◇◇◇
Caelum's sword burned with divine flames, his aura flaring wildly. His breathing was ragged, his body on the verge of collapse, but he refused to fall.
Leonhardt, standing calmly, cracked his neck. "Still fighting? You should know when to give up."
Caelum ignored him. He gripped his sword tighter and charged.
FWOOOSH!
With blinding speed, he swung his blade, unleashing a crescent arc of holy fire. The ground scorched, the air trembled—this was his strongest attack.
Leonhardt smirked.
"Not bad."
But in the next instant—
CRACK!
He shattered the attack with a single punch.
Caelum's eyes widened. Impossible.
Leonhardt vanished.
And before Caelum could react—
BAM!
A brutal fist smashed into his chest.
"GUH—!!"
His ribs cracked. Blood splattered from his mouth. His vision blurred.
He was falling.
Leonhardt grabbed his collar, preventing him from collapsing. "Don't pass out yet. We're not done."
CRACK!
Another punch.
CRACK!
And another.
Caelum coughed violently. His body screamed in agony. His mind begged for rest.
But he refused to let go.
"I… won't… lose…!"
Leonhardt scoffed. "You already have."
◇◇◇
Aetheris lay on the ground, its celestial wings trembling. The once-proud griffin struggled to stand, divine energy flickering weakly.
But Ironhorn—stood tall.
Its indomitable form radiated supreme power. Its massive horn gleamed with raw, primal might.
The battlefield was silent.
Everyone watching knew.
Aetheris had lost.
Caelum saw it. His partner—his closest companion—defeated.
His heart cracked. His spirit wavered.
No… this can't be…
Leonhardt smirked. "Your beast is down. Your body is broken. What will you do now, Hero?"
Caelum's breath hitched.
His mind screamed at him to surrender. To stop fighting.
But—
He thought of Evelyn.
Of her warm smile. Her gentle touch.
I… I have to protect her…
He forced his broken body to move. One last attack.
Leonhardt sighed. "Still going? Alright."
Celestia, still watching, licked her lips. "Fufu~ End it, Darling~"
Leonhardt nodded. "Fine."
Caelum lunged, sword raised high—
But before he could swing—
THUD.
Leonhardt's fist sank into his gut.
Caelum's eyes widened. His body froze.
"…Oh."
CRACK.
His sword slipped from his grasp.
THUD.
His knees buckled.
His vision faded.
And then—darkness.
◇◇◇
Leonhardt let go, watching as Caelum's body collapsed into the dirt.
He wasn't dead.
But he would never stand again.
Celestia clapped excitedly. "Kyahahaha~ Another hero falls! Ahh~ Darling, you're too cruel~"
Leonhardt exhaled, dusting off his hands. "That was disappointing."
He turned his gaze toward the enemy forces—who were now trembling in absolute terror.
The last hero had fallen.
The war was over.