Luke held me for the longest time, stroking my hair with an absent touch. The hiss of demons and the hum of the ley lines faded into the background. It was just the two of us, our bodies entwined in an embrace, hearts beating as one.

Eventually, he withdrew, looking down at me with those endlessly deep violet eyes. Unable to help myself, I leaned up on my tiptoes, kissing him softly on the lips. He stiffened momentarily, taken aback, before his hand slid up my back and around the back of my neck, pulling me closer. I was breathless when we finally parted, my whole body flushed.

"You saved me," he whispered, resting his forehead against mine. "I was lost in there, but when you called me, I could see again. I could see you."

I blushed and looked away, not knowing what to say. His tail flicked against mine, and he smiled.

"Thank you, Xiviyah. I mean it."

I leaned against him, resting my palm on his chest. His heartbeat was strong and steady. "How does it feel?" I asked, looking up at him again.

His smile faded, a cease in his brow. "I feel...powerful. But tired. Very, very tired. That warrior had too much sun mana in his soul, I think."

"Not just divine and infernal, but sun against curse. No wonder it was so hard," I murmured.

He nodded. "And curse won. That struggle is what finally pushed me over the edge. But it’s going to take me a long time to consolidate my realm."

That was normal. It had taken Selena a week or two to recover from her breakthrough. Mages, with their weaker constitution, had a much harder time physically than warriors, but it still wouldn’t be easy for Luke.

A strange presence registered on the edge of my senses, and I lifted my head. A commotion sounded behind us, from the entrance to the cavern. The Fatesworn tensed, but relaxed as a familiar figure strode through. Fyren, in his human form, held his sword ready in his hand. There was no sign of the ashen white flames that surrounded him, or the void within his soul. His eyes locked onto me at once, then rose to take in Luke.

The demon approached, stopping a few paces away. He drove the point of his sword into the ground, resting his weight on it, and studied Luke in silence. Luke stared back, unbothered by the appraisal, though his tail curled slightly.

At last, Fyren broke the silence. "You broke through."

A statement, not a question.

"Seems so." Luke tried to sound nonchalant, but I detected a hint of smugness in his voice.

"Good. I came as soon as I sensed another ninth-level aura. I feared they sent reinforcements through the shard."

Fyren’s gaze finally shifted, going to the shard itself. His eyes widened slightly as he followed the ley lines curving around the room, and the hordes passing through them.

"To think something like this is possible," he muttered, folding his arms. "That remnant is something else."

As if sensing we were talking about her, Emlica’s head swiveled, her eyes narrowing at Fyren. He looked back at me, unbothered.

"The Fatesworn have secured the keep. The ninth-level warrior above fled once the world barrier fell."

"Pity," Luke said, pursing his lips. "One more to fight later."

"We planned to slay two here, and two we have slain," Fyren said, nodding at Zenith’s corpse. "More importantly, you live, Xiviyah, and Fatesworn casualties were light. The hordes are on the move, bringing war to every corner of the continent."

"And I’m ninth-level," Luke said.

Fyren snorted. "Yes, we can all see. But don’t think that changes anything. You’re not skilled enough to justify your power, or experienced enough to make proper use of it. There are no shortcuts in ascension. Do not forget the cost of arrogance." His gaze rested on me. "The price you almost had to pay."

Luke’s arm tightened around me. "I know."

"You’d better. You were lucky this time. I won’t always be capable of making up the difference."

"What are you talking about?" I asked timidly, shrinking as their attention turned to me. Their intensity softened, but not fast enough. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"I, er, told you about my duel with that inquisitor?" Luke asked, avoiding my gaze. "Well, it was Fyren who let me break through. He came right through the ceiling, smashing through rock and ward like they were nothing. How did you do that, by the way?"

Fyren gave him an expressionless stare, and he ducked his head.

"Right, well, Fyren took the inquisitor by surprise, shouting at me to find you. I took the opportunity, and you know the rest."

