Silence fell upon the ravaged Graveyard Forest.
The golden glow that once tore heavens apart faded, leaving faint motes of divine light drifting like dying fireflies. The earth still steamed, cracks glowing faint amber beneath the settling dust. Ruined gravestones lay shattered, trees turned to charcoal shadows, and the land seemed humbled — as though bowing to the will of a higher power.
At the center of it all, Shaurya lay motionless, blood pooling beneath him, divine aura flickering like the last ember refusing to die.
His body—gold moments ago—now looked painfully human. Fragile. Mortal.
Lin Shu held him in her lap, trembling, tears falling silently.
"…You idiot," she whispered, voice small, breaking. "You really… you really meant you'd fight even if you had no chance…"
Shaurya exhaled a weak breath, eyes half-open, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.
"If… I don't stand… then who will?"
Her grip tightened.
"Stop smiling. You scare me when you smile like that."
