The sky turned black at noon.
Clouds choked the sun, thick with smoke and ash. Over Lumora, alarms sounded across the valley. Every tower flared with golden light. The council summoned their last defenders.
Because in the distance—
The fire was coming.
Back in the Hollow Realm
Niki stood in silence, arms loose at his sides, body still like stone.
But the ground around him… trembled.
Cracked.
Flames crawled out from his feet like veins. Dark, slow-burning, ancient.
Mona stepped forward, her voice calm.
"You said you burned the part that loved. But I don't believe that."
"You should," he said. "Because now, I don't want peace."
"Niki…"
"I want freedom."
He lifted his head, and his irises glowed—one red, one gold, one something else entirely.
"You don't understand what Veylor left behind," he said. "He wasn't just trying to rule. He was trying to evolve."
"He didn't want to be a vampire."
"He wanted to become a god."
Mona took a shaky step back.
"No—"
"Yes," Niki whispered. "And I am the vessel now. The last flame. The final key."
At the Palace of Flame in Lumora
Sunghoon returned without Mona.
He stood before the council, Heeseung and Jake at his side.
"They're still in the Hollow Realm," Sunghoon said. "But it's begun."
Jungwon gritted his teeth. "What's begun?"
Sunghoon looked up.
"Veylor's return."
Mona turned to Niki
"I know you're still in there. You're fighting it. I see you."
He laughed—hollow and bitter.
"Then why do I feel nothing when I look at you?"
Her heart cracked like glass.
And then—
The flames around him rose like wings.
He was lifting off the ground, floating, head tipped back, eyes glowing like twin eclipses.
"I am Veylor's wrath. I am Niki's ruin. I am the flame you lit, Mona."
"And now—I'll show you how it burns."
The Battle Begins
All across the realm, shadows poured from broken cracks in the veil. Rogue bloodborns with ash-forged weapons. Smoke beasts. Twisted night creatures.
Enhypen led the charge.
Jake struck down a serpent made of bones and blood.
Heeseung called fire from his palms.
Sunoo wept as he fought—but never missed a single strike.
They defended the palace gates.
But the Hollow was endless.
And the fire was spreading fast.
On the battlefield
Mona landed in front of Niki.
Her hands shone silver.
Her heartbeat sang like thunder.
And she screamed—
"I am not your light anymore!"
A burst of power erupted from her chest—pure, clean, searing.
It slammed into Niki, sending him crashing into the side of an obsidian spire.
He staggered up, coughing blood.
His crown cracked.
And for a moment—
He smiled.
"You always were stronger than me."
They ran toward each other again—clashing in a blur of flame and light, claws and blade.
But Mona was faster.
Sharper.
Not out of hate.
Out of love.
Because love without mercy was just another lie.
And she was done lying to herself.