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The world returned in fragments—
a shattered sky, swirling starlight, floating shards of the sanctuary trembling like frightened birds.
And at the center of everything—
Li Yun stood with Lian Yue in his arms, golden fire spiraling around him in a violent storm.
The Executor lunged again, white blade tearing through space.
Li Yun didn't move out of the way.
Instead he met the attack head-on.
The impact sent a shockwave racing across the broken realm, pulverizing stone, bending the sky itself.
Lian Yue tightened her trembling arms around his neck.
"Yun— stop! You're hurt!"
He didn't answer.
His eyes had changed—
the calm golden glow replaced by something older, wilder…
A sun stripped of its chains.
The Executor stumbled backward, white flames dimming.
"Sun God Li Yun.
You are forbidden to release your primal form—"
Li Yun's voice was low, dangerous.
"Do you think I care about your rules?"
The white flame creature raised its blade again—
But a golden spear materialized in Li Yun's hand, summoned from raw, divine fire. He hurled it with impossible force.
The spear pierced the Executor's chest—
the creature shrieked, staggered, and fell to one knee.
Its body flickered violently, struggling to hold form.
But before Li Yun could finish it—
The second Executor fully stepped through the crack in the sky.
This one was larger.
Stronger.
Burning with judgment so overwhelming that even the ground beneath them trembled.
"The Sun has violated the Celestial Edict," it declared.
"He must be restrained."
White chains burst downward, aiming for Li Yun.
Lian Yue gasped.
"Yun—!"
He pushed her gently behind him, even as the chains wrapped around his wrists, ankles, and chest. They sizzled against his skin, burning deep into divine flesh.
Light—golden and white—sparks flew everywhere.
He gritted his teeth but didn't fall.
Lian Yue tried to run forward.
"Let him go! You can't take him—"
The second Executor raised a hand, and a force slammed into her chest. She flew backward, gasping as she hit the floating platform.
"Lian Yue!" Li Yun roared.
He tore against the chains—
but they only tightened, burning deeper.
The Executor turned toward her.
"Moon Goddess.
If you surrender peacefully, he will be imprisoned, not destroyed."
Lian Yue swallowed hard, horror filling her.
"Imprisoned… forever?"
"Yes.
He will be confined to the Celestial Core until his radiance fades."
Lian Yue shook her head violently.
"No— no, you can't—"
Li Yun cut her off, voice raw with fury.
"Yue'er, don't listen!
RUN!"
She didn't move.
She couldn't.
Her heart was splitting open.
The Executor stepped closer to her.
"Your awakening threatens the order of heaven.
Return your power, and both of you may yet live."
Return her power?
Lose everything?
Forget him again?
Lose herself?
Lian Yue's hands trembled uncontrollably.
"I… I don't know what to do…" she whispered.
Li Yun snapped the first chain with a burst of fire—
but the others tightened, drawing blood.
"Yue'er," he said quietly, urgently,
"look at me."
She lifted her eyes.
Even bound, even bleeding golden light, he smiled at her.
"You already know your answer."
Her breath caught.
Because she did.
She had known from the moment she awakened the first spark of silver fire.
She wasn't going to lose him again.
Lian Yue stood on shaking legs.
The Executor turned toward her, blade lifting to strike.
Li Yun roared, pulling with all his strength—
another chain snapped—
but not enough.
The blade descended.
Lian Yue lifted her hand.
Silver light burst across her palm—
not wild this time,
not uncontrolled.
Perfect.
Pure.
Strong.
The blade met her light—
and stopped.
The Executor staggered, shocked.
Li Yun froze, staring at her in disbelief.
Her hair lifted in the windless air, glowing with soft moonlight.
Silver markings shimmered along her arms like constellations awakening.
Her voice rang out, clear and steady:
"I will not surrender.
And I will not leave him."
She spread her hands.
Moonlight erupted across the battlefield like a rising tide.
The Executor shielded its face.
Li Yun stared at her as if seeing her for the first time.
"Yue'er…" he whispered, voice shaking.
"You're awakening. The real you."
Her eyes shone silver as she turned toward him.
"And I'm not afraid anymore."
The second Executor roared, flames blazing.
The sky cracked.
Judgment descended.
Lian Yue took one step forward—
And the seal inside her soul shattered.
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