The battle had raged for five continuous days, and the skies above the Cardinal World had become a battleground of devastation. The Angels, Seraphs, and Insectars had pushed forward, their numbers seemingly endless. On the ground, the Demon Lords and their forces were showing signs of strain, their once boundless energy beginning to falter. Despite their unmatched power, the nonstop fighting was wearing down even the strongest.
In the Dragon Kingdom, Milim Nava was once again slicing through waves of enemies with her usual ferocity. Her dragon flames roared through the air, reducing entire lines of angels and insectars to ashes. However, even she could feel the toll the battle was taking. Her movements had slowed, her breath coming in sharp gasps, though her smile never wavered.
"I'm not going to fall that easily!" Milim shouted as she clashed with an Archangel Commander, the battle causing the very air around them to warp with energy.
In the Barren Lands, Draguel continued to fight fiercely alongside his forces, his claws tearing through his enemies like a storm. His eyes, usually calm, flickered with exhaustion, but he did not allow himself to falter. Still, even with his near-unparalleled strength, the battle was beginning to feel never-ending.
"At this rate, we'll burn out before we win," Draguel muttered, swiping his claw through an angel's chest. "We need a way to shift the tide."
Back at the heart of the battlefield, Guy Crimson had already wiped out an entire legion of celestial forces, but the strain was beginning to show on his face. His body was slightly slumped, and his sword, once an extension of his own will, now felt heavier with every swing.
"This is ridiculous," Guy muttered, barely pausing for a breath. "We can't keep this up forever."
Velgrynd, in the Eastern Empire, watched the chaos unfold from afar, the tips of her fingers twitching as she could feel the weight of the battle pressing down on her comrades. While she remained cool-headed, even she could see the fatigue setting in.
Feldway and Zelanus stood in the midst of their commanders and warriors, their eyes burning with cold fury. They had watched from the skies for days, sending wave after wave of celestial forces, but their plan was failing. The Demon Lords were holding their ground, and more importantly, they were beginning to show signs of wear.
Zelanus, the Insectar King, paced restlessly, his long insect-like limbs clicking as he moved.
"They are weakening," he hissed. "We need to end this before they recover. Our forces are still numerous, but even they will falter."
Feldway, standing still, nodded solemnly. His form shifted slightly, his aura pulsing with an ancient power. "We must act decisively. The Demon Lords may be tired, but they are still formidable. We must focus on capturing them."
They turned their gaze toward the battlefield, and after a long pause, Feldway issued his command.
"Send the strongest. We will target the Demon Lords directly. The others can deal with the lesser forces."
Velgrynd was the first to become aware of the new threat as two powerful celestial warriors descended toward her position. These Angels were unlike the others. Their wings burned with radiant flames, and their presence rippled the air with a holy aura.
"We're getting serious now," Velgrynd muttered under her breath. She didn't have time to waste.
But the two angels did not approach her immediately. Instead, they surrounded her from a distance, their wings creating a barrier of divine energy.
One of them, an Archangel Commander, spoke. "You will not leave here alive, Velgrynd."
Velgrynd's eyes hardened, but she held back for a moment, assessing her situation. She could feel the barrier of celestial energy closing in around her, its pressure building. "I'm not going down without a fight," she muttered, her dragon instincts sharpening.
At the same time, Milim was still engaged in battle with the Seraphs, her laughter echoing as she decimated wave after wave. Her energy was flagging, but she refused to slow down.
Suddenly, two more figures appeared before her—two Seraphs with divine swords raised high. They moved swiftly, their blades flashing as they aimed to cut through her defenses.
"You will stop here, Dragon Princess," one of the Seraphs declared.
Milim's grin widened. "I've been waiting for something exciting to happen," she said, her voice laced with both a childlike joy and the brutal nature of a true fighter.
Far from the battlefield, Velzard stood in the quiet refuge of Nyvaris, her ice-cold domain protected by Varvatos' barrier. She was out of reach of the enemy, but her gaze never left the battle raging outside. She felt the weariness creeping into her body, her powers beginning to wane from the constant energy expenditure.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Varvatos turned to her. His voice was calm, as always, but there was a trace of concern in his eyes.
"They're starting to tire," Velzard observed. "I want to help them. If I don't act soon, they may not last much longer."
Varvatos' expression darkened. He paused, considering the situation. His mind was racing through options—assisting now might turn the tide, but the risks were high.
"You're right," he said at last. "You have my permission. Go. But be careful."
Velzard's eyes glinted as she bowed her head. "I'll return soon."
Seeing the failure of their strategy, Feldway and Zelanus made their final decision. Feldway would descend in his true form, unrestrained by any limitations.
With a deep, echoing roar, Feldway unwrapped his form from the heavens, his true body descending like an apocalyptic storm. His massive wings unfurled, their sheer presence shaking the ground beneath. His power surged like a tidal wave, crashing down and shattering the very air around him.
"At last," Feldway's voice thundered, his true power radiating from his being. "It is time to end this."
Zelanus followed, his form rippling with ethereal energy. His insectoid frame expanded, and he too descended to the battlefield, his presence casting an ominous shadow.
The battlefield fell silent for a moment as both of these celestial titans stood on the ground, their aura's shaking the very core of the world. The air itself felt heavier, as if the skies themselves were holding their breath.
From his vantage point in Nyvaris, Varvatos watched as Feldway and Zelanus descended. The air around him seemed to quiver, the power of the two forces making the very atmosphere vibrate.
"It's them," he said softly. "The culprits."
Velzard, standing beside him, felt the gravity of the situation. She closed her eyes for a moment, considering the magnitude of the threat. After a long pause, she turned to Varvatos. "I will deal with Zelanus," she said with cold determination. "Milim and the others are struggling. They need all the help they can get."
Varvatos hesitated only for a moment. He knew Velzard's power, but the battle was reaching an inflection point. "Be careful," he said quietly. "
Velzard nodded. "I'll be fine. Trust me."
Milim turned to see Feldway descend before her, his enormous form casting a shadow over the battlefield. She grinned widely, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. She could feel the immense power emanating from him, far beyond what she had faced so far.
"So, you're the one pulling the strings," Milim said, her voice a mix of excitement and challenge.
"You've grown tiresome, Dragon Princess," Feldway said, his voice booming. "This is the end."
With that, he surged forward, his divine energy swirling around him, a storm of destruction. Milim instantly lunged to meet him, her dragon flames swirling around her like a tempest. The two clashed in the sky, a burst of energy so powerful that the very ground below shook from the impact.
On the other side of the battlefield, Velzard faced Zelanus, the insectar king. His presence was commanding, his insect-like body exuding an aura of danger. She could feel his power, his cold, calculating nature. Yet, she was no stranger to danger.
"You are strong," Zelanus said, his voice clicking with the sound of his insectoid body. "But even you will fall."
Velzard's eyes glinted with ice-cold fury. "I'm no stranger to being underestimated," she said, stepping forward. Her aura flared as she summoned the icy winds of Nyvaris to surround her. With a sudden burst of movement, she closed the distance between them, her ice powers surging as she aimed to freeze Zelanus where he stood.