The night had not ended.
Even as the monsters thinned in number, Alexandria still screamed. Streets cracked beneath claw and fang, the sky trembled beneath the clash of titans, and every corner of the city still fought to survive. Above it all, Bahamut's roars rolled through the heavens, answered only by the shattering wings of Alexander as the Guardian of Light struggled to shield the castle.
Yet in the streets below, five threads of destiny burned brightest, weaving themselves into the tapestry of Alexandria's desperate night.
---
Zack
His arms ached. His shoulders burned. But Zack Fair didn't stop swinging.
Every arc of his greatsword cut another monster from the cobblestones, his voice hoarse as he shouted at soldiers and civilians alike. "Stay behind me! Keep moving!"
The women of Alexandria obeyed without hesitation, their battered shields locking behind him as they pushed a line of civilians toward safety. Every time one faltered, Zack filled the gap, his grin flashing even as sweat stung his eyes.
A soldier stumbled beside him, shield split nearly in two. She cried out, her knees buckling.
Zack kicked a beast off its feet and crouched low, grabbing her shoulder. "Hey—look at me. You still breathing?"
Her wide eyes blinked, then she nodded, trembling.
"Good. Then stand. People still need you."
Her lips parted, no words coming at first, but then her chin lifted. She rose, raising her broken shield once more.
Zack turned back to the fight, his grin widening. Yeah… this is what I wanted. Not just to fight. To show them they can stand too.
Above him, Bahamut's shadow swept past, a reminder that the night was far from over.
---
Noctis
Warp-strike. Blink. Slash. Repeat.
Noctis's body felt like lead, every muscle screaming as he tore through monsters in flashes of steel and light. His weapons dissolved into sparks as soon as they struck, only to reappear in his grip an instant later. The rhythm was exhausting, but it was the only thing keeping the western quarter alive.
On a rooftop, a mother huddled with her son, watching wide-eyed as Noctis appeared and vanished like a phantom. Each time a beast tried to climb the walls, his blade was already there, cutting it loose before it could reach them.
The boy whispered, "Mama, he flies…"
Noctis didn't hear. His focus was locked on the next target, the next roar, the next set of claws glinting in the firelight.
Yet beneath the adrenaline, his mind drifted. He saw flashes of his throne, of his father's death, of his last stand against Ardyn. He remembered the weight of a crown too heavy for any one man.
And still, here he was—breathing, fighting, saving.
I couldn't save everyone back home… but tonight, I'll save who I can. That's enough.
His breath ragged, Noctis lifted his arm and hurled his blade. In a streak of light, he vanished, cutting down another monster before it could break through the shield wall.
---
Reks
The gate shook.
Reks's shield rattled against his arm as another monster slammed against him, teeth gnashing. His legs buckled, but he forced himself to plant his boots deeper into the stone. He could not move. If he fell, the gate would fall.
Behind him, soldiers pulled the wounded through, ushering children and elders past the crumbling arch. The line depended on him.
"Hold!" a knight cried, her voice near breaking.
Reks gritted his teeth. I will.
His breath came ragged, his body screaming, but still he raised his blade, still he met every strike. The beasts clawed, snarled, pressed with mindless fury. He pushed back with the weight of his will alone.
One soldier stumbled past him, glancing back with wide eyes. "You're… you're a wall."
Reks barked a short laugh, sweat streaking his brow. "Then stay behind it."
Blood seeped through a crack in his armor, but he refused to yield. His brother's face flashed in his mind. Vaan… I'll keep standing. For you.
The monsters howled, but the gate held.
---
Aerith
Her staff glowed with a gentle light, one far softer than the chaos around her.
Aerith knelt beside another soldier, her hand brushing the woman's arm as green light flowed from her palm. Broken bones knit. Torn flesh closed. The soldier gasped, eyes flooding with relief as she flexed her fingers.
"You're… you're a miracle."
Aerith smiled faintly, shaking her head. "No. Just giving you back what's already yours."
But each spell left her more drained. Her shoulders slumped, her arms heavy. Around her, dozens more still cried for help, soldiers clutching wounds, civilians sobbing over the fallen. She could not reach them all.
Her chest tightened. So many I can't save.
Then she felt a shadow fall over her.
"Don't carry it all, lass," Galuf's voice rumbled.
She looked up, meeting the old man's eyes. His grin was wide, his blade bloody, but his presence was steady as stone.
Aerith exhaled slowly, nodding. "Then let's carry it together."
---
Galuf
He laughed. Even in the darkest night, Galuf Halm Baldesion laughed.
Every swing of his sword was a booming defiance, every block a roar against despair. He kept his stance wide, guarding Aerith as she worked, his body a thorn wall against the tide.
"Come on, you ugly bastards!" he bellowed, cutting down two beasts at once. "You'll have to do better than that!"
Soldiers nearby steadied at his voice, their shields locking tighter, their lines firmer. They saw not just an old man but a fire that refused to go out.
One soldier whispered, "He fights like he has nothing to lose."
Another corrected softly, "No. He fights like he's already lost everything… and won't let us lose too."
Galuf grinned, sweat stinging his eyes. If I can be a wall, then let her be the healer. That's enough for me.
---
Sirius
From the shadows of a tower, Sirius watched it all. Through the trinket's link, he felt their exhaustion, their courage, their hearts refusing to break.
They've come so far already.
But then, something else tugged at his sight.
A thread.
It shimmered in the tapestry of fate, pulsing like a heartbeat, drawing his gaze to the castle. His breath caught.
"What is this…" he murmured.
And then, it happened.
---
The White Light
The ground shook. The air split.
From the very heart of Alexandria Castle, a blinding white light erupted, searing through smoke and shadow alike. It rose in a column, brighter than the moon, purer than flame, flooding every corner of the broken city.
The soldiers froze. Civilians gasped. Monsters recoiled as though struck.
The five chosen turned at once, their eyes wide, their breath catching.
And high above, Sirius's gaze narrowed, the reflection of the light burning in his eyes.
Together, the five members and Sirius saw it:
a white light rising from the castle's core,
piercing the heavens even as the battle still raged on.