Golden-white radiance continued flooding the concealed basin while the eighteen holy angels maintained the Litany of Final Judgment high above the fortress beneath rotating hymn circles, layered halos, spreading sanctity pressure, and overlapping choir resonance that rolled continuously across the battlefield together with the cold night wind moving through the shattered frontier. The massive pillar of holy fire-light rising from the angelic formation continued reinforcing the Lance of Final Absolution pressing upward against the descending Sanguinastra while waves of compressed holy pressure spread repeatedly across the fortress walls strongly enough to stabilize portions of the damaged battlements and temporarily suppress the crimson aura saturating the surrounding atmosphere.
Below the clash, relief had already begun spreading physically throughout the fortress despite the destruction surrounding them. Priests collapsed onto damaged stone beneath tears and exhausted prayers while templars raised shields and weapons toward the sky beneath reflected holy radiance spreading across fractured battlements, broken towers, and partially collapsed walls. Support clergy rushed between scripture pylons carrying replacement catalysts and stabilizing talismans while bishops continued feeding holy power into the defensive formations from the lower chapel halls beneath rapidly circulating prayer circles that still glowed across the fortress interior.
The pressure above the fortress had visibly shifted.
The colossal blood-forged Sanguinastra no longer descended at the same overwhelming pace as before. Beneath the combined pressure of the Litany of Final Judgment and the Lance of Final Absolution, the sword had slowed enough that portions of the clergy genuinely believed the descending catastrophe had been halted.
Some even believed they were winning.
The angels continued singing overhead while arcs of golden electricity spread continuously around the rotating hymn circles surrounding the formation and sanctity pressure saturated the sky strongly enough that portions of the drifting crimson aura destabilized beneath the expanding holy radiance. The giant pillar of fire-light widened repeatedly while the reinforced Lance of Final Absolution straightened farther against the descending blade beneath expanding waves of divine pressure.
"They're pushing it back!"
"The Litany is overpowering it!"
"The angels saved the fortress!"
The voices spreading throughout the battlements, courtyards, and chapel corridors carried relief, exhaustion, and disbelief while drifting debris continued falling throughout the basin and fractured towers still collapsed intermittently beneath the earlier impact shockwaves. Even the inquisitors standing atop the rooftop command platform began stabilizing their footing beneath the overwhelming sanctity pressure flooding the battlefield.
Only the Archbishop still looked strained.
Blood continued running slowly from the corner of his mouth while both arms remained raised toward the sky beneath violently rotating scripture circles surrounding his body. The rooftop beneath him trembled continuously from the pressure flowing upward through the amplification formations while bishops supporting the spell formation struggled to maintain stable breathing beneath the holy mana saturation engulfing the platform.
Far beyond the fortress, on the ridge overlooking the basin, neither Noctis nor Nocthyrael shared the optimism spreading below.
Cold wind continued moving through the elevated overlook while the reflected golden-white radiance from the Litany spread across the tall grass surrounding them beneath the shifting night sky overhead. The pressure spreading from the fortress continuously distorted the airflow crossing the ridge while fragments of crimson aura still drifted across the battlefield like suspended blood mist beneath the expanding sanctity pressure.
Noctis remained completely calm.
One hand still pointed toward the fortress while blood authority circulated quietly beneath his skin and the partially slowed Sanguinastra continued responding to his will despite the massive resistance pressing upward against it.
Then the pressure surrounding the ridge changed.
The wind destabilized first.
Tall grass flattened outward beneath expanding force while loose debris scattered repeatedly across the overlook and the surrounding atmosphere compressed unnaturally around Noctis beneath spreading sovereign authority. Crimson aura surfaced visibly beneath his skin before golden holy pressure and abyssal-purple energy began emerging together through the surrounding air.
Behind him, reality distorted continuously.
The air bent repeatedly while gravitational pressure fluctuated across the ridge strongly enough that loose fragments of stone lifted briefly from the ground before collapsing again beneath the unstable force saturating the overlook. Spatial distortions spread outward behind Noctis while overlapping circular formations gradually emerged through the warped atmosphere beneath expanding waves of impossible authority.
The Trinity Dao Wheel slowly manifested.
Three enormous rotating sections circulated around a central void-like core while crimson blood authority flowed continuously through one segment, radiant holy pressure circulated through another, and abyssal-purple abyssal energy moved through the third beneath shifting geometric formations and fragmented scripture patterns that appeared and disappeared continuously around the rotating structure.
The wheel did not resemble ordinary magic.
It felt older than the battlefield itself.
