The colossal blood-forged Sanguinastra continued descending through the night sky above the concealed fortress while crimson aura streamed continuously from the blade and friction ignited widening streaks of red, orange, and yellow across the atmosphere behind it. Heat spread steadily downward from the descending weapon and rolled across the battlements beneath compressed wind pressure strong enough to shake torch brackets fixed into the outer walls. The layered Tier 8 barriers surrounding the hidden siege fortress brightened continuously beneath the incoming sovereign pressure while scripture patterns spread across the defensive shell in overlapping waves of pale gold light that flickered violently whenever the descending sword forced another surge of pressure through the fortress defenses.
Below the descending blade, the hidden fortress no longer resembled the disciplined military installation that had quietly operated beneath layered camouflage wards only moments earlier. Templar knights rushed across the battlements carrying reinforcement talismans, shield anchors, and emergency scripture relays while priests flooded from chapel halls into barrier chambers beneath overlapping alarm chants echoing continuously through the corridors and courtyards. Holy lanterns swung violently from iron chains as the descending pressure shook the upper structures, and support clergy struggled to stabilize scripture pylons embedded into the fortress walls while sparks erupted repeatedly from overloaded ward channels spreading throughout the defensive network.
The Archbishop stood at the center of the rooftop command platform with his staff raised high above him while holy power gathered continuously around his body beneath rotating scripture circles layered over one another through the surrounding air. Golden-white pressure spread from the gem mounted at the head of his staff and merged directly into the barrier formations surrounding the fortress while bishops positioned behind him fed additional holy mana into the amplification arrays carved into the rooftop stone.
Around the Archbishop, the inquisitors and templar commanders had already abandoned any pretense of controlled defensive pacing.
Every available holy caster throughout the fortress had begun firing upward.
Radiant lances tore through the night sky from the battlements while priests unleashed scripture beams from relay towers and templar war clerics hurled sanctified spears of condensed holy mana toward the descending Sanguinastra. Purification chains erupted upward from rotating scripture circles positioned along the walls, and larger holy artillery formations embedded into the lower courtyard activated beneath overlapping chants from the supporting clergy operating the siege relays.
Yet none of the attacks reached the descending sword properly.
The first radiant lance twisted sideways moments before impact as though invisible pressure folded the surrounding space around the blade. The holy projectile split apart into two uneven halves before scattering harmlessly into the distant horizon beneath expanding trails of fragmented mana. Several scripture beams shattered into dozens of glowing fragments after entering the distorted pressure field surrounding Sanguinastra while sanctified spears burst apart beneath violent compression before even touching the descending weapon.
The inquisitors watched the failures unfold from the rooftop beneath spreading crimson light and growing atmospheric pressure while the fortress continued trembling around them.
"It's distorting the surrounding space," one inquisitor shouted while holy mana erupted around the scripture hammer clenched in his hand. "The pressure field around the blade is severing the spell structures before contact."
Another inquisitor immediately hurled a chained purification formation upward while rotating scripture symbols spread through the sky above the fortress. The chains never reached the sword. They fractured violently several dozen meters beneath the descending blade while sparks of destabilized holy mana scattered across the surrounding atmosphere.
Meanwhile, farther below the rooftop, support clergy rushed continuously through the fortress corridors carrying reserve scripture crystals, holy catalysts, and barrier stabilizers toward the central defensive chambers. Deacons shouted emergency reinforcement sequences while bishops positioned inside the lower chapel halls forced increasing amounts of holy power into the fortress barriers through prayer circles already beginning to overheat beneath the strain.
The descending Sanguinastra continued lowering through the sky.
Its tip burned brighter with each passing moment while compressed air spread downward in visible waves strong enough to force cloaks, banners, and loose debris violently against the fortress walls beneath the growing pressure.
On the distant ridge overlooking the concealed basin, Nocthyrael remained pressed naturally against Noctis from behind while both observed the fortress beneath the moving night wind. Her arms stayed wrapped around his waist and the Eye of Veinheart pulsed softly beneath the fitted crimson-black armor against her chest while the colossal blood-forged sword continued descending above the fortress below.
The overwhelming demonic pressure spreading through the basin affected the surrounding terrain continuously. Tall grass bent flat beneath the compressed airflow surrounding the ridge while clouds overhead rotated slowly around the descending sword and drifting crimson aura spread through the upper atmosphere like bleeding fractures across the sky.
Noctis remained completely still.
One hand stayed raised toward the fortress while blood aura circulated calmly beneath his skin and the descending Sanguinastra responded continuously to the pressure flowing from his will.
