The black pillar of energy vanished into the sky, leaving a deafening silence in its wake. The oppressive, malevolent aura that had crushed the forest was gone.
The thing that had been Balzureth, the demon that had worn their friend's face, was gone. Marius Strigoi lay on the ground, his body still and lifeless, the gaping wounds no longer closing. He was finally at peace.
Liora, the goddess, stood in the center of the carnage. Her gaze swept over the scene. She saw the Headmaster's broken body, the headless corpse of the loyal butler, Sebastian.
Her eyes then fell upon Celestria, lying helpless in a growing pool of her own blood, her hand a mangled ruin.
Finally, she looked at Azrael. The power from his Limit Break had faded, leaving him a bruised, bloodied mess, unable to even stand. He was on his hands and knees, the steel cuffs still hanging loosely from one wrist. Tears came to the goddess's eyes.
