"I might be an Eternity Devil, with dominion over time and space… but even I do not have the right to change the future…"
Arthur could still hear that voice clearly, as if it had been spoken only yesterday.
"Then why are you willing to change the fate of my son? What's in it for you…?"
A brief silence had followed, heavy with something that even Arthur could not fully understand.
"Because I realized… the only way to save my world from that being is to… permanently close the door between our worlds. And the only way that door will ever close… is with the death of all who hold the key to it."
Arthur slowly opened his eyes, his gaze falling on the diamond resting in his hand. Its surface shimmered faintly. That memory was from the moment he had pulled it out of his own son's body… Arthur was not sure what this thing really was… but…
He had prayed it would never come to this.
But if Astro was really destined to die before he became an adult… then this was the only path left.
"Your Majesty… is Prince Astro okay?"
One of the royal guards asked cautiously, looking at Aurora as the barrier surrounding Astro dissolved into countless fading particles. Aurora immediately sat down beside her son, gently lifting his head into her lap.
"He should be… fine. You all did well. For now, leave the city. The enemies are not defeated yet… Leave some space for Arthur to fight," Aurora said softly, her eyes never leaving Astro as she spoke.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The guards responded without hesitation before dispersing across the ruined battlefield. They understood without needing to be told that the second time… if they stayed for any longer, their presence would only force Arthur and Aurora to restrain themselves.
Aurora watched their retreating figures for a moment before turning her gaze back toward Arthur.
Arthur, however, wasn't looking at them.
He was looking at everything else.
The shattered ground. The destroyed buildings in the distance in the capital city… The countless scars left behind.
Guilt weighed heavily in his eyes.
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Aurora whispered, gently adjusting Astro's head on her lap.
Arthur didn't answer immediately. He looked at the giant cube hanging ominously in the sky, its presence distorting the very air around it.
"I don't know," he admitted quietly. "But it's worth a try."
Aurora nodded faintly.
"Yeah… I guess it is…"
Her fingers moved slowly through Astro's hair, as if afraid he might disappear if she stopped touching him.
Arthur watched the scene in silence before sitting down beside them. His hand reached out, gently stroking Astro's head.
"I might be a fool for making a deal with a devil," Arthur said after a while. "I didn't believe that devil at first. But… unfortunately… I realized fate truly cannot be changed. It would correct itself no matter how you try to change it. Playing with time and death only leads to greater disasters."
"Mm-hmm…"
Aurora nodded absentmindedly, her eyes never leaving Astro's face.
"I just wish he didn't have to carry this burden," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I wanted to protect them… to give them a happy childhood. The kind I never had…"
Her vision blurred as tears began to gather.
Arthur gently placed his hand on her head, rubbing it softly.
"Yeah… but he is our son," he said quietly. "Didn't we always say that he inherited the best parts of both of us. He can do this."
"I know…"
Aurora smiled faintly through her tears as she looked at Astro.
"Just be brave out there, Astro… we'll be waiting for you…"
Arthur's smile was small, but it was full of motherly love and affection.
"It won't be easy… but I believe in you."
Arthur tightened his grip on the diamond before slowly infusing it with his magic. Purple light spread across its surface, glowing brighter and brighter.
Carefully, gently, he placed it against Astro's chest.
The diamond dissolved into pure energy and sank into his body, its light fading as if it had never existed in the first place. The last fragments of its glow disappeared beneath his skin, leaving behind nothing but silence.
Time itself seemed to freeze in that moment. Neither Arthur nor Aurora moved, their bodies locked in place as they stared at Astro. Neither of them even breathed, afraid that the slightest movement might break whatever fragile process was unfolding before them.
Seconds passed. Then more. The stillness stretched on endlessly, heavy and suffocating, pressing down on Aurora's chest until it hurt to endure. For a moment, there was nothing—no sound, no movement, no sign that anything had changed.
Then suddenly, Astro's chest rose.
It was small. Weak. But undeniable. His body was functioning again.
Aurora's eyes widened instantly, the disbelief in them breaking apart into fragile hope. "It worked…" she whispered, her voice trembling as if she didn't trust herself to speak louder.
Arthur let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, his shoulders loosening as the crushing tension finally released him. Relief washed over his face, but before he could even finish processing it, his expression twisted in pain.
