The Breaking of Mi-An
Something inside Mi-An shattered.
Her body ascended, hair darkening into blackish red, eyes ablaze with fierce, unyielding light. Her robes deepened to shadows that seemed to consume the air around her. Power poured from her—not to destroy, but to sustain.
She transferred her strength into the remnants of the army.
Saint LuQi staggered to his feet, bloodied but alive. The Saint of YiWu Sect rose again, eyes wide with disbelief.
Nem stared at her, incredulous.
"Are you stupid? You'll die like this," he sneered.
"You're brave," he muttered, moving closer.
Mi-An spat blood at his feet.
"I will kill you," she whispered through the pain.
Nem's expression hardened. He stabbed her. Blood spurted, yet she continued transferring power. He stabbed her again, relentless.
Then, with overwhelming force, he hurled her across the battlefield. She hit the ground hard, barely able to sit.
"Nem…" she gasped, shaking. "You'll pay…"
Nem summoned a sword, pressing it against her neck.
"All this," he sneered, eyes cold, "and Xiao Yan isn't here. Do you regret trusting an incompetent fool who only knew how to kill his own father?"
Around them, demons slaughtered the disciples—though now the fight was even, the balance shifting.
Then—
"Nem!"
Di'or rushed forward, shoving him aside.
"This is not you!" she cried, her voice filled with desperation.
Nem's tone softened for a fleeting moment.
"Come to me," he said, almost pleading.
Mi-An struggled against the rising darkness.
"Don't—"
"I will, but if I do, don't hurt the world anymore. Let's live in harmony, uhn," Di'or urged.
"Di'or, don't!" Mi-An screamed, shaking with fear and rage.
"Shut up!" Nem roared. "Why can't I have the one I love?!"
Mi-An stood unsteadily. Her fury flared.
"You're pathetic," she spat, voice trembling with power.
Nem stabbed her again.
"Choose!" Di'or screamed, her voice echoing across the battlefield.
Silence fell.
Nem turned away.
"I choose you."
The evil god's gaze lingered, calculating, cold.
Then—
A blade pierced Di'or's heart.
Nem heard it—a sound that split his soul. He turned back to see Di'or collapsing into his arms, blood soaking her robes.
"Di'or!!!" he shouted, gripping her trembling form.
"Don't cry…" she whispered weakly, voice fading. "The moments with you… were the best of my life… cherish them… for my sake."
Tears streamed down Nem's face, his world fracturing.
"I can't live without you!" he cried, voice raw with anguish.
Di'or touched his cheek, a faint smile still lingering through the pain.
"Nem… I… I am in lots of pain. Your promise… don't forget it."
Her hand fell. Her body went limp.
Nem screamed—a sound that tore through the heavens—and vanished with her, leaving the battlefield in stunned silence, chaos lingering, and a heartbroken world trembling beneath the shadow of loss.