The world trembled.
Not from earthquakes or storms, but from the footsteps of angels descending from Heaven.
The sky over the North split open like glass, revealing a rift of blinding light. From it, divine legions poured forth — countless, winged, and radiant. Their armor gleamed like molten silver, their weapons hummed with holy fire.
The sound was deafening — a celestial choir of war.
And at their head floated a Seraph in golden armor, his six wings spanning the horizon. His voice rolled like thunder.
"By the decree of the Celestial Emperor Seraphion, the mortal realm is condemned. Kneel, sinners, and your deaths shall be swift."
The people of the North — soldiers, mages, beastmen, elves — gazed upward in awe and terror.
Then, from the highest tower of Wolf Fang Citadel, a flame rose into the heavens — crimson and gold.
"I will kneel to no god."
Arden's voice rang across the frozen plain.
Arden stepped out onto the citadel wall, his cloak snapping in the storm. Around him, his commanders stood ready — Celestia, her divine wings half-spread in defiance; Lyria, cloaked in shadow; Ryn, Kael, Elara, and the captains of the North.
"All of you know what's coming," Arden said. "They call us sinners, rebels, mortals unworthy of their sky."
His hand rose, summoning a blazing spear of Qi and divine fire.
"Then let them choke on our unworthiness."
The soldiers roared. Drums thundered. Horns blared across the icy valleys.
Thousands of martial warriors ignited their Qi, golden and red. Wolf riders mounted their massive direwolves, their armor glowing with runic light.
The North — once frozen and silent — erupted like a volcano.
Arden raised his sword to the sky.
"Archers! Fire!"
A thousand arrows streaked upward, bursting into flames midair, forming a blazing storm that met the descending angels.
The sky exploded in light.
The first wave of angels descended like meteors. Their radiant blades cut through the storm — but met resistance they hadn't expected.
Martial warriors spun through the air, striking with Qi so condensed it shattered divine steel.
Kael leapt from his wolf, his twin gauntlets blazing. He struck an angel mid-flight, breaking its wings with a single blow.
"How's that for divine grace!" he shouted, laughing amid the chaos.
Ryn disappeared into shadow, reappearing behind a Seraph, her blade slicing through his neck.
Elara's arrows rained from above, each one piercing holy barriers as if they were paper.
And Celestia — her wings flaring gold — rose into the sky, meeting her brethren head-on.
"If Heaven wants war," she shouted, "then Heaven shall bleed!"
Her sword met the Seraph commander's, light against light, the heavens quaking from the impact.
On the ground, Arden moved like a storm given form. His Qi roared through his veins, mingling with divine energy until the air itself shimmered around him.
He cut through angelic ranks with precision — one strike, one death. His blade, Heavenbreaker, sang with fury.
A spear of holy light shot toward him — he caught it with his bare hand, crushed it, and hurled the fragments back into the sky.
"You wield Heaven's fire," one angel gasped. "How—?"
Arden's eyes blazed gold.
"Because it was mine first."
He unleashed his Qi, and the ground split apart. Flames of pure martial will erupted, swallowing a dozen angels whole.
Above him, Celestia faltered mid-battle — stunned by the sight. His aura wasn't just mortal anymore. It resonated with the same power as the divine.
"He's transcending…" she whispered.
The battle raged for hours, until the heavens themselves began to fracture.Each blow between Arden and the Seraph commander sent shockwaves that tore through the clouds.
Finally, they clashed in midair — Heavenbreaker meeting the Seraph's halberd in an explosion of light.
Arden shouted, his voice raw with fury.
"Tell your Emperor — the North bows to no god!"
He twisted his sword, breaking the halberd, then drove his fist into the Seraph's chest.
The angel screamed as divine light burst from within, then disintegrated into dust.
For a moment, silence.
Then — the heavens burned crimson.
The rift above collapsed, sending divine fire raining down upon the battlefield. Celestia dove to shield the wounded, her wings darkened by soot.
Arden stood in the storm of light, his clothes torn, blood dripping down his face — and raised his sword high.
"The first city of Heaven falls today!"
The soldiers of the North roared his name.
"AR-DEN! AR-DEN! AR-DEN!"
The chant rose like thunder.
By dawn, the battlefield was a wasteland of light and ash. The snow had melted into steam. Angels lay shattered among the ruins, their wings dissolving into mist.
Arden walked among the fallen, silent. For all his fury, his eyes held sorrow.
"So many lives lost," he murmured. "Even the divine ones."
Celestia approached, her armor scorched, eyes dim.
"They chose this path," she said softly. "You gave them the choice to stand down."
Arden nodded slowly. "And Heaven will not forgive that mercy."
Lyria appeared beside them, her cloak tattered. "The Emperor will respond. This was only the first army."
Arden looked northward, where the black aurora still shimmered faintly.
"Then let him come."
He turned to his people, his voice echoing across the smoldering plains.
"We will rebuild. We will rise stronger. And when Heaven sends their legions again…"
He clenched his fist, flames swirling around him.
"We will burn their sky."
High in the Celestial Throne, Emperor Seraphion watched through the mirror of light.He saw his fallen armies, his broken commanders — and the mortal who now wielded divine flame.
"So," he murmured, his tone calm but dangerous. "The First Flame has awakened."
He stood, spreading his twelve wings.
"Then I shall descend myself."
Lightning split the heavens.