◇◇◇
The once-chaotic battlefield had turned eerily silent. The moment Caelum collapsed, the remaining hero faction soldiers dropped their weapons.
Their strongest warrior—defeated. Their divine beast—broken.
It was over.
Leonhardt stood tall, his crimson eyes surveying the battlefield. Blood and dirt stained his coat, but his expression remained cold and composed.
"Hmph. I expected more."
Ironhorn snorted, stamping the ground. The mighty beast looked down at Aetheris, who lay unconscious, wings twitching weakly.
Celestia stretched her arms, letting out a pleased sigh. "Mmm~ Another hero crushed under our feet. I never get tired of seeing this." She turned toward Leonhardt, her violet eyes gleaming with amusement. "So, Darling~ What do we do with him?"
She gestured toward Caelum's broken form.
The so-called hero barely clung to life, his breath ragged, his body unresponsive.
Leonhardt stepped forward. His boots crunched against the dirt as he stood over Caelum's fallen figure.
"Kill him."
His voice was cold. Absolute.
The soldiers of the hero faction gasped.
"N-No…! Spare him!" one of them begged.
"He fought with honor!"
"Please… have mercy…!"
Leonhardt narrowed his eyes.
Mercy?
Did they show mercy when they slaughtered Valtara warriors? Did they hesitate when they tried to destroy his family?
No.
He raised his foot—preparing to crush Caelum's skull.
But then—
"Wait."
A soft voice interrupted him.
◇◇◇
Leonhardt turned his head.
Evelyn Astralis stood there, her fists clenched. Her blue eyes trembled, but she didn't look away.
"Leonhardt…" she whispered. "Please don't."
Celestia frowned. "Tch. What's this, Evelyn? Do you still care about that broken hero?"
Evelyn flinched. "I…"
She looked down at Caelum's battered body.
He wasn't just a hero. He wasn't just a soldier.
He was… someone who once fought for her.
She bit her lip.
"I know he's lost. I know he's weak now." She turned to Leonhardt, her voice firm. "But killing him like this… it's meaningless."
Leonhardt tilted his head. "Meaningless?"
Evelyn stepped forward. "He has nothing left. No army. No strength. No hope. Killing him now… it's not victory. It's just cruelty."
Leonhardt went silent.
Celestia scoffed. "So what? He'd kill you if the roles were reversed."
Evelyn took a deep breath. "But we're not them."
Leonhardt stared at her. His expression unreadable.
Then—he sighed.
"Fine."
He turned away. "Let him live."
The soldiers of the hero faction collapsed in relief.
Celestia pouted. "Booo~ Darling, you're too soft sometimes."
Leonhardt smirked slightly. "No. I just know something better than death."
He looked at Caelum's broken form one last time.
A defeated hero is worse than a dead one.
◇◇◇
With the last hero fallen, the remaining forces surrendered.
The war was finally over.
Leonhardt Valtara had won.
And the world—would never be the same again.