Zella was the only one remaining on the battlefield.
The continent of Seli had become almost unrecognizable. The once towering mountains had been reduced to broken stone, the surrounding ocean had receded from the battlefield, and the remains of the destroyed third mountain were scattered across the land.
Zella stood among the destruction, breathing heavily. His protective shell was cracked in several places, and his enormous crab-like hands trembled slightly from exhaustion. He slowly looked toward the heavens.
"Father Ra… please save your son this once."
The sky remained silent. No golden light descended. No divine presence answered his plea.
Ra did nothing.
Erethon stepped out from the darkness several meters away. His hollow crimson eyes stared directly at Zella before a quiet laugh escaped him.
"So Ra threw you away."
Zella's expression hardened.
"Don't talk about our father like that… He will never throw us away. He loves us."
Erethon stared at him for several seconds. There was almost pity in his expression.
Then he looked toward Nyk.
"Nyk, I don't want to see this waste of a life anymore."
Nyk calmly raised his hand toward Zella. Blue energy gathered around his palm, and the surrounding atmosphere began to distort under the authority of Ruin.
"The Age of Ruin."
Nyk closed his palm. Zella's body suddenly twisted.
His limbs stretched unnaturally as his entire form began collapsing inward. His protective shell cracked apart while his body curved into itself, compressed by an invisible force that left him completely powerless to resist.
His scream echoed across the ruined continent.
Then his entire existence was crushed into countless particles. The particles scattered into the wind. Nyk placed Destroyer against his shoulder and looked around.
"Now where are the rest of them?"
Erethon turned his head toward the distant continents of Tiamat.
His smile returned.
"Let's go hunt our prey."
The two disappeared.
Far away, north of Tartarus, Luminous arrived at a place known as Glory.
It was an enormous forest belonging to the descendants of the ancient people of Light. Towering trees stretched toward the heavens, their branches forming a natural canopy over the land.
Luminous walked into the forest. The moment she crossed its boundary, the world around her changed.
The trees disappeared. The ground beneath her feet transformed into an endless field. A formation had activated.
Luminous smiled faintly.
"This formation is still here."
She raised her right hand and waved it gently.
The illusion shattered. The forest returned. Luminous now stood before the entrance of an ancient village. Two elves immediately appeared before her.
Their weapons were raised as they cautiously observed the stranger standing before them.
"Who are you?"
Luminous looked at them.
"I am Light."
The moment those words left her mouth, the two elves suddenly collapsed onto their knees.
They had no idea why. Their bodies simply refused to remain standing in her presence. Confusion filled their expressions.
Luminous paid them little attention.
"Where are the remnants of Light?"
The elves exchanged nervous glances.
One finally answered.
"The remnants of Light disappeared years ago. We don't know whether they died or survived. Even our grandparents never saw them."
Luminous narrowed her eyes. Her Eyes of the Clock activated. Time and space became transparent to her perception.
She scanned the entire continent of Glory. Then she saw it. A faint light. Slowly fading. It was beneath the enormous tree standing at the center of the village.
Luminous turned toward it.
"Take me to the Tree of Oak."
The elves immediately obeyed. The massive tree had been planted by Luminous herself many years ago. The descendants of Light had worshipped it for generations.
The elves carefully escorted Luminous toward its enormous trunk. She placed one hand against the bark. The tree responded. A hidden entrance opened within its trunk.
Luminous stepped inside. The tree closed behind her. The elves stared at one another in disbelief.
One of them finally spoke.
"Let's go tell the elders."
The two immediately ran toward the village.
Luminous descended a long staircase hidden beneath the Tree of Oak.
The deeper she went, the colder the air became.
Eventually, she reached an underground chamber.
Her expression changed. Rows of prison cells stretched through the enormous underground structure. Dark elves, Light elves..Even monsters.
All of them were imprisoned. Luminous walked down the corridor with disgust written across her face. Then she stopped. Her eyes widened slightly.
Inside one of the cells was a familiar face. A girl sat against the wall. She was chained tightly, her body thin from years of starvation.
Luminous immediately recognized her.
"Akami…"
Akami had once been one of Luminous's most trusted subordinates.
She had been a queen of Light. Seeing her in such a condition filled Luminous with fury. Without touching the prison, Luminous shattered it.
The chains broke apart.
Akami's weakened body floated gently toward her. Luminous surrounded her with light. Healing energy entered Akami's body, restoring what years of imprisonment had taken from her. Then Luminous turned her gaze toward the rest of the underground prison.
The entire structure disappeared beneath an overwhelming wave of light. Every cell,chain and wall got..Destroyed.
Luminous carried Akami toward the surface.
Several moments later, Luminous stood above ground near the Tree of Oak.
Akami slowly regained consciousness. Her eyes opened. She pushed herself upright. Then she immediately knelt before Luminous.
Tears streamed down her face.
"Welcome back, Master."
Luminous looked down at her.
"How did this happen?"
Akami lowered her head.
"It was the work of Luke and Gabriel. They wanted to become the ultimate king of Light and lead the remnants of Light, but that created division. Some of us didn't participate. We tried to calm the situation, but they simply got us out of the picture."
Luminous's expression hardened.
"Weren't you the one with the most command? How did they manage to imprison you for so long?"
She paused. Then realization crossed her face.
"Never mind. I already know… They got help from Ra."
Akami slowly nodded.
"Yes. But he didn't come himself. He sent Amenadeil. Ever since I was imprisoned here, the others scattered away."
Luminous turned toward the distant horizon.
Her expression became cold.
"It seems they have a death wish. Let's go find Luke and Gabriel first."
Akami lowered her head respectfully.
"As you wish, Master."
Light surrounded both of them. Their bodies dissolved into countless particles of radiance. Then they vanished.