The shattered Court is still smoking from the fall of the Judge of War Kael leans against Yuna pale but conscious while Ryo looks upward The ceiling of the Infinite Court is gone replaced by a sky of burning constellations From that endless sky descends the Judge of Heaven.
Judge of Heaven: Children anomalies look upon me and despair.
Kael: shielding his eyes Damn he is he is massiveThat is not just a Judge it is like a whole sky fell down.
Yuna: voice trembling No Look closer Those stars on his wings they are not stars They are souls.
The Judge of Heaven unfolds his wings each feather a shining world each star a bound spirit His body is radiant gold crowned with halos stacked endlessly above his head His voice booms like a choir of universes.
Judge of Heaven: I am the law above laws I am judgment made perfect I am the throne of purity Kneel or be struck from creation.
Kael: snarling despite his wounds
Yeah How about you kneel instead?
Yuna: panicking grabbing Kael arm
Kael stop This is not like the othersTime and Silence were terrifying War nearly killed you but this one this one feels untouchable.
Kael: gritting his teeth Untouchable huh Then I will just touch harder.
Ryo: calmly stepping forward HeavenYour authority is built on light and belief You shine because others look up But what happens when there is one who stands above you?
Judge of Heaven: Insolence None stand above heaven Not gods not kings not anomalies I am the crown that crowns all.
Rays of divine fire rain from his wings each one a burning world crashing into the Court Kael and Yuna dive aside as the ground splits rivers of golden fire spreading The sound of choirs fills the air each note heavy enough to crush stone.
Kael: rolling across the floor coughing Damn it He is trying to burn us alive with holy fire!
Yuna: throwing up barriers of ice These flames are not ordinary they are burning my magic itself!
Judge of Heaven: Purity cleanses impurity All that is lesser must vanish.
Kael: angrily Then screw your purity
He charges fist glowing and leaps toward the Judge But a single flicker of light swats him away like an insect slamming him into the wall He crumples coughing blood.
Yuna: Kael!
Judge of Heaven: Mortals cannot touch heaven.
Ryo walks forward the divine fire splitting around him like water His shadow stretches higher and higher as if refusing to bow even to the blazing sky.
Ryo: Heaven shines But it shines only because darkness allows it Without shadow your light has no meaning.
Judge of Heaven: snarling I require no shadow I am eternal radiance!
Ryo: Then I will show you a truth your light cannot reach.
The Judge roars spreading his wings wide The souls in his feathers scream in unison unleashing beams of judgment brighter than supernovas The Infinite Court quakes its stones melting under the brilliance.
Kael: shielding his eyes barely able to look
Ryo he is going to obliterate everything!
Yuna: crying out Ryo!
Ryo lifts his hand His voice is calm his words soft but they cut through the divine noise.
Ryo: I am.
The light shatters The beams of judgment break apart like glass The souls trapped in the Judge wings are freed scattering into the void like gentle sparks The Judge staggers his golden form dimming.
Judge of Heaven: No no This cannot be no one can deny heaven!
Ryo: Heaven exists because someone believes in it I exist without belief I am beyond your throne.
Judge of Heaven: screaming
BLASPHEMY!
He descends in fury his colossal hand reaching for Ryo like a falling sun Ryo does not move The hand strikes and stops The Judge fingers crumble to dust upon touching Ryo shoulder.
Ryo: Your judgment ends here.
He raises his gaze His eyes blaze brighter than the Judge halos The divine fire recoils the sky itself darkening as his will asserts dominance With a single step forward the Judge of Heaven collapses his body splitting into streams of fading light.
Judge of Heaven: voice breaking
If heaven falls what remains?
Ryo: Me.
The Judge of Heaven explodes into silence The burning skies vanish The Court returns cracked and trembling but standing Kael and Yuna stare at Ryo awe and fear in their eyes.
Kael: panting clutching his wounds That is fourTime Silence War and Heaven You make it look easy Ryo.
Yuna: whispering shaken No not easy.Absolute.
Ryo stands tall his shadow stretching across the ruined Court Above more presences stir their voices rumbling like thunder The next Judge is awakening.
Ryo: quietly Let them come.