They reached the summit — wind howling, ash drifting like silver snow.
Xei turned to Flora, his voice low but grateful.
"Thank you… for healing us."
Flora smiled faintly. "It was nothing. You are here now — that is enough."
Then the ground trembled.
From the heart of the mountain rose a colossal serpent — scales gleaming gold, eyes deep and endless as the ocean. Chains of pure light and ash coiled around her body, glowing with ancient power.
The serpent's voice echoed through the air, smooth and timeless.
"You have finally arrived."
Tai's eyes widened — he felt it before the others did. The weight of her presence, the divinity in her tone. Without hesitation, he bowed.
The others — Sai, Xei, Amal — followed, confused but trusting.
The Queen's eyes glowed brighter.
"Release me," she said, "and I shall grant you one wish."
Xei stepped forward first, gripping his sword. He swung with all his might — clang! Sparks burst, but the blade shattered.
He fell back, breathing hard.
"The chains… they're unbreakable."
The Queen's voice was soft but heavy, like thunder behind silk.
"They are forged from Pure Ash — bound by the sins of gods. Only a flame born from hell itself can sever them."
Everyone turned to Sai. His flames flickered wildly, as if responding to her words.
Sai's eyes darkened; his fire began to change — gold fading into deep crimson. He whispered, almost to himself,
"Hellfire, answer me."
A blade of fire formed in his hands — taller than him, burning so bright the air warped around it. He raised it high and struck.
CRACK!
The sound tore through the mountain. The chains split, turning to dust and vanishing into the wind.
The Queen rose to her full height — magnificent, terrifying, divine. Her voice filled the sky.
"You have done the impossible, Child of Flame."
She lowered her head to meet Sai's gaze.
"What is your wish?
Amal, Xei, and Tai stood behind Sai — their clothes torn, eyes tired, hearts heavy.
"Finally," Amal said softly.
"Over," Xei added, voice trembling.
Tai nodded. "We're with you, ."
Sai looked at them and smiled — the kind of smile that hides both pride and pain.
He turned toward the Queen. Her massive golden eyes reflected the flames dancing around him.
"I wish…" he began, voice shaking,
"…for Amal to find her soul."
He took a breath, fire flickering weaker.
"I wish for Xei to be at peace."
His hands burned brighter, skin glowing with cracks of light.
"I wish for Tai to become a great king."
He looked back at them one last time, eyes soft with tears.
"And I wish… for them to see no pain again."
The Queen's eyes widened. "That is four wishes," she said, her voice echoing through the heavens.
Sai smiled faintly. "Then let the fourth one take what's left of me."
For a long moment, the mountain was silent. Then the Queen bowed her head.
"Your heart is pure, flame-born. I grant them all."
Light poured from her — warm, golden, endless. The chains around the world seemed to break; the air itself sang. Amal felt something awaken inside her chest — a light long forgotten. Xei's trembling stopped; peace settled over his soul. Tai felt the weight of destiny fall onto his shoulders, not as a burden, but as a crown.
And Sai… fell to his knees, smiling as the light consumed him.
The Queen's light still shimmered across the mountain when a sound split the air —
a laugh.
Low at first, then deeper, darker, growing into a roar that made even the sky tremble.
"Ha… ha ha ha ha ha…!"
The flames around Sai froze. The light dimmed. The warmth turned to ash.
From the shattered sky, a shadow rose — black wings made of molten smoke, horns curved like burning spears. The air warped as the ground cracked beneath his step.
"The one who placed the Flames of Hell in your blood," he hissed.
"The one who cursed your line for daring to defy me…"
His voice became thunder.
"The one whose name should never be spoken."
Sai tried to move, but his body burned from within — his veins turned to molten fire.
The Demon smirked. "Time to serve me, my chosen flame."
He reached forward — his clawed hand passed through Sai's chest like smoke.
Flames burst from Sai's eyes, his scream echoing across heaven and earth.
Amal reached for him — "SAI!" — but it was too late.
With one pull, the Demon dragged Sai downward. The mountain cracked, fire poured upward, and in a blinding storm of red and black — they vanished.
Only the echo remained:
The flames of the damned return to their master.