"Yeah… it—agh—"
His body suddenly collapsed forward as pain tore through him without warning, sharp and violent, like his magic was being ripped straight out of him. His knees buckled, and the strength left his limbs all at once.
"Arthur!"
Aurora caught him immediately with her free arm, pulling him against her before he could fall completely.
"I'm fine…" Arthur forced out, though his voice was strained and uneven. He clenched his teeth, trying to steady his breathing as the pain coursed through him. "It's just… using my magic as an energy source… wow… it's draining faster than I expected…"
Aurora stared at him, fear slowly creeping into her expression as she felt the instability in his magic.
Before she could say anything, a distant scream echoed from the mountains.
It was filled with rage. With fury.
Vindex.
Arthur's expression hardened instantly, the pain still present but no longer controlling him. His eyes turned cold and focused, his resolve settling in despite the weakness in his body.
"Go," he said quietly.
Aurora looked at him, caught off guard by the sudden firmness in his voice.
"Take Astro and leave the city. I'll hold him back."
"But—"
She tried to protest, but Arthur gently pulled her closer before she could finish. His movement was slow, careful, yet deliberate. Then, without hesitation, he pressed his lips against hers.
Her eyes widened in surprise, her thoughts freezing completely as she struggled to process what he had just done. For a moment, she remained still, her body tense with shock. But the warmth of him, the quiet emotion behind that single act, broke through her hesitation.
She kissed him back.
They remained like that, unmoving, holding onto each other as if letting go would make everything fall apart. Neither of them wanted the moment to end. Neither of them wanted to face what came next.
But reality did not wait for them.
Eventually, they parted.
Arthur rested his forehead lightly against hers, his breath still unsteady, his strength clearly fading despite his efforts to hide it.
"Please, Aurora…" he said softly. "This kingdom needs you more than it needs me. The people need you. I will be fine. Trust me."
Aurora remained silent, her grip on him tightening slightly as she struggled with the weight of his words. She understood what he was asking. She understood what he was prepared to do.
Slowly, she nodded.
"I'll take Astro away while you fight," she said quietly, forcing her voice to remain steady. "That man was searching for something inside Astro. Most likely the diamond. It's better if he leaves the kingdom believing it's gone."
Arthur nodded once.
"Got it."
Aurora hesitated, her eyes searching his face as if trying to memorize every detail.
"Arthur…"
"Hm?"
Her voice trembled slightly despite her efforts to control it.
"I'll wait for you… even if I grow old… I'll wait for you to come back."
Arthur smiled gently, a quiet warmth in his eyes that carried endless love.
"I know."
In the royal capital
"I really want to sleep…"
Julien muttered weakly as he lay flat on the ground, staring at the sky. His body was covered in injuries, and even lifting a finger felt exhausting. Every muscle ached, and the faint smell of blood and dust lingered in the air around him.
"I told you to exercise more. Your physical strength is so weak…"
Agnes drove her great sword into the ground beside him and rested her hand on its hilt, looking down at him without sympathy.
"Come on… that's not what you said in bed last night…" Julien said with a smug smile, turning his head slightly to look at her.
"That's just because of my charm. It has nothing to do with you," Agnes replied without changing her expression.
Julien let out a dry laugh. He didn't argue. If he denied her charm, he'd probably be sleeping alone for the next month. What a torture that would be.
Agnes stayed quiet for a moment too before speaking again.
"But are you okay? This place is not bothering you, is it?" she asked, her voice softer than before. Julien had always been sensitive to souls because of his magic. And right now, this battlefield was filled with far too many losses.
"I am okay…" Julien said quietly. He had already gotten used to this feeling. His eyes instead drifted toward the distant castle. "Right now, I'm more concerned about the princes…"
Agnes frowned.
"What do you mean? Are they okay?" she asked immediately, pulling her great sword out of the ground as tension returned to her body.
Julien didn't answer right away. His expression grew more serious.
"I don't sense the first prince…" he said slowly. "But the second prince's soul… I don't understand…"
"What do you mean?" Agnes asked, her grip tightening on her weapon.
"I couldn't sense the second prince's soul for some time," Julien whispered. "But then… it came back again."
Agnes frowned deeply.
"Doesn't that mean he didn't escape in time? He is probably still in the castle then."
Julien slowly shook his head.
