The night sky trembled beneath the blood moon, its crimson glow casting long shadows across the battlefield. Sparks and debris lingered in the air, and silence lasted only a breath before it shattered.
"What… what is this situation?" Zackary muttered to himself, his blue eyes widening as a silver beam of light screamed past his face, grazing his cheek.
The glow of the attack illuminated his opponent — and his heart nearly stopped.
Ailaria.
His chest tightened. Why was she attacking him? Why didn't she recognize him? He had no time to dwell on the thought before another beam tore through the sky, forcing him back.
"Stop!" Zackary shouted, his voice desperate but steady. "I came here to help you!"
But she didn't believe him. Her silver hair swayed wildly in the moonlit wind, her eyes sharp with rage but glistening faintly with sorrow. She pressed forward, her strikes relentless.
"Why? Aisha said she'd recognize me as soon as you saw me!" Zackary's thoughts rippled with frustration, but then he saw it — a fleeting sadness in Ailaria's expression.
Tears sparkled in her eyes as she whispered through gritted teeth, "Why do you all stand in my way? Why do you keep me from my children?"
Her words cut through him more than any blade could. Zackary took a cautious step forward, but the air shifted, vibrating violently as an overwhelming magic pressure radiated from her body.
"I don't enjoy violence…" Ailaria's voice trembled but steadied into resolve. "But I'm done being kind to those who bar my path."
Silver light ignited around her. Moonlight coalesced into a sword in her hand as her flowing gown transformed into battle attire, exposing her legs for swift, lethal movement.
"This isn't good. I need t—"
Zackary's thought cut off as she vanished from sight. His instincts screamed, and without conscious thought, he drew his sword, bringing it up just in time to block the strike aimed at his throat. The clash sent sparks flying.
Her strength overwhelmed him, forcing his guard downward. The impact launched him backward, shattering the side of the tower as rubble swallowed him whole.
Groaning, Zackary rose from the debris, his black bangs falling over his eye. Dust clung to his clothes, but his gaze never left her figure, hovering above.
"If you surrender, I will leave," Ailaria said coldly, her blade gleaming under the blood moon.
"I can't do that." Zackary's reply was quiet, but resolute. His eyes locked with hers.
"Then you leave me no choice."
Her sword glowed, runes crawling up its length. Light began to flow violently along its edge.
"What—" Zackary's confusion was cut short as she declared:
"I won't hold back!"
Her blade fell, and in an instant, a beam of light carved through the heavens, splitting the tower clean in half.
The world trembled. Dust, stone, and flame erupted.
"That was close," Zackary's voice rang from behind her, startling her.
Persistent.
"You're persistent," Ailaria growled, her voice breaking with both fury and anguish. She swung again, tearing the sky open with beams of moonlight faster than lightning.
Zackary gritted his teeth, dodging frantically. What should I do? Every attack grew faster, sharper, closer. "If this keeps up, I'll be struck sooner or later."
The two ascended higher and higher into the bloodstained heavens. Each clash painted the night with streaks of silver and crimson. Zackary clenched his fist. Alright then. I'll strike back. But I won't hurt her… I just have to survive until she calms down.
Another flash — Ailaria was suddenly in front of him, eyes glowing, firing a beam point-blank. He twisted aside, narrowly avoiding death.
Down below, Vlad's crimson eyes followed the flashes above. "What is he doing?"
A blade whistled toward his neck.
"Don't take your eyes off your enemy!" Ivan shouted, his sword striking true—
Clang!
The ringing echo stunned him. Vlad had blocked his kingdom-class artifact with… a pistol.
"How… is that even possible?" Ivan's disbelief widened his eyes.
"Never take your eyes off your enemy," Vlad murmured coldly, raising his other pistol. Ivan's gaze darted upward—
Bang!
The shot echoed across the battlefield. Ivan's body fell limp.
"That was entertaining," Vlad said, almost amused, tossing Ivan's body beside Lilith's. He turned away, unbothered.
"I… Ivan…" Lilith's weak voice trembled. She crawled desperately toward him, dragging herself despite her wounds. Tears blurred her vision. "Please… please don't be dead…"
Her hands shook as she pressed against his chest. Faint… faint heartbeat. Slowing. Panic seized her. She pressed her lips to his, performing mouth-to-mouth, weaving healing magic between each desperate breath. Over and over, refusing to stop.
"I won't let you die…" she whispered, tears pouring down her cheeks.
From the branches of a nearby tree, a bat watched silently. Vlad's voice echoed in his mind. Did I overdo it? I hadn't meant to bring him this close to death. His crimson eyes narrowed. Perhaps I should've drained them both…
He sighed. No matter. If he's about to die, I'll revive him.
Far above, Rebecca faced Aisha in her dragon form. Every attack she unleashed broke uselessly against the colossal silver beast.
"How amusing," Aisha's monstrous voice rumbled, her eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "You see it's pointless, yet you still fight. Is that bravery… or stubbornness?"