Below, the Archbishop finally recognized that ordinary resistance was meaningless.
The fortress could not destroy the sword through quantity alone.
Holy projectiles continued erupting upward from every level of the fortress while the layered barriers brightened beneath the incoming pressure, yet each attack either split apart, destabilized, or scattered before fully reaching the descending blade.
The Archbishop lowered his gaze briefly afterward while scripture circles rotated faster around his body and the rooftop beneath his feet trembled continuously beneath the growing pressure saturating the fortress.
"We require divine reinforcement," he said while holy mana spread outward from his staff in increasingly dense waves. "Prepare the summoning catalysts immediately."
The inquisitors and several of the higher-ranking bishops responded without hesitation.
Each reached beneath layered robes and armor before withdrawing crystalline blue gems etched with compressed summoning scripture. The gems glowed intensely beneath the surrounding holy pressure while the bishops moved toward a central formation circle already carved into the rooftop stone.
The descending sword continued lowering through the sky above them.
The inquisitors crushed the gems simultaneously.
Blue-white light erupted violently from the shattered crystals while overlapping summoning circles spread outward across the rooftop beneath rapidly expanding scripture patterns. Holy pressure surged upward from the fortress in a concentrated pillar while arcs of radiant energy spiraled continuously around the ascending beam and pierced directly into the upper atmosphere.
The holy ray shot upward toward the descending Sanguinastra.
For the first time since the fortress began resisting, one of the attacks actually reached the sword.
The radiant beam struck the underside of the descending blade beneath an explosion of golden-white light that spread across the surrounding clouds and illuminated the entire basin beneath overlapping waves of crimson and holy pressure.
Yet the impact accomplished almost nothing.
The descending sword slowed only slightly before continuing downward while the holy beam itself began splitting apart beneath the pressure field surrounding the blade. The concentrated ray fractured into multiple uneven streams while several portions reflected violently away from the collision point and shot sideways into the distant horizon beneath expanding trails of destabilized holy energy.
The fortress below shook beneath the reflected shockwaves while priests struggled to maintain footing across the battlements and lower courtyards.
The Archbishop continued gathering holy power while his vestments snapped violently through the compressed wind pressure descending from the sky. The summoning circles above the fortress continued expanding while shapes gradually formed inside the descending holy radiance, but the angels themselves had not fully manifested yet.
Instead, the Archbishop finally completed his own spell.
The scripture circles rotating around his body converged simultaneously while the rooftop amplification arrays ignited beneath blinding golden-white light. Holy pressure erupted upward from the Archbishop's raised staff while massive amounts of sanctified mana condensed directly above the fortress.
A gigantic holy spear gradually formed within the sky.
The shaft condensed from layered scripture resonance and compressed divine pressure while rotating halos spread continuously around the growing construct. Golden-white light illuminated the battlements beneath expanding sanctity pressure while the spear tip sharpened into a radiant point bright enough to distort the surrounding atmosphere.
"Lance of Final Absolution," one bishop whispered beneath the overwhelming pressure spreading across the rooftop.
The Archbishop thrust both hands upward.
The Tier 7 holy spell launched directly toward Sanguinastra.
The colossal lance pierced upward beneath expanding waves of sanctified pressure before colliding against the descending blood-forged sword high above the fortress.
The clash erupted across the sky beneath overlapping explosions of crimson and golden-white light while sparks scattered continuously through the atmosphere surrounding the collision point. The descending Sanguinastra slowed visibly for the first time since its creation while the Lance of Final Absolution drove upward beneath concentrated divine force.
Below the clash, portions of the fortress erupted into relieved shouts.
"They stopped it!"
"The Archbishop pushed it back!"
Holy pressure surged throughout the battlements while priests and templars stared upward beneath reflected radiance spreading across the basin.
At first glance, it truly appeared as though the descending Sanguinastra had been forced backward.
But the perception was misleading.
The sword itself still continued descending beneath the collision.
The Lance of Final Absolution had merely slowed the pressure enough to create the illusion of resistance.
The Archbishop understood immediately.
He raised both hands farther while veins spread visibly across his arms beneath the strain of forcing additional holy power upward through the rooftop formation.
"Push forward!" he roared while bishops and supporting clergy flooded additional holy mana into the amplification arrays beneath overlapping chants and spreading scripture resonance.
The Lance of Final Absolution pressed harder against the descending blade while sparks erupted violently between the colliding weapons overhead and shockwaves spread continuously across the atmosphere surrounding the fortress basin.
On the ridge beyond the fortress, Nocthyrael observed the clash quietly while remaining pressed naturally against Noctis beneath the moving night wind.