"No… It's not just that…" he said quietly. "How do I say it?... um… His soul… it feels incomplete…"
"So why did you attack this kingdom… Aurora told me you were looking for something, but I don't think you had to cause this much trouble just for that reason…"
Vindex slowly rose from the crater, dust falling from his body as he lifted his head to look at the person standing above him. Black hair. Deep purple eyes. Eyes that stared at him without warmth or any emotions at all…
Vindex wiped the blood from his mouth and smiled.
"The Synaris family… You married into this family. You should know how damn cursed that family is… Isn't it pointless to ask me?" Vindex said, his voice filled with quiet mockery.
Arthur studied him carefully. He searched his face, trying to see if there was any sign of a joke. But there wasn't. Vindex was completely serious.
Arthur sighed.
"Why are people like this…"
"What?" Vindex's smile faded into irritation. "Don't tell me you think they deserve to live. Trust me, you can find a better woman and family anywhere else. Why are you with someone like that anyway—"
He stopped.
Arthur was looking at him like he was looking at an idiot.
"...What's with that look?" Vindex shouted, anger rising in his chest. He felt insulted. This man had no noble blood. He was nothing but a commoner who rose to power by marrying the queen. What right did he have to look at him like that?
"I won't even bother correcting you," Arthur said quietly as he stepped down into the crater, his bo staff resting firmly in his hand. His movements were steady, even though his magic was draining faster with every passing second. "I've met people like you… so many times."
He stopped a few meters away from Vindex.
"We all fight for our ideal worlds. Humans, animals, monsters, devils, even gods. Everyone believes their vision of the world is the correct one." Arthur's grip on his staff tightened slightly. "And I am no different either… My ideal world is beside my family… and I will protect it to the very end."
Vindex stared at him in silence for a moment.
"I see…" he said quietly. "In another world, we could have worked together. I could have really used your help to—"
"I don't think I would work for someone who judges people based on blood," Arthur interrupted calmly. "You don't understand the best values of humanity at all."
"Don't question me about my humanity!" Vindex shouted as his eyes suddenly glowed with a purple-silver hue. "I have lived longer than this entire kingdom's history. You know nothing about me!"
Arthur stepped further down into the crater, his body growing heavier as the diamond inside him continued consuming his magic. He could feel it clearly now. His time was limited. Anantea said Astro's soul would return someday, but until then, the diamond needed magic to sustain and grow the body. And right now, Arthur was the only source of that magic.
Arthur raised his hand slowly.
If he was going to collapse anyway, he would finish this guy first.
An Ace of Spades appeared between his fingers with a flick, glowing faintly with purple energy.
"We've talked enough," Arthur said calmly. "Since it's clear we have different ideals. Let's finish this in a battle between men."
Vindex smiled.
"Yeah… I'll show you, kid… that you should always learn from your seniors and listen to them."
Magic gathered at Vindex's feet, and he vanished forward, the ground cracking beneath him from the force.
"Impulse Magic: High Card."
Arthur dashed forward at the same time and flicked the Ace of Spades toward him. The card shot forward like a bullet, glowing brighter as it cut through the air.
"Displace."
Vindex whispered the word without slowing down.
The card instantly vanished from in front of him and reappeared behind him before detonating in a massive purple explosion. The blast lit up the battlefield, but Vindex had already passed through it, unharmed.
Both of them closed the distance in an instant.
They met at the center of the crater.
"Eternity Devil's Eternal Fist."
Vindex's fist glowed with dense purple-silver energy as he threw the punch forward. Arthur responded immediately, swinging his bo staff with precision. The two forces collided, and a violent flash of light erupted between them, sending shockwaves across the battlefield.
At the giant cube in the sky
"I didn't expect you to be defeated too, Kyoka…"
Mard Geer descended slowly, his feet touching the ground as his eyes settled on Kyoka's figure inside the pod. Her body remained suspended within the restoration chamber, streams of energy flowing into her as the lab repaired the damage she had suffered.
"I apologize…," Kyoka said quietly.
"You don't have to," Mard Geer replied calmly as he rubbed the book in his arms. "The others have also been defeated. They are recovering right now."
Kyoka turned her eyes sideways, looking at the other pods across the chamber. Each one contained a member of Tartaros, whose body was in a different stage of restoration.
