The world of Sanctuary—once blue, then red, now is just a gaping black hole, sucking hope like a bottomless whirlpool. In the midst of the burning ruins and forests already scorched by dragon flames, only one voice echoes: the roar of Tiamat, the Matron of Ruin, like a death song piercing the soul. That voice is not heard by the ears but ensnares the hearts of anyone still breathing, embedding itself deep into the roots of the world, creating a profound fear that nests in the mind. All living beings feel her presence, as if the sky itself weeps in despair.
Joanna stands alone at the peak of the ruined Sanctuary altar. Her hair, now partly ablaze like fire, partly transformed into strands of light, waves in the wind of death, adding a mystical impression amidst the emptiness. Her skin is covered in wounds, drenched in blood and faint light, creating a striking contrast in the tense atmosphere. Behind her, the altar where Iris and Nobuzan are hiding is increasingly crumbling; beneath the altar, Gabriel and Mitsuyori still hold their breath, looking tense, maintaining the illusion, and reciting protective spells in increasingly weak voices, like humans trying to survive in the midst of a raging storm. The oppressive atmosphere envelops them, as if time has momentarily stopped, waiting for what will come next.
In front of Joanna, a portal of fire—a rift in the slowly rotating sky, spewing mist, dark light, and fragments of Tiamat's body—widens. The air feels heavy, as if every heartbeat invites new fears. Around the portal, shadows of large dragon heads emerge, their necks entwined in a terrifying dance, and thousands of eyes gaze at the world with an insatiable hunger, as if ready to pounce on the weakest prey. A breeze brushes Joanna's face, carrying the scent of charred earth as if nature itself is mourning.
From every crevice of the world, nightmare creatures crawl out—Tiamat's children, hungry for souls, their bodies a mix of water, bone, and mist. They flood the Sanctuary land, wrapping around trees with sharp claws, swallowing buildings with a spirit laden with hatred, and chasing anyone daring to survive, making every step feel like dancing on the edge of a chasm. Hoarse voices and blood-curdling roars are heard as they move, as if reminding that there is no safe place left in this world.
Gabriel and Mitsuyori: The Last Line
Gabriel, one of his wings broken, stands at the edge of the altar, driving his heavenly sword into the ground with a movement full of pain yet firm. He gazes at Joanna with tear-stained red eyes, reflecting all the sorrow and hope trapped in his heart, knowing this is the last chance for the world. "I have lost everything, Joanna. But I believe in you. Not as an angel, but as a human," he whispers, his voice trembling as if carrying the weight of the world. In his gaze, Joanna can see the beautiful moments that have vanished, the sorrow gnawing at every inch of the courage that remains.
Mitsuyori has exhausted her strength to maintain the illusion, yet she stands tall, forming the last wall of light around Iris and Nobuzan. Each breath becomes heavier, feeling like an unbearable burden, but she strives to remain steadfast, her dim eyes watching the darkness of the world around. In between her labored breaths, she prays to anyone still willing to listen, hoping that a miracle can be born from this despair, as tears unknowingly stream down her cheeks, a sign of resilience that still shines even amidst the encroaching darkness.
Within Joanna's heart, two voices battle: the human voice wanting to give up, and Michael's voice demanding the final sacrifice. That voice echoes, creating an inevitable tension, as if two souls are trapped in the same body, each struggling to take control. But Joanna is neither—she is something born from destruction, from blood, love, and promises. She remembers the faces of Fitran, Sheena, Iris, Nobuzan, the protectors, the victims, and all the children who never had the chance to be born. In her memory, their smiles are etched clearly, though shrouded in shadows of sorrow. Sweat trickles down her temples, and her heart beats rapidly, echoing as if accompanying her steps toward destiny.
"If the world must perish, then let me be the last wall. If the dragon must take everything, I will fight until my last breath. I... Michael who has fallen, Joanna who rises from destruction."
With a burning spirit, Joanna raises her hands to the sky. Michael's fire gathers in her palms, blazing blue-gold, igniting with a terrifying intensity. More than just power, it is a symbol of hope. At that moment, Tiamat's head appears in the sky—her face as beautiful as a nightmare, a crown of shattered worlds shining, blood tears flowing, and her seven eyes fixated on Joanna. A cold and stinging aura envelops the air, creating a tense atmosphere, as if the world around her holds its breath.
The wave of Tiamat's energy sweeps through the Sanctuary, breaking the ground, overturning rivers, and destroying the remnants of the holy tower. The rumble of energy clashes echoes like thunder, carrying fear and hope in one breath. Joanna leaps into the air, her wings of light and fire unfurling—she is no longer just an angel, but a bridge between humans, angels, and the hope left in the world. In that moment, she feels the strength of all her loved ones flowing through her body, energizing every movement she makes.
