The sky above Pyria churned with unrelenting chaos as Elyon's stature grew, his form stretching and warping until he towered over the battlefield like a living mountain of celestial power.His wings, now vast and all-encompassing, unfurled like a sky-spanning canopy, their edges shimmering with deadly brilliance.Each wingbeat sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the force bending trees and unsettling the ground below. The once-bright heavens were consumed by his overwhelming presence, casting the world beneath in a dim, oppressive shadow.Elyon's immense size made everything around him feel insignificant. His burning eyes scanned the battlefield, their intensity making even the most defiant tremble. When he moved, the ground quaked, and his voice, now magnified to a deafening roar, was like the will of the heavens made manifest."You dare defy your Lord?"Elyon's voice thundered across the expanse, resonating like the crash of mountains falling, shaking the earth to its core. The sheer weight of his words sent tremors through the hearts of those below.High above, Raphael's figure stood defiant against the towering figure of Elyon.His wings blazed with light, a defiant beacon against Elyon's overwhelming radiance. Lifting his sword, flames dancing along its edge, Raphael stood tall, his voice cutting through the storm."Dragons," he called, unyielding and resolute. "Behold your oppressor."The newly transformed dragons, their scales shimmering with a kaleidoscope of power, answered his call. Each one bore the brilliance of a star, their massive forms streaking through the sky like comets. Their roars reverberated as a battle cry, shaking the very air around them as they surged forward in unison, a storm of fury and vengeance.As the swarm of dragons converged on Elyon, the collision was cataclysmic.Claws and flame met the radiant shield of the celestial giant in a series of violent, blinding impacts. The first wave of fire splashed against Elyon's shield like molten rain, sending shockwaves rippling through the heavens. Claws tore at the divine barrier, screeching with the force of steel against an impenetrable wall.Elyon's massive hand swiped through the air, and with a single gesture, a surge of radiant energy erupted outward, scattering the closest dragons like leaves in a gale. But they regrouped almost instantly, their roars of defiance growing louder as they pressed the assault.The kaleidoscopic light of their scales interwoven with Elyon's golden radiance, creating a dazzling spectacle that lit the battlefield below like an otherworldly aurora.On the ground, soldiers paused momentarily, their battle against Stormgard overshadowed by the clash of titanic forces above.Above them, Raphael led the charge, cutting through Elyon's defenses with strikes that cracked the very fabric of the divine shield. Each slash of his blade sent ripples of energy across the sky, the brilliance of his rebellion stark against the overwhelming might of Elyon.Yet, Elyon remained resolute, his laughter a deep rumble that echoed through the chaos.But Raphael did not falter. With every blow he dealt, the dragons intensified their assault, their flames burning hotter, their claws striking harder.---From above, riding the dragon that once was Roderic, Meredith and Gabriel descended into the heart of the chaos with determined precision.The former soldier-turned-dragon roared, scattering Stormgard soldiers as he landed with a deafening thud, his powerful tail swiping at the advancing enemy.Before them stood Malachel, his armor smeared with blood, his cruel grin widening as he spotted his adversaries. His wings stretched ominously, reflecting the fiery light of the battlefield.Despite the celestial chaos in the sky above, Malachel had chosen to remain grounded, where the combat was raw, visceral, and drenched in mortal suffering—a theater of carnage he relished with unholy delight."Your arrogance knows no bounds," Malachel growled, his blade raised high as his golden eyes burned with hatred. "Step forward, insects."Meredith dismounted Roderic in one fluid motion, her grip tightening on her bow. Her gaze burned with defiance. Gabriel landed beside her, his sword steady in his hands, though his expression carried a quiet, unyielding calm.Malachel's grin twisted into a mocking sneer as he lunged, his blade arcing toward Gabriel in a streak of radiant light."So, this is what you've become?" Malachel jeered as their swords collided in a shower of sparks. "A mortal? How pathetic. Once an angel of grace, now reduced to bleeding like the worms you defend."Gabriel's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond, his strikes deliberate and precise. Each clash of their blades reverberated through the air, his unyielding resolve forcing Malachel to step back."You're slower," Malachel taunted, his voice dripping