The surrounding atmosphere reacted violently to its existence while compressed pressure waves spread repeatedly through the ridge and the airflow crossing the overlook destabilized beneath the impossible coexistence of blood authority, holy authority, and abyssal authority rotating together in perfect balance.
Nocthyrael stared silently.
The reflected crimson, gold, and purple radiance illuminated her face while the Eye of Veinheart pulsed rapidly beneath the armor against her chest and the pressure generated by the Trinity Dao Wheel spread continuously across her body through the blood communion connecting her to Noctis.
She had seen the wheel before through inherited memories.
Fragments.
Impressions.
Moments buried inside the blood itself.
But witnessing it directly overwhelmed her completely.
The rotating authorities surrounding the wheel continuously distorted the surrounding atmosphere while fragments of space cracked intermittently around the edges of the formation and overlapping waves of sovereign pressure rolled outward from the structure strongly enough that even the holy radiance spreading from the fortress below weakened around the ridge.
Her breathing slowed.
Warmth spread visibly across her face while her crimson eyes reflected the rotating energies circulating behind Noctis beneath the distorted night sky. Without fully realizing it, she began stepping slightly closer while one hand slowly lifted toward the wheel itself beneath the expanding pressure saturating the overlook.
Noctis spoke calmly before her fingers approached farther.
"Step back," he said while the Trinity Dao Wheel continued rotating behind him and the surrounding atmosphere distorted continuously beneath the pressure. "Things may become rough from here."
Nocthyrael immediately obeyed.
There was no hesitation whatsoever.
She stepped backward across the ridge while the pressure flowing from the Trinity Dao Wheel continued destabilizing the airflow surrounding the overlook.
Crimson authority spread outward around her moments later.
Layered sovereign wards formed continuously through the surrounding air while dense crimson scripture circles rotated around the protective barrier surrounding her body beneath compressed blood authority so concentrated that the approaching pressure waves from the battlefield bent harmlessly around the ward instead of striking directly against it.
Only after the ward fully stabilized did Noctis move again.
He released the hand he previously clasped.
Then raised two fingers toward the partially restrained Sanguinastra suspended above the fortress.
Behind him, the Trinity Dao Wheel accelerated.
The three rotating authorities aligned momentarily beneath violently spreading spatial distortion while gravitational fluctuations destabilized the ridge and the surrounding atmosphere trembled continuously beneath the pressure.
Three streams of energy erupted outward simultaneously from the rotating wheel.
Crimson blood authority.
Golden holy authority.
Abyssal-purple destruction.
The beams crossed the battlefield instantly while the atmosphere ruptured along their path beneath the overwhelming force of their passage. The streams collided directly against the descending Sanguinastra while shockwaves exploded outward from the sword strongly enough to destabilize portions of the Litany overhead.
The colossal blade trembled violently.
Then the entire sword erupted into dazzling radiance beneath overlapping crimson, gold, and purple light that spread continuously across the sky while waves of compressed pressure exploded outward from the empowered weapon. The atmosphere surrounding Sanguinastra cracked repeatedly beneath expanding spatial distortion while fragments of destabilized holy mana scattered violently throughout the battlefield after the sword absorbed the Trinity infusion completely.
The pressure changed immediately afterward.
The fortress felt it instantly.
The angels felt it.
The Archbishop felt it.
The empowered Sanguinastra resumed descending.
Not slowly.
Not gradually.
The pressure behind the blade multiplied so violently that the Lance of Final Absolution immediately curved farther beneath the renewed force while expanding fractures spread continuously across the holy shaft and destabilized scripture runes burst apart one after another beneath the overwhelming sovereign pressure descending against it.
The Litany of Final Judgment destabilized almost immediately afterward.
The gigantic pillar of holy fire-light pushing upward from the angelic formation began splitting apart beneath expanding crimson shockwaves while sections of the ascending holy beam fractured into scattered streams of destabilized sanctity pressure that shot sideways throughout the sky. Rotating hymn circles cracked directly through their centers while the choir resonance spreading across the battlefield became uneven beneath the growing force crushing downward against the formation.
The angels reacted immediately.
All eighteen poured more power into the Litany while their wings trembled visibly beneath the strain and several halos surrounding them destabilized continuously beneath the pressure erupting from Sanguinastra.
Yet the empowered sword continued descending.
The Lance of Final Absolution bent farther.
Cracks spread fully across the shaft while expanding waves of crimson pressure forced the holy construct downward despite the combined resistance of the Litany and the angels supporting it overhead.
The Archbishop forced additional holy power upward desperately while blood vessels spread visibly throughout his arms and neck beneath the strain of maintaining the collapsing lance. The rooftop amplification formations beneath him shook continuously while several supporting bishops coughed blood directly onto the glowing scripture arrays surrounding the platform.