Tiamat spews the Mist of Genesis Ruin, and as the thick fog floods the surrounding area, Joanna feels a darkness seeping deep into her soul. The air becomes heavy, as if the weight of the world rests on her shoulders, spells breaking one by one, and time feels like it slows down, like an hourglass trying to resist the speed of time. Despite the fear overwhelming her, Joanna pierces through the fog with a blazing determination; Michael's fire cleaves the dark, burning the monsters trying to reach the altar, their faces filled with despair as they are surrounded by flames. Each of Joanna's magical slashes forms spiral glyphs in the air—symbols of the legacy of Fitran and Sheena, as if saying, 'We are still here, we have not given up.'
But Tiamat is too large, too ancient, and too eternal; her figure reminds Joanna of all the horrors she has ever seen. Every wound Joanna inflicts, Tiamat's body grows new heads, each head crying out the unforgivable sins of the world, a wailing sound echoing as if wanting to snatch away the remaining hope in the soul. Despair creeps in, but Joanna strives to rekindle her spirit. In her heart, she is determined that she will stand against whatever threat it may be.
Joanna screams, her voice mingling with tears and the anger burning in her chest: "IN THE NAME OF THE UNBORN BLOOD, I WILL FIGHT YOU, TIAMAT!" Her expression shows courage, even as tears stream down her face, creating deep tracks of sorrow. She refuses to back down; the flame within her seems to burn brighter. Tiamat lowers her head, facing Joanna—seven eyes swirling, revealing all the past, the future, and the emptiness that awaits; that gaze makes her feel as if she is seen by all the world's sorrow. The rain of blood pours down, submerging Joanna's feet in a cold and terrifying pool, yet Michael's fire does not extinguish, igniting the flame of hope within her heart.
In the moment of despair that nearly envelops her, Joanna feels a light in that darkness—she calls upon Michael's Final Flame—the sacred fire drawn from all the victims, all the love, all the hopes buried in her heart. That fire envelops Joanna's entire body, making her a beacon in the endless night, awakening the feeling that she is the last hope, standing tall even as the world around seems to crumble. She feels her brother's strength flowing within her, making her even more resolute to face the challenges ahead.
With one final scream, shaking space and time, she strikes all her power into the core of Tiamat's mist. A blinding explosion of light splits the sky and earth, creating a pillar of fire that burns part of the ancient dragon's body. That fire fights the dark, breathing hope even if just for a moment. However, Joanna knows her power is limited—this is only enough to hold Tiamat at bay for a while, giving Iris and Nobuzan time to give birth, giving the protectors time to devise a new plan, time to seize resurrection from the darkness.
Beneath the altar, Iris and Nobuzan begin to experience peak contractions, their bodies glowing in a faint spiral as if following the rhythm of a racing heartbeat. Mitsuyori, half-dead, continues to whisper protective spells in a hoarse and echoing voice, even as Tiamat's mist nearly breaches the wall of illusion, writhing with threats. In the corner of her eye, Mitsuyori can feel the tremors of the earth beneath her, as if the whole world is preparing to witness this decisive moment.
Gabriel weeps, placing his hand on Nobuzan's belly, feeling the warmth that is both powerful and fragile; praying to all the names he remembers, his voice filled with hope and anxiety: "If you must be born into a shattered world, be born with hope. Do not become dragons, become light." Every word he utters is an encouragement, a hope for a better future, while holding back his fear of the unrelenting threat.
The battle continues, a symphony of chaos. Joanna is nearly spent, yet she does not retreat; her flame seems as if it will never extinguish. Tiamat, though gravely wounded, screams in rage—fragments of her body fall to the ground with a vibrating sound, creating new holes that spew monsters from the darkness. Each restless scream carries a cold wind that seeps into their bones, adding tension to the already oppressive atmosphere.
The sky now opens wide, a portal to another world begins to appear in the distance, shimmering with colors never seen before. Spiral lights and black mist collide, creating a storm that no human has ever recognized, swirling in deep darkness and gripping, as if foretelling the fate of humanity that is at stake.
In the final moment of this chapter, the sound of a baby is faintly heard from beneath the altar—a sign of hope, or the beginning of a new destruction? Joanna gazes at the sky, her body beginning to burn from within, her eyes filled with tears and fire. Each heartbeat echoes in her ears, as if time is moving slower. Before her, Tiamat prepares to descend fully into the world, bringing either an end or a new birth. And among the shivering crowd, whispers of fear and hope begin to spread like sparks touching dry paper.
The world holds its breath, and dawn has yet to come. A thick silence seems to swallow every sound, intensifying the tension in the atmosphere. Joanna, the only one standing between the dragon and everything, is ready to sacrifice herself. Yet, her heart beats fiercely, as if warning her of the decision she is about to make. But is that enough? Or must everything indeed end in blood, fire, and names that could not be saved? Shadows of her past flicker in her mind, the faces of those she loves merging in despair, waiting for her answer.