with venom. "Weaker. Do you even feel it, Gabriel? The weight of mortality dragging you down?"Gabriel parried another blow, his muscles straining as their blades locked."I feel it," he said quietly, his tone unwavering, "and I embrace it. Because unlike you, I fight for no corrupted tyrant."With a burst of strength, Gabriel broke the lock and swung his sword in a fierce arc, forcing Malachel onto the defensive. But as Gabriel pressed the attack, Malachel's blade slipped under his guard, slashing across his side.Gabriel staggered, his hand instinctively pressing against the wound as blood seeped through his tunic. Malachel's laughter echoed, cold and cruel. "You're bleeding, brother. How quaint. Tell me, does it hurt?"Gritting his teeth, Gabriel straightened, his sword still steady in his grasp."Not as much as it will when you perish," he said, his golden eyes burning with unrelenting determination.Meanwhile, Meredith moved swiftly to the side, her hands activating one of the anti-dragon devices mounted on Roderic's harness. The device emitted a high-frequency hum, causing Malachel to falter, his wings quivering from the disruption.Roderic, sensing the moment, lashed out with his tail, striking Malachel and sending him skidding across the battlefield. The attack drew a guttural growl from the angel, but not without cost.Malachel retaliated with a burst of light, the impact grazing Roderic's flank and forcing the dragon to reel back with a pained roar.In one fluid motion, Meredith nocked a spirit arrow, her movements swift and instinctual. She raised her bow, the string pulled taut as her breath stilled.With a fierce swoop of her arm, the arrow flew, streaking like a comet through the chaos. It struck true, driving deep into Malachel's shoulder.He staggered, his expression twisting in pain before his gaze snapped to her, seething with contempt. Despite the wound, his sneer returned, as though daring her to try again."A princess with a bow," he said, his tone dripping with mockery. "Is this how your lineage ends? Playing soldier?"Malachel raised his blade, its radiance blinding as he prepared to strike. Gabriel intercepted him with a desperate swing of his sword, their weapons colliding in a shower of sparks."Stay focused!" Gabriel shouted, though his voice was strained from the pain in his side.Malachel turned on Gabriel with a ferocious strike that sent him sprawling to the ground, his sword knocked from his grasp.The angel then loomed over Meredith, ready to deal a killing blow. Meredith, her heart pounding, instinctively raised her bow, bracing for the inevitable.As Malachel's sword descended, a burst of pink light erupted from Meredith's bow, enveloping her in a radiant magical shield.The faint scent of roses filled the air as translucent petals swirled within the barrier, their soft glow defying the violent strike. The impact reverberated through the shield, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield, but the barrier held strong, its beauty masking an unyielding power.The unexpected defense stunned Malachel, his momentary hesitation giving Meredith the opening she needed. Fueled by a surge of resolve, she adjusted her grip on the bow, her fingers crackling with the energy of Fresia's lingering magic.With a cry of defiance, she nocked a glowing arrow, aimed at Malachel's chest, and loosed it. The projectile flew true, piercing through his golden armor and embedding itself deep within him.Malachel staggered, his once-commanding form faltering as the arrow's magic surged through him. He clutched at his chest, blood seeping between his fingers, his radiant glow dimming with each labored breath. His golden eyes, filled with defiance, flickered like a dying flame."You fought well," he admitted, his voice a strained whisper laced with reluctant respect. The anger in his tone remained, but it was tinged with something almost vulnerable—a grudging acknowledgment of the mortal who had dared to challenge him.He dropped to his knees, his sword clattering to the ground, the sound echoing hollowly amidst the battlefield's chaos. His wings, once resplendent, began to fray at the edges, dissolving into wisps of light. His gaze lingered on Meredith for a fleeting moment before his form collapsed entirely.A brilliant burst of light erupted from his body, consuming his once-mighty figure. The battlefield seemed to hold its breath as the radiance expanded, illuminating every corner with an intensity that forced those nearby to shield their eyes.When the light faded, only a faint shimmer of celestial dust remained, swirling gently on the air before dissipating into the heavens.Above the battlefield, Fresia's soul emerged, an ethereal figure swirling with soft, pink luminescence. She hovered above Meredith, her presence imbued with a mix of sorrow and triumph, her magic lingering in the air like