"How are Korra and R’lissea? Are they alright?"

"They’re fine," Fyren answered. "R’lissea and apostle proved particularly effective against that warrior’s abilities. While there was no chance of them defeating or even injuring him, they were uniquely suited to stalling him while I left. The Fatesworn have confirmed they both survived the fight. I believe they are all three dealing with the Storm Hero now."

"That’s a relief," I said, sagging slightly. "I was worried that...no, they’re strong. I’m glad we trusted them."

"They’re fine," Fyren answered. "R’lissea and apostle proved particularly effective against that warrior’s abilities. While there was no chance of them defeating or even injuring him, they were uniquely suited to stalling him while I left. The Fatesworn have confirmed they both survived the fight. I believe they are all three dealing with the Storm Hero now."

"That’s a relief," I said, sagging slightly. "I was worried that...no, they’re strong. I’m glad we trusted them."

"Yes, they’ve proved valuable allies," Fyren agreed.

An infernal aura gripped the room, and we turned toward the shard. Emlica had opened a new ley line, allowing the first of the demon lord hordes to enter. Lord Bloodsteel entered, looking around the cavern with measured curiosity.

"Apostle, you’ve broken through?" he asked, his voice grating with surprise.

Luke stood a little taller, looking as imperious as he could with me clinging to his side. "It was only a matter of time."

Bloodsteel nodded, his expression falling into a thoughtful frown. "So it seems. I only wish this had happened before the invasion so that you could have adjusted to your new strength. That will make your upcoming fights even more difficult."

"Only if I wished to continue as we have. But I care not for collateral damage in the heart of the church’s lands."

Lord Bloodsteel nodded in approval. "Good. Slay all those who oppose us, and care not for the lives of those who don’t. Even the weakest have purpose in nourishing the scions. Such is the demon way."

"If you’re satisfied with that, then stop stalling," Luke said, nodding back at the open ley line. "Lead your horde to victory. Let not the forces of the Empire come to the church’s aid."

"Their blood shall water the ground and feed our souls," Bloodsteel answered. "And when their armies are broken, I’ll bring my horde to reinforce you. We must take the Divine Throne before the gods can react and send arbiters to their aid."

Luke’s lips curved in a feral grin. "I’m glad you finally see the vision."

The demon lord chuckled. "If you’re looking for an apology, you’ll have to wait until this world has fallen. But even I’ll admit your temerity has paid off so far. None of us had any faith you’d actually pull this off against the world barrier."

Luke’s hand rose, resting on my head. "This victory we owe to my Oracle. She single-handedly faced two ninth-levels, and held on long enough for me to slay them."

Lord Bloodsteel’s eyes narrowed slightly, studying me. I shrank against Luke, not meeting his gaze.

"I will be waiting to hear of the powers used to accomplish such a thing," he said finally, turning away. "But now, we go to war."

I let out an unconscious breath as he left, a chill running down my spine. The Fatesworn relaxed as the last of his horde headed into their target ley line. Over the next few minutes, the other demon lords arrived, replacing the apostle’s hordes with their own. As it continued, I started leaning on Luke more and more, the effects of Emlica’s prolonged appearance taking their toll.

Most of the mana for her magic came from the shard, but every time she tore open a new set of ley lines, she relied on mine as a catalyst. I quickly grew grateful I’d let Elinore heal me instead of doing it myself, and regretted pushing myself so hard during the fight. At this rate, I wasn’t certain my soul would last, even if I didn’t run out of mana entirely.

And yet, with Luke’s support, I hung on. One by one, the ley lines closed, and no new ones took their place, until only two remained. The flow of the first ceased, finishing carrying the last of the blade demon lord’s forces to the southern part of the continent. Emlica reconnected the severed ley lines and vanished, teleporting to us.

"It’s time," she said, looking at Luke.

I stiffened, my heart creeping into my throat. According to the council’s plans, Luke was the second-to-last to deploy. Was it time already? Did he really have to go?