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Chapter 9 — Queen of Embers
Smoke.
That was all Kael could see when he opened his eyes again — endless, choking smoke.
The air was thick with the scent of iron and fire, and the ruined skyline looked like a skeleton against the burning horizon.
He pushed himself up from the shattered street, blood dripping from his forehead. His wings — blackened and torn — twitched weakly before fading into nothing.
Every muscle screamed, every nerve burned.
"Eira…" he called, voice hoarse. "Eira!"
There was no answer.
Only the crackling of collapsing towers and the faint hiss of embers dancing in the wind.
Kael clenched his fists. His vision blurred, and his mind burned with the echo of the Devil's laughter.
He could still hear it — "You can't save them all, Punisher. You never could."
A shadow shifted among the ruins.
Kael snapped his head toward it, ready to strike — but then froze.
It was her.
Eira stood at the edge of the collapsed street, her cloak torn, her face smeared with ash and blood.
Her eyes — once soft and silver — now glowed a deep crimson. And behind her… wings had begun to form.
Not white.
Not black.
But red — glowing faintly like fire forged into feathers.
"Eira?" Kael breathed.
She looked at him, and for a second, he thought she didn't recognize him.
Then, her voice came — quiet, trembling.
"They called me weak," she said. "Said I couldn't survive without someone protecting me."
She looked down at her hands — flames flickered between her fingers. "They were right. I was weak… until I watched everything burn."
Kael stood up slowly. "Eira, listen to me—"
But the ground shook violently. A pillar of red flame erupted behind her, blasting chunks of debris into the air. The sky rippled — not from fire, but from energy.
A new presence had awakened.
Kael felt it instantly — something ancient, monstrous, and hungry.
A low voice echoed from the inferno:
"Finally… a vessel worthy of my flame."
Eira's expression darkened. "Who's there?"
The voice chuckled — deep, resonant, demonic.
"The girl who carries the crown of serpents. The one who touched the first seal. You have awakened me, little ember."
Kael's instincts screamed. "Eira, step back! That's not human!"
The fire behind her twisted into shape — a humanoid silhouette wrapped in molten armor. Its eyes glowed white-hot, and when it spoke, the air cracked like thunder.
"I am Ignathar, first flame of the abyss. The god your kind tried to erase."
Eira raised her sword. "I erased gods before."
Ignathar laughed — a sound that made the earth itself tremble.
"Then let me show you what a real god's wrath feels like."
Before Kael could move, the creature vanished and reappeared in front of Eira.
It swung a flaming arm — she barely blocked it, her sword screeching under the pressure. Sparks flew, flames spread.
Kael charged forward, summoning his scythe mid-sprint.
"BACK OFF!"
He slashed at Ignathar's side, the blade of hellfire colliding with divine flame. The explosion sent Kael flying into a wall, dust and blood filling his mouth.
Eira screamed his name — but the moment she turned, Ignathar struck again.
She barely dodged, rolling across the debris-strewn ground.
The fire demon grinned. "Your body trembles. You're resisting me. Why?"
Eira spat blood. "Because I'm not yours."
Ignathar extended his hand — a burning sigil appeared beneath her feet.
Chains of flame erupted, wrapping around her arms and wings.
"You will be."
Kael staggered up, eyes blazing red. His aura ignited — demonic energy radiating in waves.
"Let her go!"
He vanished — then reappeared behind Ignathar, slicing down with his scythe.
The god blocked with a single hand, catching the blade mid-strike.
"Impressive… but still mortal."
Kael gritted his teeth. "Then I'll stop being mortal."
His eyes flared — his voice deepened, overlapping with the Devil's tone.
"Let's burn together."
The city lit up again.
Kael unleashed the full force of his power, black and crimson energy clashing violently with Ignathar's fire.
Eira screamed as the shockwave tore through everything.
Flames met shadows.
Light met darkness.
And in that blinding collision — something cracked.
The sigils shattered.
The flames died.
Ignathar stumbled back, his molten armor fractured.
Eira gasped for air, dropping to her knees. Her red wings flared — their glow pulsing uncontrollably.
Kael landed beside her, panting. "You okay?"
She nodded weakly. "That thing… it's part of the crown. It's connected to me."
Kael clenched his jaw. "Then we'll destroy it."
Ignathar rose again, molten blood dripping from his chest.
"Destroy me? Foolish child. I am the fire in her veins."
Eira screamed as the mark on her neck glowed bright red. Flames burst from her body, swirling violently.
Kael reached for her — but the heat burned his skin.
"Eira!"
Her voice cracked. "Kael—! It's inside me—I can't stop it!"
The Devil's voice echoed in Kael's head again:
"Save her… and you'll burn with her. But if you let her go… you live."
Kael's teeth clenched. "I'd rather die."
He reached into the fire, grabbed her shoulders, and pulled her close.
The inferno consumed them both.
For a moment, there was nothing — only white light.
Then silence.
When the flames finally faded, Eira lay unconscious in Kael's arms. The sigil on her skin was gone, replaced by faint glowing scars.
Ignathar's voice was distant now — weak, fading.
"This isn't over… Punisher."
Kael looked down at her face, brushing soot from her cheek. "Yeah," he muttered. "It never is."
He carried her through the burning ruins.
The world around them was gone — only ash and whispers remained.
But as he looked toward the horizon, he saw something new.
A city of light — rising faintly in the distance.
The last sanctuary.
Or maybe… the next battleground.
He didn't care which.
As long as she lived, he would face whatever came next.
He looked down at her again and smiled faintly.
"Hang in there, Eira. The Punisher isn't done yet."
Behind him, the ruins still burned — but somewhere deep beneath the city, Ignathar's eyes opened once more.
And this time, he whispered a single word:
"Riven…"
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TO BE CONTINUED