All of them were demons created from the Books of Zeref. They were not true demons, and as long as their books remained intact and this lab continued to exist, they could return from death as many times as necessary.
"Let me go one more time," Kyoka said, her voice firm despite her condition. "I will kill that woman this time."
Mard Geer said nothing. He simply turned around and began to walk away.
"No," he said. "I miscalculated this time. Tartaros is not yet ready for this stage. I overestimated our strength too much." He paused briefly before continuing. "I will try to kill the queen myself, and then we are leaving."
Suddenly, Mard Geer stopped walking.
His expression shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing as he felt something.
For a moment, he remained silent.
"What is going on…" Kyoka asked, sensing it too.
"No…Not now… " Mard Geer said quietly. "Why is he coming here…"
He tightened his grip on the book as he stared toward a distant direction.
Meanwhile—
"Impulse Magic: Full House."
Arthur hovered in the air as multiple cards came between his fingers, each one glowing with condensed purple energy. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he sent them raining down toward the ground below.
The cards struck the ground around Vindex one after another, each impact triggering an explosion. Smoke and debris filled the battlefield as Vindex moved through it, jumping backward with precise control and avoiding every blast.
"Eternity Devil's Moment Lock."
Vindex suddenly slammed his hand into the ground.
A pulse of distorted energy spread outward, and in the next instant, a translucent dome formed around him. Arthur had just landed when the dome fully closed, trapping him inside.
"Got you."
"As long as you are inside this dome, you won't be able to move at all," Vindex said with a faint smile as he looked at Arthur.
Arthur stood completely still.
His body didn't move. His eyes didn't blink. He was frozen, like a statue trapped in time.
"I can see that they really learned their relentlessness from you," Vindex said as he began walking forward slowly. His voice carried clear annoyance. Both of Arthur's sons had resisted him until the very end.
Siegrain had managed to destroy Astro's curse mark just in time. If the mark had remained any longer, Astro would have been completely enslaved. And if the enslavement part was done, then even if someone removed the mark later…Astro would have died along with it. That was the nature of a true curse.
And Astro himself had interfered with Siegrain's teleportation. Now, wherever Siegrain was, Vindex wouldn't be able to find him easily.
"…Damn it," Vindex muttered. "I got outplayed by children. Your children."
He raised his hand slowly, purple energy gathering around his fingers.
"Now I'll take it out on you."
He would place the curse mark on Arthur. He would make Arthur destroy everything he loved with his own hands. The queen… the Synaris bloodline… he wondered how much despair her face would show when that moment came.
But just as he extended his hand, something changed.
A faint cracking sound echoed through the dome.
"What is going on?"
Vindex looked around sharply.
Thin purple cracks began to spread across the surface of the dome. They grew wider, spreading in every direction like fractured glass.
Then he looked at Arthur.
Arthur's eyes were glowing.
A deep purple light shone from within them, growing brighter with every second, before the whole area around him flashed with a violent purple light.
In the next instant, the entire dome shattered.
It broke apart like glass, dissolving into fragments of light that vanished into the air.
Vindex instinctively raised his arm to shield his eyes from the flash.
"Impulse Magic: Dead Man's Hand."
When he looked again, Arthur was already in front of him.
Arthur rotated his bo staff smoothly before swinging it forward with full force. The moment it connected, a violent purple flash erupted at the point of impact.
Vindex's body was thrown backward as multiple explosions detonated behind him in rapid succession.
Celestia raced through the streets of the capital, her cloak whipping behind her with every step. The air smelled of smoke and dust, carried from the distant mountains where the sound of explosions echoed across the horizon. Each boom rattled the buildings, sending debris skittering across the streets.
Her heart pounded as she tried to make sense of it all. "Is Arthur fighting… someone there?" she muttered under her breath, eyes darting toward the mountains. "Is that… where Sis is?"
Arthur panted, his chest heaving as he faced Vindex. Despite everything, the man in front of him still seemed perfectly fine. Arthur could feel his magic waning faster than expected—the effort of maintaining the diamond lacrima's energy inside Astro was consuming far more ethernano than he had anticipated.
He had thought he would still have an advantage. Vindex had just fought Aurora; surely he couldn't maintain this pace. Yet, here he was, standing and smirking as if nothing had happened.