a final act of grace.Meredith stared in awe, her breath catching as the glowing figure took shape."Fresia..." she whispered, her voice breaking.The soul descended, her gaze full of affection and quiet resolve. Fresia leaned closer, her ethereal form brushing against Meredith's. The warmth of her presence was almost tangible as she pressed a soft, fleeting kiss to Meredith —a goodbye that conveyed everything words could not.Meredith dropped to her knees, her chest heaving as she watched Fresia's soul dissipate into the sky.Behind her, Gabriel stumbled to his feet, clutching his side as he steadied himself. Roderic lowered his massive head, his injured flank rising and falling with labored breaths.Meredith's breath hitched. The weight of everything—Fresia's death, Roderic's transformation, her parents' sacrifice, the unbearable carnage of war—descended on her like a tidal wave. Her knees buckled, and she fell to the earth, the bow slipping from her grasp."I—" she started, but her voice broke. A sob tore through her, raw and unrestrained, shaking her entire frame.Gabriel was there in an instant, his arms wrapping around her. He didn't speak; he didn't need to. His presence anchored her as the dam she had built inside herself finally gave way.Tears streamed down her face as she clutched at him, her sobs wrenching free every ounce of pain she had bottled up."I couldn't save her," she cried, her voice muffled against Gabriel's chest. "I couldn't save any of them. Roderic, my parents, Fresia... they're all gone, Gabriel. And I'm still here. Why am I still here?"Gabriel's arms tightened around her, his voice steady, though laced with his own grief. "Because you're meant to be. Because Pyria still needs you. And because they believed in you."Meredith shook her head, her tears soaking his tunic. "It's too much... It's all too much."Gabriel tilted her chin up gently, his golden eyes meeting hers. "You don't have to carry it alone," he said softly. "Lean on me, Meredith. Let me help you."For the first time, Meredith didn't argue or resist. She leaned fully into his embrace, letting the grief flow freely.Around them, the battlefield moved on, but in that moment, for Meredith, time stood still. Through the haze of her grief, Meredith faintly heard Victoria's voice calling her name, desperate and searching.---Dragons circling in defiance even as Elyon, now a colossal figure of divine might, unleashed waves of blinding energy.The radiant shockwaves scattered the dragons, their formation breaking as Elyon's laughter echoed through the heavens—a sound that was both triumph and judgment."Futile," Elyon spat, his voice echoing with disdain. "Your efforts amount to nothing."Amid the turmoil, Raphael and Adriel hovered side by side, their glowing forms defiant against the overwhelming radiance. Their eyes met in silent understanding, a shared purpose that transcended words."This is where it ends," Raphael declared, his wings igniting in a brilliant, otherworldly light.Without hesitation, the two angels surged forward, streaks of celestial fire cutting through the battlefield.Their light intensified with each beat of their wings, an ever-expanding brilliance that seemed to challenge the very heavens.The dragons, as if emboldened by their resolve, rallied and resumed their assault, their fire and claws battering Elyon's golden shield."Vain! All in Vain!" Elyon's colossal form trembled with unleashed power as he raised his arms, a thunderous cry reverberating across the heavens.In a moment that felt suspended in time, Raphael and Adriel surged forward, their forms doubling with radiant energy. Though not as colossal as Elyon's towering figure, their glowing frames swelled with an undeniable power, their wings spreading wide, each feather a burning fragment of celestial resolve.Elyon, sensing the impending collision, let out a thunderous roar that shook the battlefield below. His immense wings flared, a radiant canopy of divine might, thrashing violently as he attempted to shield himself.The two angels pressed forward, unyielding. Raphael and Adriel closed the distance, their wings blazing with celestial light. Elyon, massive and defiant, thrashed violently.Raphael wrapped his arms around Elyon's colossal form, his grip firm but not cruel. Adriel joined him, their embrace encasing Elyon in a moment that transcended rage—a bittersweet acknowledgment of their shared origin. Raphael's gaze softened, a flicker of sorrow crossing his face."For all that you were, and all that you've become," Raphael whispered, his voice steady and mournful.He leaned in, pressing his lips to Elyon's in a kiss that carried centuries of devotion and one moment of defiance.The detonation came without hesitation, their combined essence igniting in a cataclysmic explosion. The heavens erupted in a conflagration so immense it tore through the fabric