At the heart of the conflict, aside from the battlefield of the four Radiant-rankers, lay the shattered city of Hwaeryun. Once a vibrant hub of learning and culture, it now stood as a grim testament to the war's unrelenting devastation. The city's strategic importance had made it a battleground unlike any other—especially after the discovery of the underground vampire stronghold hidden beneath Starcrest Academy's ruins.
Mo Zenith's brilliant campaign had driven most of the vampires out of the city, his plum blossoms cutting through the night like a righteous blade. But his departure to reinforce the Mount Hua forces left Hwaeryun vulnerable, and the Red Chalice Cult had wasted no time. They surged back toward the city, determined to reclaim it and exploit the technological remnants still hidden among its ruins.
The Moyong and Gu families were tasked with the grim responsibility of defending the city. Their forces had hastily constructed makeshift walls around the most salvageable sections of Hwaeryun, turning the once-thriving streets into a desperate, jury-rigged fortress. It was here that Seol-ah Moyong now walked, her onyx-black hair fluttering in the cold night breeze as her golden eyes scanned the darkened horizon.
Beside her, Aria Gu stood in silence, her crimson eyes glimmering with a sorrow that went far deeper than the destruction around them. Seol-ah cast her a sideways glance, noting the stiffness in her posture and the way her gaze lingered on the gutted remains of the academy in the distance. Without a word, she placed a hand on Aria's shoulder, the gesture as firm as it was gentle.
Aria flinched slightly but didn't pull away. Her voice, when it came, was quiet, strained with barely contained emotion. "Do you think they'll attack again tonight?"
Seol-ah tightened her grip, not in reassurance but in solidarity. "They always do. The cult thrives in the dark, and we're stuck playing their game for now."
Her golden eyes swept over the city once more. Even in its ruined state, Hwaeryun exuded a kind of grim resilience. The broken spires of the academy jutted against the skyline like defiant sentinels, while the fractured streets beneath still bore the faint hum of the city's technological heart—a reminder of what had been lost and what was still worth fighting for.
Aria's gaze turned inward, her hand clenching the hilt of her weapon as she fought against the emotions threatening to spill over. "Starcrest was supposed to be untouchable," she murmured. "The pride of the East. How could it all fall so quickly?"
Seol-ah didn't reply immediately. She knew there was no answer that could ease the sting of those words. The fall of Starcrest Academy had been as symbolic as it was tactical—a blow that reverberated far beyond the battlefield.
Instead, she stepped closer, her voice low but steady. "We'll take it back. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but we will. And when we do, they'll regret ever setting foot here."
Aria turned to her, a faint, bitter smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You sound like my father."
"Good," Seol-ah said with a smirk that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Someone has to sound optimistic, even if it's all talk."
The air grew colder as the night deepened, and the distant howl of the wind carried with it the faint echoes of movement. Seol-ah's golden eyes narrowed as her senses sharpened. "They're coming," she said, her voice hardening as she released Aria's shoulder and reached for her blade.
Aria didn't need to be told twice. She stepped forward, her crimson eyes glowing faintly as the magic in her blood stirred to life. "They always come at night," she muttered, her tone somewhere between anger and exhaustion.
"Let them," Seol-ah replied, her sword gleaming faintly as she drew it. The blade's edge seemed to catch the faintest traces of starlight, as though it, too, was ready for the fight ahead. "If they think the dark will save them, they've forgotten who stands on this wall."
Together, they turned to face the approaching shadows, the city of Hwaeryun at their backs. And though the odds were against them, and though the war seemed endless, there was a quiet, unyielding defiance in their stance. Because the city still stood. Because they still stood. And for now, that was enough.
The two alerted the rest of the defenders through their comms, their voices cutting through the still night with urgency. Within moments, the once-quiet city walls buzzed with activity as soldiers scrambled into position. Missiles were loaded, guns mounted, and the defensive emplacements on the hastily rebuilt wall bristled with deadly intent. The mechanized weaponry, though devastating to lesser cultists, would scarcely faze the stronger foes among their ranks.
