The grand throne hall of the Shadow Dragon Palace had transformed into a devastating battlefield.

Shattered pillars groaned under the strain of clashing energies. Chandeliers lay in ruins on the floor, their crystals scattered like fallen stars.

The air crackled with opposing powers, silver celestial light intertwined with devouring abyssal darkness.

Lumina and the other lady circled each other like two apex predators. Both women possessed terrifyingly similar levels of power.

Lumina’s enchantress abilities, now fully awakened, manifested as glowing silver threads and bursts of starfire.

The hidden daughter of Abyssalands and Alex’s treacherous wife, wielded void energy that swallowed light itself, twisting shadows into lethal blades and tendrils.

Their fight was brutal and evenly matched.

Sh lunged first, unleashing a storm of black spears. Lumina spun gracefully, her black-and-red Drakonis gown whipping around her as she raised a shimmering silver barrier.

The void spears exploded against it in deafening bursts, forcing her back several steps.

She countered instantly, thrusting her hands forward. Invisible threads of absolute will shot out, wrapping around her waist and yanking her violently across the hall.

The lady crashed into a pillar, cracking the stone, but rolled to her feet with a vicious laugh.

"You fight well for a blind princess who was supposed to be broken," Se taunted, wiping blood from her lip.

Lumina’s silver eyes blazed. "Thought you pleaded for forgiveness a few seconds ago." and then she smiled at Lumina.

"I am Vespera... I had the power to command a shapeshifter. I am from the Abysland. Why do you think I wouldn’t be able to fight you off?"

They collided again in the center of the hall. Their energies slammed together in an explosion that shook the entire palace.

The force sent shockwaves outward, knocking guards off their feet. Lumina felt the drain immediately every clash pulled deeply on her reserves.

Instantly she knew Vespera was no ordinary opponent. Their bloodlines resonated in a dangerous harmony, making the battle exhausting for both.

Lumina dodged a sweeping arc of void energy that disintegrated part of the floor behind her.

She retaliated with a focused blast of silver flame that burned across Vespera’s shoulder.

The Abyssal princess screamed in pain but used the momentum to close the distance, landing a solid punch infused with dark energy into Lumina’s stomach.

Lumina staggered, gasping. She tasted blood.

Still, she refused to yield.

As they separated once more, breathing heavily. "What are your thoughts? Doing... Why do I feel a strong connection with you?" she asked and Lumina gave her a weary look.

"What?"

"You are an enchantress... You are the one we have been looking for.." Lumina still had that shocking expression.

"Why are you helping the Drakonis realm! You are supposed to avenge your mother’s death and kill them!"

Lumina saw the deeper truth in Vespera’s eyes, the same burning pain she once carried. The need for revenge against the Drakonis Realm for ancient atrocities.

"Enough," Lumina said, lowering her hands. Her voice echoed through the ruined hall. "I understand your hatred. The Drakonis Realm has spilled innocent blood in the past."

"What.."

"We are from the same bloodline... You should be our queen.. You.." She stood up moving closer to Lumina but Lumina protected herself at once.

"Stop.."

"You.. are Elena’s daughter... You should hate the Drakonis realm the most.."

"Enough..." she yelled.

"You are light, you should be with Light forever." she yelled and at this those words echoed in her ear.

Her mother’s words echoing in her ear, "Stay back.."

Lumina stared at herddeply and those eyes held sincerity, she could tell this lady has a lot to tell her.

"Leave, Vespera. Seek justice for your people another way. I will not kill you here."

Vespera froze, her dark energy flickering with uncertainty. For the first time, surprise and hesitation crossed her face.

But Ashen had watched long enough.

Grief over his brother’s death had festered into pure, blinding rage. This woman had orchestrated Alex’s agonizing death. She had sent the shapeshifter into his bed. She had torn his family apart.

"No! She isn’t leaving!" Ashen roared, his voice echoing like thunder. Despite the weakness still plaguing his body from the impostor’s poison, fury unlocked the last reserves of his power.

His eyes burned Massive shadowy wings of dragon energy manifested behind him as he summoned everything he had.

A colossal spear of concentrated shadow-dragon fire formed in his outstretched hand swirling with lethal black flames, crackling void energy, and all his pent-up sorrow. The weapon pulsed with murderous intent.

"She dies today!" he bellowed.

He hurled the spear with every ounce of strength left in him. The projectile tore through the air with a deafening shriek, leaving a trail of destruction as it raced straight toward Vespera’s heart.

Lumina’s eyes widened in pure horror, she couldn’t let Vespera die today "Ashen, STOP!"

There was no time to think Exhausted from the prolonged battle, her body trembling and energy depleted, Lumina still moved.

She threw herself forward with desperate speed, positioning her body directly between the deadly spear and Vespera.

The impact was catastrophic.

The shadow-dragon spear slammed into her heart with the force of a meteor. Agonizing pain exploded through her entire body as the combined celestial and void energies ripped into her flesh. She screamed so hard that a guttural sound that tore from her throat.

The blast lifted her completely off the ground and hurled her backward through the air like a broken doll.

She crashed hard onto the shattered floor several meters away, tumbling across the debris. Blood sprayed from her mouth in a violent cough, splattering across her chin and the front of her once-regal black-and-red gown. Another harsh, wet cough followed, sending fresh rivulets of crimson down her lips and onto the cold stone. The wound on her side burned as if molten lava had been poured into it. Every breath felt like knives twisting in her lungs.

Vespera stood motionless for a heartbeat, staring in utter shock at the woman who had just saved her life. Then, without a word, she dissolved into a swirling black mist.

Ashen’s world shattered.

"LUMINA!"

He sprinted across the hall, his own legs nearly giving out from exhaustion and horror. He skidded to his knees beside her, scooping her broken body into his arms with trembling hands.

Her blood soaked through his tunic instantly. He pressed his palm desperately against the gaping wound on her chest, trying to stop the flow, but it kept coming.

"No... goodness, no..." His voice broke completely. Tears streamed down his face, cutting clean tracks through the dust and sweat on his cheeks. Regret crashed over him like a tidal wave.

"Lumina... why? Why did you protect her?! She killed Alex! She deserved death! I... I didn’t mean to—"

He rocked her gently, cradling her head against his chest, his shoulders shaking with silent, broken sobs. The regret in his eyes was devastating, raw, and all-consuming.

Lumina’s silver eyes fluttered weakly. Blood continued to trickle from the corner of her mouth with every shallow breath. The pain was overwhelming, clouding her vision. In that fading moment, a clear memory echoed in her mind the solemn voice of Seraphina, speaking.

"Love will destroy everything. You should only take revenge. Do not love. End it that way."

The words resonated deep within her soul, heavy with painful truth.

Lumina’s lips moved faintly, barely audible as she stared up at her husband’s tear-streaked, regret-filled face.

"Aunt Seraphina... was right..." at once her body went limp in his arms.