The Gray Realm was tearing apart, the blood moon shattering into countless fragments that fell, incinerating the earth. The Shattered Moon King's roar shook the heavens; Its tentacles swept across like mountains, the Soul-Scorching Ring.
Lucian and Elea were shrouded in flames, like the twin shadows of a phoenix and a flame-wreathed knight. Their ragged breaths overlapped, chests pressed close, souls and bodies fully merged.
Elea's voice was hoarse yet fearless: "He… is about to break through our ring…"
Lucian replied in a low voice, his lips trailing along her neck, his tone deep: "Then let us—burn even brighter."
His kisses moved from her neck to her chest, flames blooming across her skin. She couldn't help but moan, arms looping around his neck, fingertips sinking into his hair. Soul fire and blood fire intertwined, their desire transforming into blazing energy within the pact.
Boom—
The Soul-Scorching Ring expanded again, fully binding half of the Shattered Moon King's body. Its tentacles charred and crumbled in the flames, letting out a deafening howl.
Elea's body trembled under the dual impact of pleasure and pain, tears mixing with sweat as they streamed down her cheeks. Yet she lifted her gaze to meet Lucian's: "More… stronger… I can bear it."
Lucian's eyes burned; he,fully merging with her, as if pouring all his soul and power into her body.
Their moans and gasps echoed amid the Gray Realm's roar. The soul-scorching fire blazed hotter with their union, transforming into a gigantic soul-flame phoenix that soared from the altar into the sky.
The Shattered Moon King roared, Its eyes shattering one after another, a storm of blood-red light rain pouring down. Its voice, laced with pain and fury, thundered:
"Your desire… will destroy you yourselves!"
"Then let desire destroy you!" Elea screamed in response, arms tightening around Lucian as flames erupted suddenly from her chest, forming the final Soul-Scorching Ring.
In the instant the ring expanded, the Shattered Moon King's massive illusory form was violently torn apart. Its roar shook the entire Gray Realm. Yet the Soul-Scorching Ring continued to devour until only shards of light remained of Its figure.
A brief silence fell over the Gray Realm. The blood moon's light faded, and the cracks began to close.
Elea leaned weakly in Lucian's arms, her breathing still unsteady, her body trembling from overburning. She raised a hand to brush his face, her voice barely a whisper: "Have we… won?"
Lucian held her tightly, his lips pressing to her sweat-damp forehead, murmuring: "No matter the outcome, you will always be my queen."
Their embracing figures, amid the remaining flames of the Gray Realm, were like the last spark of fire.