"Eternity Devil has an interesting passive skill, you see…" Vindex rose from his crouch, eyes glinting with smug amusement. He didn't need to read Arthur's mind; he already knew what was going through it.
"You see," Vindex continued, his voice calm yet edged with arrogance, "the more I'm pushed in a battle, the stronger I grow. This is why I lusted for this power. Eternity Devil… when she starts a fight, she has a base strength. But as the battle continues… the more ethernano she consumes, the stronger she becomes. Interesting, isn't it?"
Arthur muttered under his breath, narrowing his eyes. "And your magic over space and time… makes you just as hard to kill…"
He knew there was no other way. If he wanted to defeat Vindex today, he had no choice but to use the power of… the second awakening.
A deck of cards appeared in Arthur's hand, floating between his fingers.
"Card tricks again?" Vindex sneered. "With that, you might be popular in a casino… but by now, you should realize there's no way I'll get hit by one of them."
Arthur smiled faintly, shuffling the cards effortlessly with one hand. He selected one, holding it between his index and middle fingers, and infused it with his impulse magic.
"Well, I would take them seriously if I were you… These aren't the normal cards you see."
"What do you mean?"
"Impulse Magic: The Tower!"
Vindex's eyes widened as a magic circle formed beneath him in an instant. Before he could even react, a massive surge of purple energy erupted, engulfing his body and shooting skyward like a column of pure power.
Far below, a severely injured Aurora dragged herself through the ruined city, her dress torn and blood covering her body. She clutched the unconscious Astro tightly in her arms, moving as best she could. Walking was an exaggeration—each step was agony—but she kept going.
She glanced back toward the mountains and saw it: a colossal purple tower of energy piercing the night sky. It was a beacon, a sign that the battle was still raging. Her gaze softened briefly as she looked down at Astro, then she turned and forced herself forward, each step a struggle against her injuries.
The tower detonated in a brilliant explosion, sending shockwaves rippling in every direction. Vindex remained trapped within the core of the blast, his form barely visible through the swirling energy.
"Damn you… you're going to pay for this…" Vindex shouted, his voice cracking with fury. His body was battered and broken, every part of him aching, yet his pride burned hotter than the pain.
He couldn't defeat the queen, and now he couldn't even defeat a commoner. All the centuries he had lived, all the power he had sought from the lacrima, and still… a commoner who appeared from nowhere was standing against him.
"I will erase you from this world… you bastard…"
Purple energy began to seep from his mouth, curling into the air like a living mist. The ground beneath him cracked in a perfect circle, chunks of stone lifting as if pulled by invisible hands. His long silver hair shifted, the tips burning a deep violet that slowly climbed upward, his aura twisting with rage.
"Eternity Devil's Rage."
A massive breath of raw purple energy surged from him, racing toward Arthur like a comet. Arthur's eyes narrowed instinctively, his first thought to leap aside—but the air refused him. Space itself seemed frozen, binding him in place. He remembered this attack—Vindex had used it on Aurora before.
Back then, it had devastated everything in its path. But now… it felt even more potent, more violent, more absolute.
"Guess you weren't joking about getting stronger as the fight goes on…"
Arthur didn't panic, however. With a swift flick of his hand, another tarot card materialized between his fingers. He glanced over the ruined city behind him, where Aurora was likely struggling to survive, still carrying Astro. That fleeting thought strengthened his resolve.
"But you see… a wise man once told me, magic comes from the heart. The more you want to protect something… the stronger your magic responds. Let's put that to the test, then," he murmured. "My desire to protect everything I love… against your artificial strength that only seeks to destroy it."
Arthur's eyes gleamed. He turned, holding the card steady in front of him.
"Impulse Magic: The Star Sanctuary!"
The card glowed violently as he infused it with all his remaining power. He hurled it toward Vindex's oncoming attack.
A massive star-shaped barrier erupted between them, glowing with purple light. Arthur funneled every ounce of his magic into the defense, while Vindex poured all of his into the destructive assault.
When the two forces collided, the impact erupted into a blinding flash of white energy, swallowing the battlefield. The explosion threw debris in every direction, the ground shaking violently under the sheer force.
For a moment, the world itself seemed suspended, caught between the raw, destructive power of Vindex and the protective resolve of Arthur.