Seol-ah and Aria exchanged a brief glance, no words passing between them. They didn't need to speak; the understanding between them was unspoken, forged through countless battles and shared resolve. With a nod, both leaped from the wall into the fray below.
The battlefield erupted into chaos, shadows swirling as the cultists surged forward under the cover of night. Seol-ah's sword cut through the darkness, its edge gleaming with a faint, otherworldly light. Layers of resonating enhanced aura enveloped her blade, the energy humming with a rhythm that matched her movements perfectly. Each strike was precise, deliberate, and devastating.
Her mastery of the sword was breathtaking—something that even Arthur himself, for all his talent, would be forced to acknowledge. Where Arthur's strength lay in his unrelenting determination and powerful techniques, Seol-ah's was in the purity of her craft. Every movement of her blade was an exercise in elegance and precision, her strikes landing with a clarity that seemed to defy the chaos around her.
For all her youth, Seol-ah's swordsmanship was unparalleled, a fact that was nothing short of extraordinary given the generation she belonged to—a generation bursting with talent so prodigious that it eclipsed all that had come before. Yet Seol-ah stood apart even among her peers, her skill honed to a level that placed her on the cusp of legend.
Her family's art, once a Grade 5 technique, had been elevated under her relentless training and innovation. Though the Grade 6 art Infinite Horizon was not yet complete, its power was undeniable. The incomplete form radiated with potential, a testament to Seol-ah's drive to push the boundaries of what was thought possible.
Aria, meanwhile, fought with a fiery intensity that matched her red eyes. Where Seol-ah's movements were calculated and sharp, Aria's were explosive and unyielding. Her weapon blazed with magic, arcs of flame trailing her strikes as she carved a path through the enemy ranks. The two women moved together like twin storms, each covering the other's weaknesses and amplifying their strengths.
The cultists faltered under their onslaught, but only for a moment. From the shadows, stronger enemies began to emerge, their presence palpable even amidst the cacophony of battle. Seol-ah's sharp gaze fixed on them, her grip on her sword tightening. This was only the beginning.
As if to confirm her thoughts, two Integration-rank cultists launched themselves toward them with a burst of speed that sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Seol-ah and Aria moved in unison, their instincts honed by battle, leaping to meet their respective foes head-on.
Seol-ah's opponent wielded a single-bladed sword, much like her own. His weapon pulsed with blood-enhanced aura, the resonance coursing along the blade like a living thing. He attacked with brutal efficiency, each strike heavy with intent, his blade seeking to overpower her through sheer force.
But Seol-ah's swordsmanship was a thing of elegance and control, her movements fluid and precise. Her blade danced around his, striking like a serpent, her resonating enhanced aura weaving in and out of his attacks. The clash of their blades sent sparks flying as the air between them seemed to hum with tension.
Slowly but surely, Seol-ah began to take control of the battle. Her mastery was undeniable—each strike perfectly timed, every counter executed with precision. Her opponent, skilled though he was, could not match the sharpness of her technique nor the clarity of her intent.
Yet even with her advantage, it wasn't enough to win easily. Her foe's blood aura was relentless, his strikes unyielding, forcing her to maintain constant vigilance. She needed to end this quickly.
Her eyes narrowed, and her aura flared. The air around her shifted subtly, her presence growing heavier as she transitioned into the first movement of her Grade 6 art: Infinite Horizon.
"Unyielding Tempest," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the clamor of battle.
The shift in her stance was immediate, her sword radiating an otherworldly glow as her aura expanded, encompassing the battlefield around her. The energy coiled and surged like a storm held at bay, ready to unleash its full fury.
With a single, fluid motion, Seol-ah swung her blade, her movements no longer constrained by mere skill but elevated by the art she had crafted. Her strike sliced through the air, a wave of energy arcing toward her opponent with unstoppable force.
The cultist's eyes widened in realization, his blood aura surging in an attempt to block the attack. But it was too late. The wave of energy struck his blade, shattering the resonance along its edge, and continued forward, slicing through his defenses with an ease that seemed almost dismissive.
The cultist staggered, blood trailing from a deep cut across his chest. He dropped his sword, his strength fading as he collapsed to his knees.