"They actually managed to slow it."
"They're delaying the impact," Noctis replied calmly while his raised hand remained pointed toward the fortress beneath circulating blood aura.
The Archbishop gritted his teeth beneath the crushing pressure descending from above while both hands continued forcing holy power upward into the lance.
Then Noctis clasped his raised hand.
The effect was immediate.
The colossal Sanguinastra suddenly pushed downward with dramatically greater force while compressed air exploded outward from the collision point above the fortress beneath violent crimson shockwaves.
The Lance of Final Absolution trembled instantly.
Sparks erupted continuously along the shaft while cracks spread gradually through the weapon beneath the overwhelming sovereign pressure descending against it.
The shaft bent.
Holy fractures spread farther.
The surrounding halos destabilized violently while portions of the rooftop stone shattered beneath the strain spreading through the amplification formations below.
Several supporting bishops coughed blood from mana backlash while the Archbishop himself staggered slightly beneath the crushing pressure now forcing the lance downward.
"The lance is failing!" one templar commander shouted while fragments of holy light scattered across the atmosphere overhead.
The Archbishop forced more holy power upward desperately while blood ran slowly from the corner of his mouth beneath the strain.
"Hold the formation!"
The Lance of Final Absolution continued trembling violently beneath the descending Sanguinastra while additional cracks spread through the shaft and holy sparks erupted continuously from the destabilizing weapon.
Then the summoning above the fortress finally completed.
The eighteen holy angels fully descended through the overlapping summoning circles while golden-white sanctity pressure spread continuously across the basin. Their wings unfolded beneath drifting radiance while layered halos rotated behind them through the surrounding atmosphere.
The moment they stabilized, all eighteen angels immediately looked upward.
They saw the incoming disaster.
Without hesitation, the angels ascended simultaneously into the sky above the fortress while spreading outward into a massive circular formation surrounding the clash between the Lance of Final Absolution and the descending Sanguinastra.
The atmosphere changed immediately afterward.
The angels opened their wings fully while clasping their hands together in prayer beneath expanding sanctity pressure spreading outward from the formation. A gigantic magic circle formed gradually at the center while overlapping hymn circles rotated continuously through the surrounding sky.
Immense holy power gathered between the angels.
The pressure saturated the atmosphere rapidly enough that arcs of golden electricity began spreading across the surrounding clouds beneath the rotating scripture formations.
Then the angels began singing.
The hymn spread across the basin beneath layered choir resonance while the atmosphere itself trembled beneath the concentrated sanctity pressure radiating outward from the angelic formation. Their voices overlapped continuously through the sky while scripture symbols ignited across the expanding circles surrounding them.
The Archbishop stared upward beneath widening eyes while holy pressure flooded continuously across the rooftop.
"It is the Tier 9 holy spell…" His voice carried through the fortress beneath the overlapping hymn resonance spreading across the basin. "Litany of Final Judgment!"
The spell activated fully moments later.
A colossal pillar of golden-white fire-light erupted upward from the center of the angelic formation while layered hymn circles rotated continuously around the ascending beam. Sanctity pressure spread violently through the surrounding atmosphere beneath expanding choir resonance strong enough to shake the fortress walls and destabilize portions of the surrounding crimson aura.
Reality itself seemed to tremble beneath the overwhelming holy pressure flooding the basin.
The massive pillar of fire-light surged directly into the Lance of Final Absolution.
The effects were immediate.
The holy lance brightened dramatically beneath the amplification while the fractured shaft gradually straightened and divine pressure exploded upward against the descending Sanguinastra beneath expanding waves of golden-white radiance.
For the first time since the clash began, the colossal blood-forged sword actually moved upward.
Slowly.
But visibly.
The descending pressure shifted while the amplified lance pushed harder against the blade beneath continuous choir resonance spreading throughout the sky.
Below, the fortress erupted in celebration.
"They're pushing it back!"
"The angels are winning!"
Priests collapsed into relieved prayers while templars raised their weapons toward the sky beneath reflected holy radiance spreading across the battlements and courtyards.
The Archbishop continued channeling power upward while golden-white light reflected across his face beneath the overlapping hymn circles rotating above the fortress.
Overhead, the Tier 9 Litany of Final Judgment continued amplifying the Lance of Final Absolution while the colossal Sanguinastra slowly rose higher against the combined force of eighteen holy angels, divine choir resonance, and the concentrated holy power flooding upward from the hidden siege fortress below.
On the ridge overlooking the basin, Nocthyrael remained wrapped around Noctis beneath the moving night wind while the reflected holy light spread continuously across both their figures.
Neither of them showed concern.