The Scarlet Realm collapsed like shattered glass, crimson light dissolving into the air and the onlookers blinked as reality stabilised, their trembling bodies unsure if the nightmare had truly ended.
And there—two broken, grotesque corpses slumped on the white stone ground.Their ribcages split wide, organs mangled, faces unrecognisable—but the torn white suits and shattered bubble helmets revealed the truth.
The Celestial Dragons.
For a moment, silence ruled.
Even the wind seemed to halt and the crowd—slaves and onlookers alike—stared in disbelief.
Eyes wide, chains rattling, mouths agape.
Then Rin wrinkled her nose, covering her mouth with a hand."Ew… so gross." She looked away sharply, gagging.
Gojo smirked despite the blood-soaked scene, hands tucked into his pockets."Well, I'd say they look better this way. Guess money really can't buy looks after all."
Kaguya's pale eyes swept the corpses without emotion,"Such fragile things… for all their arrogance."
The silence cracked as a trembling voice shouted from the crowd:"—N-no way! A Celestial Dragon… no—two Celestial Dragons have been killed!"
Panic spread like wildfire.Another shrieked, "We're all gonna die! The Marines will come! The Admirals—"
An old man collapsed to his knees before Radahn's towering frame, tears mixing with grime."Young ones… you're so young… please, run while you still can."
But no one moved.
Then, among the kneeling, a small figure broke free.
A girl, no older than twelve, her bindings half-torn from the collapse, sprinted across the stones. She stumbled, fell, and clawed her way forward—towards a bloodied man lying motionless.
"Otou-san!" Her sobs pierced the still air.
She shook his arm desperately."Please… wake up! Wake up, please!"
The man stirred faintly, eyes half-closed.
With trembling effort, he raised a shredded, blood-soaked hand to touch her cheek."D…don't cry… Dad's… going to meet your mother soon… so please… s-stay good… my little one…"
His voice faded as her tears fell onto his face.
Rin's expression softened.
She stepped forward, crouching beside them.
Her hands formed a gentle prayer seal as she whispered something inaudible.
Golden light blossomed.Particles of starlight scattered like fireflies, converging on the ground.
"Erdtree Heal."
From beneath the stones and rocky ground, a miniature Erdtree sprouted—barely five feet tall, yet radiating warmth that swept across the plaza.
Its branches pulsed with divine light, golden aura washing over the wounded.
The man gasped, his broken body knitting together, wounds sealing in radiant glow.
He blinked—and for the first time in years, tears spilled freely down his cheeks."I-I… what? Am I alive…?"
His daughter threw herself into his chest, crying with relief as he wrapped his arms around her.
The other slaves touched their own wounds—cuts, bruises, burns—all fading into nothingness. Chains rattled as they stumbled forward, bowing to Rin, tears streaming.
"Thank you! Thank you, benefactor!"
Rin smiled gently, her voice steady."Be safe."
Then she stood and walked back to her companions, her aura dimming as the Erdtree's glow settled into stillness.
The crowd had already dispersed, many fleeing in fear of what would follow.
But three remained.
They stepped forward, chains clinking.
A burly man with a scarred face, his neck bound in iron, stood with a woman and a small boy. They all bowed deeply.
"B-benefactor… please wait."
The trio turned.
"I—we thank you." His voice cracked.
"My name… is Clapp. The Celestial Dragon captured me… because I shared his name. He laughed as he made me and my family his plaything."
He raised his left arm, shackled and bruised.
"This is my wife, Lenny… and this… is my son, Kuma."
All three lowered their heads together. "We thank you… benefactors."
Radahn's towering hand rose slowly, golden light spilling from his fingers.
With a pulse, the chains shattered, clattering to the ground like dead snakes.
The group stared, their wrists free for the first time in years.
Their joy was muted by the sight of their small boy, Kuma, staring wide-eyed at Rin, Kaguya, Gojo, and Radahn.
The gods-who-walked-among-men turned to leave.
But then—
"Kuma!" Clapp called as the boy broke into a sprint.
He reached toward Radahn's group, eyes desperate, tears spilling.
Kuma dropped to his knees, fists pounding the ground.
His voice cracked with the last shreds of hope.
"P-please… SAVE THEM!"