve to return at all."
The speakers were Tepepan of the People of the Springs and Tamuin of the Scions of the Canopy.
"They look familiar…" Paimon frowned, recognizing them vaguely but unable to recall from where.
"Before the Individual Competition of the Holy Night of the Return of Fire, two individuals claimed they had been ambushed by Kaiulani and sought to reclaim their chance through a duel."
Kinich's gaze turned cold. "To refuse reality after losing and to reveal their true nature in such a setting… how disgraceful."
"What they are saying is too much!"
Mualani suddenly lifted her head, fury blazing in her eyes as she glared at the pair.
If they dared to slander Kaiulani again, she would not hesitate to knock them down herself.
[These two are completely shameless.]
[I thought Natlan was full of warriors. How do cowards like this exist?]
[Kaiulani just sacrificed herself and they are already smearing her name. Do they have no decency?]
[Someone needs to punch them. Immediately.]
[She died protecting her teammates and they are still obsessing over a competition. This is disgusting.]
Not only Mualani and the others were angered. Even the players following the story were furious, wishing they could personally drag the two off the screen.
"We are not making baseless accusations!" Tepepan shouted. "If the Lord Pyro Archon gathered everyone to perform the Ode of Resurrection, then he must have believed Kaiulani's battle qualified as a Night Warden War and that she could return."
"Now that the Ode has failed, the problem must lie with Kaiulani herself!"
Tamuin eagerly echoed him.
At their words, many in the Sacred Flame Arena instinctively looked toward the young Pyro Archon standing beside the Sacred Fire.
It was not that they believed the slander.
Rather, they reasoned that the Lord Pyro Archon would not have summoned them without confidence in the ritual's success.
Mauvika, who was maintaining order, frowned slightly.
"Something must have changed within the Night Kingdom, causing the Ode of Resurrection to fail."
"Caelus may be withholding the truth to prevent panic."
"If that is the case, I will bear the responsibility."
She prepared to step forward and declare that summoning everyone had been her decision.
She would claim she had misunderstood the Lord Pyro Archon's intent, mistakenly categorizing Kaiulani's battle as a Night Warden War, which led to the failed ritual.
In doing so, all blame would fall upon her, and Caelus would not need to explain himself.
"Actually…"
Mauvika was just about to speak.
At that very moment, she saw the figure beside the Sacred Fire vanish.
"Did Caelus leave?"
"No. He would never retreat."
Her eyes scanned the Arena.
Soon, she found him.
He had appeared directly behind the two men who had been shouting.
Tepepan and Tamuin were still staring at the Sacred Fire in confusion, unaware that the object of their accusations now stood behind them.
Only when a chilling pressure crept up their spines did they sense something was wrong.
They turned.
The sight before them drained all color from their faces.
"P Pyro Archon…"
"Get lost."
Caelus's expression was devoid of emotion.
With a single word, an overwhelming force erupted outward. The two were sent flying as though struck by an invisible hammer, crashing violently onto the Arena floor.
In the next instant, Caelus stood calmly at the center of the Arena.
The crowd immediately understood what their Lord Pyro Archon intended to do.
"Lord Pyro Archon… what are you doing?"
Tepepan and Tamuin were warriors after all. Though battered, they managed to struggle back to their feet.
Facing the cold gaze fixed upon them, they finally grasped the gravity of their situation.
Their hearts sank.
...
This fanfiction is completed on p@treon
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Join disc0rd link in synopsis.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.