Rebecca's chest heaved. "Damn you…"
But her gaze flicked sideways. Silver streaks, faster than light, streaked across the sky.
"What—?"
Aisha paused as well, recognizing the two figures locked in combat. Her heart seized. Without hesitation, she shot toward them.
"Where do you think you're going?!" Rebecca lunged to follow, but Aisha's tail whipped around with devastating force, striking her midair.
BOOOOM!
Rebecca plummeted like a meteor, crashing into the forest below with a deafening impact.
"Rebecca!!" Lilith screamed, sprinting toward her friend, only to see her bloodied form crumpled and unconscious. Rebecca reached out to Lilith—then darkness consumed her vision.
Above, Zackary's body trembled, wounds burning with searing agony. His breaths came ragged. No matter how much I heal… these wounds won't fade. They're burning me alive…
Then he looked up.
Ailaria's magic swelled, blotting out the stars. An attack so massive it looked as though the moon itself had descended.
His heart pounded. I can't dodge this. Dragon scales erupted across his body, bracing for annihilation—
But nothing came.
He opened his eyes.
Aisha stood before him, holding back the attack with one hand. With a flick, she deflected it skyward, the beam piercing into space, illuminating the heavens for an instant.
"You shouldn't be so brash, my lady," Aisha said calmly.
Ailaria froze. Her sword slipped slightly in her grip, her eyes widening as tears welled uncontrollably.
"A… Aisha… is that really you?"
"Yes. It's me." Aisha's warm smile broke her cold demeanor, a tear slipping down her cheek. "It's been far too long, my lady."
The sight broke Ailaria. She collapsed into Aisha's arms, sobbing. "Why… why did it take you so long?"
"I know, my lady," Aisha whispered, holding her close.
"M…Mera… because of me… she's—"
"No," Aisha interrupted firmly. "You are not at fault."
Ailaria sobbed harder, clinging desperately to her embrace.
"My lady… there's someone else who has come to see you." Aisha gently turned her toward the black-haired figure standing nearby.
Zackary.
"Your Grace, drop your disguise," Aisha urged softly.
Zackary inhaled sharply. In a shimmer, his black hair bled into silver, his blue eyes flared crimson, his features sharpened with an elven edge.
Ailaria's breath hitched. Her lips trembled. Memories burst forth—him standing in a flower field, turning to her with a smile. "Next time, let's watch the stars with our children."
"Z… Zackary…"
He swallowed, heart hammering. What should I say?
Finally, he smiled. "Yes. I've come for you."
The words broke her. With a sob, she launched forward, embracing him tightly. Zackary's arms instinctively held her back.
"I missed you," she cried, burying her face into his chest.
Zackary hesitated, his lips parting. "There's something I need to—"
Her lips silenced him. She kissed him, fierce and desperate. Stars seemed to shine brighter, the crimson moon glowing above as if blessing the moment.
When she pulled back, her tears stained his chest. "I know you're not the same… but that doesn't matter. If you can't remember… then I'll make you remember."
Another kiss. And another.
Memories fragmented and flowed into Zackary's mind uncontrollably. Agony stabbed through Zackary's skull. His magic surged violently, uncontrollable.
Aisha's eyes widened. "Stop! My lady, stop!"
Too late. Zackary's scream tore through the heavens. His magic burst outward like a storm, tearing at his own body, bones shattering and reforming, flesh ripping and healing.
"What's happening?!" Ailaria cried in terror.
"His power is tied to his memories!" Aisha shouted over the chaos, casting barrier after barrier. "By forcing his memories, you forced his body to awaken power he cannot yet control!"
Ailaria's tears fell as she pressed her hands over him, pouring every ounce of magic into strengthening him. "This is my fault… I'm so sorry, Zackary…"
The storm raged until, finally, Zackary collapsed unconscious in Ailaria's arms.
She held him close, her tears falling onto his face. "Forgive me, my love…"
Beneath them, the earth shook.
An army of knights marched toward the shattered tower.
"Are you finished?" a voice murmured from behind.
They turned. Vlad stood there, crimson eyes narrowed.
"What happened to him?"
"I'll explain later. For now—we must go." Aisha raised her hand, blocking a massive beam of magic that streaked from below. The sky lit up, revealing a golden-haired knight with his sword raised.
"Let's go." Vlad's teleportation circle bloomed, swallowing them one by one.
The battlefield was left behind, under the crimson moon.
"What happened here?" Leo demanded, his blade at his side, gazing at the destruction. He looked at Ivan's limp body in Lilith's arms. She turned away, silent, tears wetting her face.
"What a disaster," Leo muttered, staring at the moon above.
And far away, in the Sunlight Empire's capital, Ophiuchus saint knight Arden stood upon the highest tower, gazing into the horizon.
"It seems," he whispered to the night, "the Moonlight has slipped from your grasp… your Majesty."