The violet flames surged like a hellstorm.
Ingress screamed, spinning around—but it was too late.
Jessie emerged behind him like a phantom, her blade slashing across his chest. Blood erupted into the air, dark and thick.
"Hngh—!"
"Found you," she whispered coldly.
Before Ingress could react, Jessie thrust her sword deep into his open wound. Violet fire burst through his body, the flames burning not just flesh but essence. Ingress howled in agony as the sky ignited with her wrath.
But the dragon was not idle.
As it wrestled with Riah in the sky, it suddenly turned, unleashing a violent blast directly at her flank.
Neve appeared in a blur, arms crossed, creating a dome of glacial energy.
"You're not getting through," she hissed.
The blast hit her shield, shattering the outer layers like glass. Neve's boots cracked the ground beneath as she struggled to hold. Then she roared, swinging her arm and firing a slash of pure ice at the dragon.
It missed.
"Damn—!"
Riah's voice echoed from above."Focus on me, you white lizard!"
She hurled a phoenix forward, its flames molding mid-flight into a burning spear of divine light. The dragon was pierced directly in the chest, and with a deafening explosion, it spiraled down.
But it wasn't over.
Its mouth widened—and then came the inferno.
Flames poured from its jaws like a sunbeam of death, chasing Riah as she flew across the sky, tracing streaks of light. The dragon twisted midair, adjusting its aim.
Riah gritted her teeth.
"How can your soul be this corrupted?" she shouted at it. "You're allowing yourself to fight for that parasite Ingress? You were once sacred!"
She flew high, avoiding the heat as her katana sliced through the dragon's wing. White flame coated her blade as she soared into the clouds.
"Hang on, guys. Brace yourselves."
Everyone below paused—eyes lifted.
They saw her rise.
They felt it.
Riah lifted her arm.
And the sky answered.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of giant white spears formed above her, each engulfed in radiant phoenix fire. They eclipsed the sun itself.
With a whisper, she gave the order.
"Fall."
And the sky fell.
The spears rained down like divine meteors. The dragon roared as each one pierced its body, pinning it down, staggering it, crushing it into the earth. Civilians, soldiers, even heroes nearby dropped to their knees—not in terror, but in awe.
Some accepted death with open arms.
Ingress watched the light descend.
He shielded his eyes, smiling.
"This… is divine judgement."
Tyrone stood, eyes wide.
"This is a beautiful way to die," he muttered.
Lihanna stood beside him, arms crossed.
"She's not playing around today," she said. "Riah's in full wrath mode."
Jessie, landing beside them, added calmly:
"Relax. Riah ordered these spears not to harm us. She warned me in advance—just told us to watch for them."
Meanwhile, away from the chaos, Felicia was locked in focus. She knelt beside Kazimir, hands glowing, his unconscious form cradled gently in Gendai's lap. His face was pale. His breathing shallow.
They heard the spears crash into the ground like thunder made solid.
Felicia paused for only a moment, awe in her voice.
"…Holy hell. Is this Judgement Day? Those spears look… lethal."
Gendai looked down at Kazimir, worry etched into her face.
"I mean, yeah… I'd be angry too if someone I loved was this beat up. Look at him. This is the worst we've ever seen him."
Felicia responded without looking up.
"I'm doing my best. Pouring every bit of energy into him, but… I don't know how long I can keep this up."
Gendai touched her shoulder gently.
"You got this. Hang in there, Felicia. Just… push through and save him. Please."
The final spear fell.
Silence returned.
Riah hovered for a moment before descending. Her white armor cracked and steaming. Her boots touched the ground near Kazimir, Felicia, and Gendai.
Her voice trembled.
"How is he?"
Felicia looked up.
"He's only resting. Nothing to worry about. I promise."
Riah exhaled, eyes softening.
"Good… and how are you holding up? His arm… it looks a little better than before."
Felicia didn't stop healing as she answered.
"Holding on. It's working—but really slow. We'll get there. You should go deal with Ingress. He's still moving."
Riah nodded.
"Let me see his arm."
She placed her hand on Kazimir's scorched arm. A gentle white flame flickered across it—purifying, restoring. The corruption peeled away like ash in the wind.
Then the sky cracked again.
A blinding roar. A shockwave.
Everyone staggered as a beam of white light fired into the sky.
The dragon.
It wasn't dead.
It rose.
Fully healed.
Riah's eyes widened. She shielded the others with a burst of her energy just as the shockwave struck.
The rest of the group weren't so lucky.
Jessie, Neve, Tyrone, Lihanna, Raijin, Kamaki—they were all blasted backward.
Ingress laughed.
"HAHA! DID YOU FORGET? THESE DRAGONS—THEY'RE LIKE VAMPIRES. THEY HAVE A LEVEL OF IMMORTALITY! YOU CANNOT KILL HIM SO EASILY!"
He raised his arms to the sky.
"NOW RISE—RIIISE, BARRACK!!"
Jessie growled, pulling herself to her feet.
"How is it still alive…?"
Neve struggled to stand, hair whipping wildly.
"It's a high dragon… not some overgrown lizard. It's a god-killing weapon. We're fighting a legend."
Kamaki threw his head back, laughing.
"OHHH SHIT! WE'RE GONNA DIE! HAHAHA, LET IT BE FUN!"
Raijin stood beside him, equally insane.
"FUCK YEAHHH—PURE CINEMA!!"
Lihanna launched a massive red slash—but it hit and did nothing. The dragon didn't flinch.
Its wounds were gone. Its body hardened like obsidian. A walking extinction.
Riah looked back.
Felicia was pale. Exhausted.
She placed a phoenix flame on Felicia, healing and restoring her instantly.
Then she spoke:
"Felicia, you focus on Kazimir. Protect him. That's your mission now."
Felicia nodded firmly.
"Got it."
Riah turned to Gendai.
"And you… I'll allow it. Better for him to rest on your lap than the dirt. But I trust you—protect him with everything you've got."
She smiled.
And vanished.
Her wings ignited. Her eyes glowed.
The Queen of the Phoenix was flying toward the dragon once more—this time, with nothing held back.