Aurora, who was running with Astro in her arms, heard a loud sound behind; it seemed like Arthur was still fighting Vindex. She wanted to go help him, but she was not sure if she could protect Astro while fighting. As for Siegrain…
"Siegrain, you are a brave child, after all of this over…wherever Vindex had sent you… I promise I will find you… I promise I will… " Her eyelids trembled as she murmured.
Bodies littered the streets. Most people had managed to flee, but not all.
"I'm sorry…"
"I'm sorry…"
Each time she passed another lifeless form, the words slipped from her lips in a broken whisper.
Then her eyes widened slightly as she saw a familiar figure ahead.
"Sis… are you okay?"
A young woman with short dark blue hair ran toward her. She was injured as well, but nothing compared to Aurora's state.
"Celestia… you're alive…" Aurora increased her pace and hugged her tightly.
"I'm fine, but sis, you—"
"We don't have much time," Aurora said urgently. "Take Astro and run. Don't stop until you leave the kingdom."
"But—"
Before Celestia could protest, a massive roar echoed from the sky.
They both looked up as the dark clouds were torn apart in an instant by an overwhelming gust of wind. Aurora pushed Celestia down and shielded both her sister and her son beneath her.
A colossal black-and-blue monster with wings descended slowly from above. Each flap sent violent shockwaves through the air.
"No way… no way… is that… is that—" Celestia couldn't even finish her sentence. She had read about it. They said that it was not just a monster, but it was… a force of nature, a natural calamity. But… But… It was supposed to be nothing more than a legend.
"The Black Dragon of Apocalypse, Acnologia."
Aurora murmured in a tired voice, looking up at the behemoth in the sky… This day…just got…even worse…
Arthur collapsed onto the ground, his body finally giving out after exhausting nearly everything he had. His arms trembled, and even breathing felt heavy. He had blocked the attack—but just barely. There was nothing left in him now. Slowly, he turned his head upward.
A colossal black dragon had appeared in the sky above them.
It hovered in silence, its massive wings unmoving, its presence alone suffocating the battlefield.
"…Damn it," Vindex muttered, staring up at it. "Why are you here already… I am not ready yet…"
Fear crept into his voice.
'No… I have to run away. I can't fight that thing yet.
"Shift."
Nothing happened.
"…Wait… what?" Vindex's eyes widened. "Why isn't it working?!"
"Impulse Magic: The Fool."
Arthur's weak voice reached him. Vindex looked down and saw the card planted into the ground near Arthur. Its faint glow spread across the area, distorting the flow of magic itself.
"Acnologia…" Arthur whispered, his eyes still fixed on the dragon. "I didn't expect him to be real. But if he is here for you… Why don't you entertain him for a bit? We wouldn't want it to think that the Sin Kingdom gives bad hospitality."
He let out a faint, tired breath. " The effect of this card prevents magic from being used in this area for a moment. It should pass soon, but I am pretty sure the dragon wouldn't miss this chance."
"Are you an idiot?!" Vindex shouted. "That means you can't use magic either! He'll kill both of us!"
"Yeah…" Arthur replied with a weak smile. "I know."
Above them, the dragon showed no reaction to their conversation. Its massive jaws slowly opened, and a brilliant white sphere of condensed destruction began to form within its mouth. The air trembled violently as the energy gathered.
"Idiot!" Vindex shouted, panic fully consuming him now. "Undo the magic! We can't defend against that!"
Arthur didn't move.
"No," he said quietly.
He kept his hand resting near the Fool card, continuing to pour what little magic he had left into maintaining its effect.
"Please… undo it…" Vindex's voice broke as he rushed forward, abandoning all pride. Fear was the only thing left in him now.
Arthur didn't respond.
The dragon fired.
A massive beam of white annihilation descended from the sky, swallowing everything in its path.
"…Looks like this is the end for both of us," Arthur murmured as he looked up.
Vindex also looked up instinctively.
Their vision turned white.
Pain, unlike anything imaginable, consumed Vindex's body. It felt like every part of him was burning, erasing him piece by piece.
'Is this how I die…? Just because of that…'
He tried to look toward Arthur.
But Arthur wasn't there.
The Fool card was gone too.
In that instant, realization struck him.
"Shift."
The spell finally activated as he disappeared from the battlefield.
He realized that Arthur had tricked him.