of the sky, a dazzling inferno that seemed to shatter existence itself.The light consumed everything in its reach, leaving behind only echoes of their final stand—a moment of destruction that carried with it the weight of liberation.On the battlefield below, mortals shielded their eyes, their hearts trembling at the sheer magnitude of power unleashed above. The shockwave rippled outward, uprooting trees and leveling hills.For a moment, silence reigned, save for the lingering hum of dissipating power as the heavens were forever altered by the sacrifice.When the radiance faded, Elyon was gone.The titanic form, the mocking voice, the oppressive presence—all that remained was a faint shimmer of golden dust drifting in the air, like the remnants of a dying star.Gabriel stood beside Meredith, his gaze fixed on the shimmering dust. His mouth opened as if to speak, but no words came.The sheer magnitude of what had just transpired left him awestruck, his mortal form trembling as he gripped his sword for balance. The once-angel, now bound to earth, looked to the heavens with a mixture of reverence and disbelief, his golden eyes dimmed but still wide with wonder.On the ground, Meredith stood frozen, her bow still faintly glowing with the essence of Fresia's magic."Is it over?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, laden with exhaustion and disbelief.As the battlefield hung in stunned silence, a figure emerged from the shadows of the heavens.Cassiel descended slowly, his presence calm yet commanding. His silver wings, pristine and majestic, caught the faint light as he landed with quiet grace. His face was serene, his golden eyes reflecting both sorrow and resolve.In his hand, he held the dragonstone amulet. Amid the chaos of the final clash, Raphael had hurled the dragonstone amulet toward him, and now it rested securely in Cassiel's grasp.Cassiel turned the amulet over in his hand, his gaze heavy with contemplation. The battlefield, both mortal and celestial, seemed frozen in time as all eyes fixed on him. The amulet, the artifact that had bound countless lives to Elyon's will, pulsed one final time as if in protest."This power shall enslave no more." Cassiel's voice, deep and resonant, cut through the stillness.He gripped the amulet tightly. For a moment, the battlefield was bathed in its golden light as the object resisted.Then, with a decisive motion, Cassiel crushed it. The dragonstone shattered, its pieces crumbling into glittering dust that dissolved into the air. A wave of radiant energy exploded outward, illuminating the battlefield in a resplendent glow that turned night into day.As the dust of the amulet scattered into the heavens, the dragons hovering above began to shimmer. Their roars of defiance turned into low, confused hums as their forms were enveloped in celestial light.One by one, they descended, their scales dissolving into golden mist that swirled and reshaped. When the light faded, humans stood where dragons had been, disoriented and trembling.Amid the transformed crowd, a familiar figure stumbled forward, his human form scarred but unmistakable."Roderic!" Meredith's voice cracked, her bow slipping from her fingers as she ran toward him.Roderic, disoriented but alive, turned at her call. Before he could react, Meredith threw her arms around him, sobbing into his shoulder."You're here," she cried, her voice thick with overwhelming relief. "You're back."Roderic, though still dazed, managed a weak but genuine smile. "I guess I am."Gabriel stood nearby, his mortal heart hammering in his chest as he watched the scene unfold. His golden eyes, now human in their depth, held an awe he could not put into words.He looked to the newly anointed Cassiel, who remained calm and steady amidst the chaos, and then back to Roderic and Meredith, her tears of joy a rare beacon of hope in the wake of so much loss.Meredith pulled back slightly, her hands gripping Roderic's shoulders as if to assure herself he was real. She exhaled a shaky breath, her voice trembling yet resolute."We're free," she whispered, the weight of the moment crashing over her, a mix of grief and elation coursing through her.Gabriel moved closer, placing a hand gently on Meredith's back."We are," he said softly, his own voice carrying the weight of the battles they had fought and the losses they had endured.Cassiel stood silently, his gaze sweeping over the gathered mortals and angels alike. There was no triumph in his expression, only calm resolution. His presence radiated authority and compassion, commanding attention without force.The remaining angels, leaderless and battered, turned their gazes toward him.One by one, they lowered their weapons, their celestial forms bowing in silent acknowledgment of the new Lord. A ripple of acceptance passed through their ranks, like a wave of surrender to a higher purpose.