Still the sword descended.
Then the Lance of Final Absolution shattered.
The holy spear ruptured apart beneath catastrophic pressure while enormous fragments of destabilized sanctity exploded throughout the atmosphere trailing broken scripture light behind them. Shockwaves erupted continuously across the battlefield while shattered holy fragments rained throughout the fortress basin and destabilized portions of the remaining defensive formations below.
The relief spreading throughout the fortress collapsed immediately afterward.
Priests and templars who moments earlier believed the Litany had stabilized the battlefield now stared upward beneath widening eyes while the shattered remains of the Lance scattered across the sky above them and the empowered Sanguinastra continued descending through the collapsing holy pressure overhead.
The angels desperately forced more power into the Litany of Final Judgment while the giant pillar of fire-light continued pressing upward against the sword, but the formation itself had already begun destabilizing visibly beneath the overwhelming sovereign pressure now crushing downward against it.
Several angels trembled violently.
The halos surrounding them fractured repeatedly.
Choir resonance destabilized throughout the basin.
On the rooftop below, the Archbishop suddenly gasped violently beneath catastrophic backlash surging through his body from the destruction of the Lance of Final Absolution. He immediately grabbed his chest while blood erupted from his mouth and spilled across the rooftop stone beneath collapsing holy resonance spreading through the amplification arrays.
Blood began running from his eyes.
Then his nose.
Then his ears.
His body trembled uncontrollably beneath the backlash while the scripture circles surrounding him destabilized continuously and portions of the rooftop platform shattered beneath the pressure still descending from above.
The Archbishop collapsed onto one knee while struggling to breathe beneath the force crushing downward through the battlefield.
One inquisitor looked upward toward the collapsing Litany while expanding crimson shockwaves continued erupting around the descending sword.
"Everyone flee!" he screamed while panic spread physically throughout the fortress beneath the returning sovereign pressure engulfing the basin.
But it was already too late.
The empowered Sanguinastra tore directly through the Litany formation itself.
The descending sword pierced upward through the giant circular angelic formation while the pillar of holy fire-light split violently around the blade and destabilized sanctity pressure erupted continuously throughout the sky. Rotating hymn circles shattered apart one after another while overlapping choir resonance collapsed into fragmented bursts of distorted sound beneath the overwhelming force rupturing through the formation.
The angels themselves were thrown violently away from the collision.
Several attempted stabilizing barriers around their bodies while others lost control of their flight entirely beneath the pressure waves exploding outward from the sword as it tore completely through the Litany formation.
Only after destroying the angelic formation did Sanguinastra continue downward toward the fortress itself.
The Tier 8 barrier surrounding the fortress shattered instantly upon contact.
The layered scripture web covering the fortress exploded apart beneath the descending blade while barrier anchors ruptured simultaneously throughout the walls, towers, and lower relay chambers. Holy formations collapsed completely beneath the impact while fragments of destabilized scripture light scattered throughout the battlefield.
Then Sanguinastra struck the fortress center.
The impact ruptured the concealed basin beneath a deafening explosion while massive shockwaves spread continuously outward from the point of impact and fractured the surrounding terrain. Towers collapsed outward beneath expanding pressure while walls split apart and debris storms erupted throughout the fortress beneath the overwhelming force.
Priests, templars, bishops, deacons, and surviving angels were thrown violently throughout the collapsing structures while fractured stone, shattered scripture pylons, burning debris, and broken bodies scattered continuously across the basin beneath the expanding shockwave.
The surrounding frontier shook.
Cracks spread through the earth beyond the fortress while nearby hills fractured beneath the pressure and forests bent violently beneath the expanding force moving outward from the impact zone.
Yet despite the devastation, voices gradually began surfacing from the ruins.
"We survived…"
"Still alive…"
Some of the surviving clergy slowly realized they had not died instantly beneath the impact itself. Templars trapped beneath collapsed walls began laughing weakly while several priests collapsed into relieved prayers amidst the drifting smoke and debris spreading throughout the ruined fortress.
But the higher-ranking leaders understood immediately that something was wrong.
The Archbishop remained kneeling beneath blood running continuously from his face while the surviving inquisitors and bishops stared toward the gigantic Sanguinastra embedded into the center of the ruined fortress beneath spreading crimson light.
The pressure had not disappeared.
The sword was still active.
Far above the ruins, on the overlooking ridge, Noctis laughed softly while crimson smoke continued rising throughout the devastated basin and fragments of destabilized holy pressure drifted continuously through the surrounding air.