Arthur had maintained the illusion that he was ready to die with him until the very last moment, making Vindex believe magic was still sealed. And when Vindex had fully accepted his death… Arthur had escaped.
"Goddamn you…" Vindex's voice trembled with hatred and fear. "I will kill you when I see you again… Arthur… Aurora… YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS."
Aurora, still holding Astro, stood beside Celestia, both of them staring at the dragon in the distance. Their eyes widened at the sheer size of it, the weight of its presence pressing down even from afar.
"Sis… we have to run… we can't fight that thing," Celestia said, her voice tight with fear, her gaze fixed on the horror looming ahead.
"I don't think… that's an option," Aurora murmured. The dragon's roar shook the ground even at this distance, a deep, reverberating sound that seemed to carry its displeasure. It turned its massive head toward the royal city—toward them.
Aurora looked down at the young Astro in her arms and pressed a small, gentle kiss to his forehead. Then, she handed him to Celestia.
"I've heard the Dragon of Apocalypse destroys everything in its path… We can't simply run. Get out of this city with Astro. I'll hold it back," Aurora said in a calm voice as she stepped toward the dragon.
"No… sister… you'll die… we should run together," Celestia shouted, clutching Astro tightly.
But before she could continue, the dragon opened its jaws again, a brilliant white orb of energy forming in its mouth.
"We can't run from the inevitable," Aurora whispered, continuing forward. Despite the chaos, her mind was clear. Astro's body still functioned, meaning Arthur was alive. As long as Celestia and Astro could leave the city and find Siegrain, that would be enough.
"No…" Celestia shouted again, tears streaming down her face as she sprinted forward, holding Astro close.
Aurora looked back once and gave her a gentle, reassuring smile.
"You know, Celestia… I'm really grateful to you. You've always been by my side, even when no one else was."
"The only reason I didn't lose myself to the darkness Father tried to force on me… it was because of you. If there's a next life… I don't want him as my father again, but I'd still want you as my sister."
Aurora smiled one last time at Celestia, then glanced at Astro. A helpless smile crossed her face as she shook her head, steeling herself. It's a shame that she can't see him grow up. But– she would at least make sure that he lives…even if it's without her…
Magic began to gather around her, the ground trembling under its sheer weight. Celestia could feel it through her feet, through her entire body.
"AURORA!"
Aurora didn't answer her. She instead turned her gaze to the dragon in the distance, determination burning in her eyes—and in the next instant, she vanished from Celestia's sight.
"NOO….No…" Celestia's voice broke as tears streamed down her face.
Aurora reappeared in the sky instantly, her body radiating a bright green glow. Her eyes shimmered… one blue and one green as they gazed toward the dragon in the distance.
Far away, Mard Geer watched the screens intently.
"Found you."
"Get the headquarters ready to move… I will make sure she is dead before we leave," he said coldly. He, of course, didn't forgive his original goal: if the queen fell tonight, the Sin Kingdom would plunge into chaos. Retreating was acceptable to him, but failure was not. What would Master E.N.D. think?
Meanwhile, Celestia ran, tears blinding her, holding Astro tightly.
"I'm so useless… again… I'm sorry, Astro… I can't protect her… I'm sorry…"
A building ahead began collapsing. Instinctively, she grabbed the whip on her waist with her free hand, ready to react.
But then one of her golden keys on her keychain glowed. The falling debris shifted violently to the side, narrowly missing her. Her eyes widened as she recognized the magic immediately.
She looked behind, and sure enough, it was Libra.
"Did you pass the Gate by yourself to…?" Celestia began to ask, but Libra interrupted her.
"Celestia," Libra said quietly, her gaze drifting to the sky where Aurora's magic gathered uncontrollably.
"Your sister won't survive fighting that dragon," she whispered.
Celestia said nothing. She already knew it. But even so, what could she do? The difference in power between her and Aurora was vast; no ordinary human could face such a beast.
Libra paused for a moment; she felt her throat becoming dry. She drew in a deep breath and finally spoke, looking seriously at Celestia.
"Celestia… I remember once telling you that… that just like the Celestial Spirits… the Celestial Spirit King can be… summoned too… right?"
Celestia froze, unsure what Libra meant, but the celestial spirit king?
a massive, shadowy image forming in her mind. If it were him, then he could probably fight that dragon, couldn't he?
"What… do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling.