Wrath Against Memory
The Soul Judgment's light had torn straight through Kaalrath's chest.
For the first time in two centuries, the Upper Demon staggered. His molten wings faltered, his roar broke into something almost human—a scream of both fury and anguish.
Flames erupted from the fissures across his body. Entire blocks of Borivali crumbled under the shockwave, streets collapsing into molten pits.
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The Demon's Desperation
Kaalrath clutched his chest, molten blood spilling in rivers of fire. His breath came ragged, but his grin returned, twisted and feral.
"You… dare wound me, Soul relic? Then I shall drag your city with me to hell!"
He raised both arms. From his core, flames surged outward, forming a storm that blazed across the skyline. Dozens of molten serpents writhed into existence, slithering down into the streets, burning everything they touched.
"Ashen Serpents!" he roared.
The serpents coiled through alleyways, crashing into buildings, swallowing survivors in their path.
Rehan leapt forward, golden aura surging as he smashed one serpent apart with his fists. "Get behind me!" he shouted, shielding families with glowing barriers.
Ishita's Scarlet flames lashed outward, burning serpents into embers before they could reach fleeing crowds. Her hands trembled, exhaustion clawing at her, but she didn't stop. I couldn't save them. But I will save these.
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Li Wei at His Limit
High above, Li Wei's form trembled. His Soul threads flickered, hundreds already snapped from the strain of holding Judgment. Blood trickled down his lips, his skin pale.
But his eyes never wavered.
He extended his hand, threads weaving faster, forming nets of light that intercepted the serpents. Each serpent dissolved into sparks upon contact with the threads.
But for every serpent destroyed, two more emerged.
Rehan looked up, horror in his eyes. "He's burning his soul just to hold him back…"
Ishita whispered, voice trembling. "If he keeps going, Li Wei will…"
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The Memories Break Through
Kaalrath roared again, but this time his voice cracked. His molten eyes flickered—not just with rage, but with visions.
A woman's smile.
A child coughing, too weak to cry.
The stench of famine in a sealed fort.
A man's own screams, echoing unanswered.
He clutched his head, staggering in the sky.
"No… not now! I buried this… I am wrath! I am fire!"
Li Wei's calm voice pierced through the chaos.
"You are memory, Kaalrath. No fire burns forever. But memory—memory never dies."
The demon's roar shook the heavens, half in denial, half in agony.
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The Final Bind
Li Wei pressed his palms together, threads weaving into a massive constellation above the city.
"Soul Bind: Eternal Recall."
The constellation descended, wrapping around Kaalrath's entire form. The molten wings struggled, tearing against the threads—but every time one thread snapped, two more formed.
The city's burning skyline reflected in Kaalrath's molten eyes. His body convulsed, cracks splitting wider. His roar shook the earth—then broke into silence.
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The Fall
Kaalrath's molten form collapsed, crashing into the ruined streets of Borivali. Firestorms erupted outward, but quickly dissolved into harmless sparks under Li Wei's binding aura.
The demon's wings shriveled, his claws cracked, his body breaking apart piece by piece. His chest wound glowed brighter, the fissures spreading like spiderwebs.
Rehan and Ishita shielded the civilians, staring at the sight in awe.
Rehan whispered, "Is it… over?"
Li Wei floated lower, his form flickering. His voice was quiet, but resolute.
"No. Not yet. His body is breaking. But his soul… must still be judged."
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The Foreshadow
As Kaalrath lay shattered, his molten eyes dimmed. But within them, memories blazed brighter than ever.
The cries of his starving son.
The silence of the gods.
The night he begged the void for power.
And the voice that answered.
For the first time, the Scorched General's roar was not of rage—but of sorrow.
"Why… did they have to die?"
Li Wei's gaze softened, though his threads remained taut.
"This… is your truth. And it will be remembered."