The night before the storm was strangely beautiful.
The northern sky shimmered with streaks of gold and crimson, like veins of molten light carved into the heavens. Yet beneath the beauty lurked terror — a hum of divine power that made even seasoned warriors tremble in their armor.
Upon the walls of Wolf Fang Citadel, thousands of soldiers stood ready. Direwolves growled restlessly, sniffing the charged air. The banners of the North fluttered in the wind — a silver wolf against a field of black.
At the highest tower stood Arden, black armor gleaming faintly under the aurora. Beside him was Celestia, her divine presence restrained, eyes fixed on the horizon where the first signs of war shimmered like falling stars.
"They're here," she whispered.
The heavens split open.
A vast rift tore through the clouds, and from it poured golden fire.
Angelic hymns echoed through the air — pure, beautiful, and merciless. Columns of light struck the ground like divine lances, forming gateways through which countless winged figures emerged.
The Fourth Legion of Heaven had arrived.
Each angel bore armor of radiant gold, their wings edged with flame. At their head descended a towering figure — red-haired, crimson-winged, eyes burning like molten steel.
"I am Valion, Archseraph of Judgment," he declared, voice shaking the world. "By decree of the Celestial Emperor, I come to purge the mortal who defied Heaven."
His gaze locked onto Arden.
"Arden of the North… the false god. Kneel."
The air shuddered. Countless mortals fell to one knee involuntarily, crushed beneath divine pressure.
But Arden stood tall.
He lifted Heavenbreaker, the blade pulsing with golden Qi — defiance made steel.
"I don't kneel to corpses wearing halos."
The pressure shattered like glass.
Valion's eyes narrowed. "So be it."
The sky roared.
Valion's wings ignited, and he dove, sword blazing with holy flame. Arden met him midair, their blades colliding in a burst of gold and crimson. The impact sent shockwaves that flattened mountains and split the clouds apart.
Below, the battlefield erupted into chaos.
Lirian led the elven archers, her arrows cutting down angels midflight. Mira, the cat-girl martial artist, blurred through the ranks, her Qi-infused strikes tearing through divine armor. The priests invoked blessings, mages unleashed elemental storms, and direwolves lunged with fangs glowing from imbued Qi.
Still, Heaven's forces pressed forward, endless and radiant.
Celestia raised her staff, shouting over the din, "Formations! Focus on the fallen — they can bleed!"
But her gaze never left Arden.
High above, mortal and divine clashed as equals.
Valion's blade sliced the air, leaving trails of golden flame. Arden parried each blow with perfect precision, his Qi surging like a tide.
"You wield divine power," Valion growled. "Yet you blaspheme its source!"
"Power is only as holy as the hand that wields it," Arden snapped back. "And mine isn't bound by your sky!"
He spun, gathering light around him — a vortex of searing Qi.
"Heavenbreaker Art — Solar Edge!"
He slashed upward, sending a blade of pure sunlight crashing into Valion. The explosion illuminated the entire battlefield, blinding angels and men alike.
When the light faded, Valion emerged — armor cracked, expression murderous.
"Impressive," he admitted, blood of gold dripping from his lip. "But your flame burns borrowed. Let me extinguish it."
He spread his wings.
"Judgment Choir: Seventh Verse — Cleansing Flame of the Righteous!"
The sky became fire.
Thousands of angels began chanting in unison, their voices merging into a single overwhelming hymn. The sound pierced the soul, and from their song descended a rain of golden fire — not hot, but divine, burning not flesh but spirit.
Mortals screamed as their souls trembled. Even Arden felt his vision blur, the divine resonance clawing at his mind.
Celestia appeared behind him, hands glowing, wings flaring with light.
"Arden! Focus on my voice — anchor yourself!"
Her aura enveloped him, shielding his spirit from the song. Their powers intertwined once more — Qi and divinity merging into that impossible balance only they could achieve.
He opened his eyes.
"Time to silence the choir."
Arden gripped Heavenbreaker with both hands, channeling every ounce of Qi and divine flame he possessed. His armor began to crack, veins of light running through his body.
Celestia shouted, "Arden! That power will—"
He smiled. "Yeah. I know."
He leapt skyward, blazing like a second sun.
"Heavenbreaker Art: Solar Cataclysm!"
The world vanished in light.
A massive sphere of golden energy expanded outward, engulfing the angelic legions. Wings burned. Armor melted. The hymn shattered into screams.
Valion raised his sword, roaring in defiance. "You dare—!"
But Arden was already upon him.
Their blades met once more — and this time, Heavenbreaker split Valion's sword in half.
"Mortal will," Arden said through gritted teeth, "is the one thing your Heaven can never judge."
He drove his blade through Valion's chest.
The Archseraph's crimson wings burst into flames. For a moment, he stared at Arden — then smiled faintly.
"Perhaps… you truly are the balance…"
Then he dissolved into golden dust.
The light faded.
The skies above the North were empty — no angels, no hymns, only silence.
The soldiers below cheered, exhausted and bloodied but victorious.
Arden descended slowly, his armor cracked and steaming, eyes faintly glowing with golden flame. Celestia caught him before he collapsed.
"You fool," she whispered, tears in her eyes. "You keep burning yourself."
"And yet…" He smiled faintly. "The fire's still mine."
The dawn broke — pale, cold, and peaceful.
But even as sunlight washed over the North, Celestia looked up, sensing the distant tremor of divine fury.
"They'll come again," she murmured. "In greater numbers."
Arden's grip tightened on Heavenbreaker.
"Then we'll show them," he said, eyes blazing. "That mortals don't need Heaven's mercy."