"How foolish," he said while the Trinity Dao Wheel continued rotating behind him beneath spreading sovereign authority and the night wind moved steadily across the ridge. "How could that possibly be the end?"
He slowly extended both hands outward afterward while the embedded Sanguinastra continued glowing brighter beneath the drifting smoke covering the ruined fortress.
"Let Armageddon begin."
Crimson pressure intensified immediately throughout the battlefield.
The embedded Sanguinastra began radiating expanding waves of blood authority while fractures of crimson light spread continuously across the blade beneath rapidly escalating sovereign pressure. Concentrated beams of crimson energy erupted outward from the sword moments before the entire weapon destabilized violently beneath the expanding force building inside it.
Then the fortress vanished beneath crimson annihilation.
The detonation expanded outward like the birth of a blood-red star while apocalyptic pressure engulfed the ruined fortress instantly and the remaining structures throughout the basin disappeared beneath the expanding explosion. The surviving clergy, templars, bishops, inquisitors, and angels were consumed immediately while the expanding force vaporized walls, towers, scripture formations, and terrain beneath overwhelming sovereign destruction.
The angels attempted raising barriers around themselves.
The barriers collapsed almost instantly beneath the expanding crimson detonation while several divine figures disappeared completely inside the engulfing explosion and the surrounding sanctity pressure destabilized violently throughout the sky above the ruined basin.
The expanding pressure wave continued growing.
Forests beyond the fortress uprooted violently while hills ruptured beneath the shockwave and enormous cracks spread through the surrounding frontier terrain beneath the force. Burning debris, shattered stone, and destabilized crimson energy surged continuously outward while the atmosphere itself distorted beneath the expanding destruction.
Far away, the shockwave finally reached the demonic portal stronghold connected to the frontier routes.
The entire settlement shook violently.
Market stalls flipped through the streets while merchandise scattered into the air beneath the incoming blast of compressed wind. Buildings trembled continuously while weaker structures collapsed beneath the spreading quake and roof shingles tore free from houses before spiraling into the sky alongside broken banners, shattered wood, and scattered debris.
Demons throughout the stronghold staggered beneath the pressure while violent gusts swept through the settlement strongly enough to force smaller structures apart and shake the stone roads beneath the expanding force spreading from the distant battlefield.
Meanwhile, the crimson explosion continued expanding relentlessly across the frontier.
The destruction wave approached the ridge where Noctis and Nocthyrael remained standing inside the sovereign ward while destabilized energy continued spreading across the atmosphere around them.
Noctis calmly extended one hand.
His fingers clawed slowly through the air afterward while the Trinity Dao Wheel continued rotating behind him beneath expanding spatial distortion.
Then he began closing his hand.
The expanding explosion stopped growing immediately.
The endless waves of crimson destruction destabilized briefly before reversing direction entirely beneath impossible sovereign authority. The expanding shockwave collapsed inward while the apocalyptic energy flooding the frontier receded continuously back toward the ruined fortress beneath Noctis's control.
Crimson light compressed steadily into itself while the spreading destruction folded inward from every direction.
The expanding annihilation grew smaller.
Smaller.
The shockwaves disappeared back toward the center.
The burning pressure waves collapsed inward.
Then finally the entire battlefield of crimson destruction condensed into a single floating sphere above the ruins.
The crimson sphere shot upward into the night sky afterward while leaving a glowing red trail across the atmosphere before gradually disappearing into the distant darkness overhead.
Silence slowly returned to the frontier.
Smoke rolled continuously upward from the annihilated basin while fractured terrain stretched throughout the surrounding landscape beneath drifting crimson embers and fading holy fragments still falling through the air.
Noctis turned toward Nocthyrael afterward while black armor gradually reformed across his body beneath flowing blood authority and his trench coat restored itself naturally around him through shifting crimson aura.
The sovereign ward surrounding Nocthyrael dissolved moments later.
She immediately ran toward him through the grass before wrapping both arms tightly around him and burying herself against his chest beneath the cooling night wind moving across the devastated frontier.
"You truly are the best," she said softly while the Eye of Veinheart pulsed rapidly beneath the armor against her chest and drifting crimson embers continued falling throughout the surrounding battlefield.
Noctis gently held her hand afterward while smoke and fading pressure still rolled upward from the destroyed fortress far below them.
"Ready to reap the rewards?"
Nocthyrael looked up at him with a bright smile beneath the fading crimson glow illuminating the ruined landscape.
Genesis Step activated immediately afterward.
Space folded silently around both of them while the devastated basin disappeared beneath compressed sovereign authority.
The next moment, both vanished toward the ruins of the annihilated fortress.