The morning after the battle was eerily still.
The once-white fields surrounding Wolf Fang Citadel were now a wasteland of scorched snow and broken wings. The air still shimmered faintly with remnants of divine energy — unstable, volatile.
Arden stood before the war council table, his cloak torn, eyes shadowed with exhaustion. Around him gathered the leaders of the North: Lirian, the Elf Ranger-General; Einar Frostborn, chief of the northern tribes; Captain Rayne, commander of the Direwolf Cavalry; and Celestia, the fallen goddess herself, silent at his side.
On the table lay a single black feather.
It pulsed faintly, beating like a heart.
"They were just scouts," Arden said coldly. "Whoever sent them is watching."
Einar slammed his fist on the table. "Then we strike first! Burn the forest, hunt the skies—"
"—And waste our strength before the real battle begins?" Arden cut him off. "No. This isn't a war of soldiers. It's divine corruption. We need to strike at its source."
Celestia looked up, her golden hair dim under the lamplight. "I know who leads them."
Everyone turned to her.
"Her name was Seraphine, the Seventh Choir's Blade. Once, she was Heaven's greatest warrior… and my sister."
The room went silent.
Outside, as night fell again, Celestia stood alone in the snow. The northern wind tangled her hair as she looked toward the east — where the crimson cracks in the sky glowed faintly.
"You should be resting," said Arden, approaching quietly.
Celestia smiled faintly. "I can't rest. Not while she's out there."
He folded his arms, watching her. "You said she was your sister. By blood?"
"By creation," Celestia replied softly. "Seraphine and I were forged from the same divine essence. She embodied judgment; I embodied mercy. We were meant to balance one another. But when Heaven fell silent… she lost herself to wrath."
"And now she's leading the Fallen," Arden said grimly.
Celestia nodded. "Her power exceeds mine. She could level this citadel with a single hymn."
Arden smirked slightly. "Then I'll just have to sing louder."
She gave him a look — half exasperation, half admiration. "You're reckless."
"Reckless works," he said, turning back toward the citadel. "Get ready. At dawn, we hunt a seraph."
At first light, the North moved.
Columns of soldiers marched through the snow, banners fluttering with the sigil of the Northern Wolf. Direwolves howled, their riders armored in froststeel.
Ahead of them, Celestia and Lirian rode beside Arden, leading the vanguard toward the eastern mountains — where crimson light bled from a wound in the sky.
As they drew closer, the ground itself changed — snow giving way to glassy ice, and then to charred soil that pulsed faintly, alive with corrupted mana.
The air hummed, heavy and divine.
"We're close," Celestia whispered.
Suddenly, the ground split apart. From the fissure rose massive wings — black and silver, each feather dripping light.
And between them, a figure descended.
She was beautiful — unbearably so. Her silver hair flowed like liquid moonlight, her armor gleaming like crystal, her halo fractured into jagged shards that spun around her head.
But her eyes burned red.
"Celestia," she spoke, voice echoing like a choir. "You betrayed Heaven. You sided with the mortal filth. Now you will die among them."
Celestia stepped forward, trembling. "Seraphine, please—! The Voice is gone! Heaven is broken! We don't have to—"
"Silence."
A wave of divine pressure slammed into the ground, scattering soldiers like leaves. Even Arden slid back a step, boots digging into the dirt.
Lirian's bow bent under the force. "By the stars—she's suppressing the entire field!"
Arden's aura flared golden. "Not for long."
He moved first.
Heavenbreaker sang as it left its sheath, its edge gleaming with golden Qi. Seraphine raised her blade — a weapon forged of pure divine light — and the two forces collided with an explosion that split the clouds.
The shockwave flattened trees, sending soldiers sprawling.
Celestia raised her staff, creating a barrier around the army. "Stay back! Her presence alone can burn your souls!"
Arden didn't stop. He parried, countered, moved like lightning — but Seraphine was faster, her every strike backed by the fury of Heaven itself.
"You are unworthy of divinity," she hissed. "A mortal dares wield divine flame?"
Arden grinned, eyes blazing. "I'm not divine. I'm worse."
His aura flared brighter, a sunburst of Qi that shattered the ice beneath them.
"Heavenbreaker Art: Solar Reign!"
Golden pillars of energy erupted skyward, meeting Seraphine's divine beams head-on. The collision turned the world white — for a moment, heaven and earth became indistinguishable.
When the light faded, both stood panting, blood staining the snow.
Seraphine's expression twisted — not in anger, but in disbelief. "Impossible… You shouldn't be able to harm me."
Arden smirked. "Then maybe Heaven needs to update its rulebook."
Celestia stepped forward, tears in her eyes. "Seraphine! Please! I don't want to fight you!"
But her sister only raised her blade again. "Then die."
Before the strike could fall, Arden appeared between them, blocking the blow. The divine sword screeched against Heavenbreaker.
"You want her?" Arden growled. "You'll have to go through me."
Seraphine's eyes narrowed. "Then so be it."
She spread her wings — and the sky itself split open, revealing countless shadows above. Fallen angels, drawn by her wrath.
The ground trembled.
Arden's eyes hardened. "So… round two already?"
Celestia whispered beside him, voice shaking but resolute. "We fight together."
He gave her a fierce grin. "Then let's end this divine farce."