Genesis Step folded space around Noctis and Nocthyrael before releasing both of them directly into the devastated remains of the hidden fortress while drifting smoke continued rising throughout the ruined basin and lingering heat still spread from fractured stone, burning rubble, shattered scripture pylons, and collapsed cathedral structures beneath the fading night sky overhead. The earlier impact from Sanguinastra together with the controlled Armageddon detonation had transformed the once-concealed fortress into an enormous field of destruction where cratered roads, broken battlements, collapsed towers, ruptured courtyards, and partially buried chapel halls now stretched throughout the valley beneath drifting ash and unstable remnants of fading holy pressure.
Yet despite the overwhelming devastation surrounding them, the basin had not been reduced completely into lifeless wasteland because Noctis had deliberately restrained the full destructive range of the detonation before compressing the explosion back into singularity collapse. Portions of the fortress foundation still remained beneath the destruction while fractured roads continued extending through the ruins and several damaged structures leaned precariously throughout the basin beneath drifting smoke and spreading crimson fractures glowing faintly beneath the lingering aftermath of sovereign authority.
The cooling wind moving through the ruined fortress carried a mixture of burned sanctity, melted metal, blood, dust, abyssal residue, and fading scripture ash while fragments of destabilized holy formations still flickered intermittently throughout the battlefield beneath collapsed debris. Fires continued spreading through several buried fortress sections while unstable walls occasionally shifted or collapsed deeper within the ruins beneath the lingering aftermath pressure still saturating the valley.
Noctis walked calmly through the devastation while black armor and the dark trench coat reforming around his body shifted softly beneath the airflow moving throughout the basin. Beside him, Nocthyrael moved naturally through the fractured battlefield while the heels of her armored boots clicked rhythmically against broken stone, collapsed scripture plates, and scattered fortress debris spread throughout the ruined valley floor. Crimson mist drifted intermittently around both of them beneath the moving night wind while fragments of ash continued falling softly throughout the battlefield from the still-burning remains of collapsed towers farther ahead.
The Eye of Veinheart continued pulsing beneath the fitted armor against Nocthyrael's chest while lingering intoxication from the earlier blood feeding still spread warmth through her bloodstream beneath the evolving holy and blood authority circulating throughout her body. The aftermath pressure saturating the basin no longer affected her negatively because the blood communion linking her existence to Noctis allowed the sovereign authority lingering throughout the battlefield to feel familiar instead of oppressive.
Farther ahead, the central impact crater where Sanguinastra embedded before detonating still radiated faint crimson heat beneath the shattered remains of the fortress command district. Fractured walls leaned throughout the surrounding ruins while broken cathedral structures lay scattered beneath drifting smoke and fading sanctity fragments still dissolving gradually into the night air.
Nocthyrael slowly observed the devastation around them while her crimson eyes reflected the burning embers drifting throughout the basin.
"There is barely anything left," she said quietly while stepping over a fractured section of scripture plating partially buried beneath collapsed stone and melted iron reinforcement.
"That was intentional," Noctis replied while the cooling airflow shifted loose ash around his boots and smoke continued rolling through the ruined fortress beneath the fading night sky. "If I released the full force of Armageddon without restraint, the entire frontier region surrounding this basin would have become permanently uninhabitable."
Nocthyrael looked toward him briefly afterward before continuing deeper into the ruined fortress beside him while lingering pressure continued spreading intermittently throughout the battlefield beneath unstable remnants of fading holy resonance.
The silence throughout the basin felt unnatural.
Not peaceful.
Suppressed.
The destruction left behind by Sanguinastra and Armageddon had forced even the natural sounds of the frontier into temporary absence while drifting smoke continued moving throughout the ruins beneath the lingering aftermath of overwhelming sovereign authority.
Then Noctis stopped walking.
The pressure throughout the basin shifted subtly afterward while loose fragments of broken stone trembled faintly beneath the ruined ground and the crimson authority still lingering throughout the battlefield deepened slightly beneath the surrounding ruins.
Nocthyrael immediately looked toward him.
A slow smile spread across Noctis's face afterward before a quiet chuckle escaped him beneath the drifting smoke moving throughout the devastated basin.
"This truly became an excellent harvest."
He casually lifted one hand afterward.
The ground beneath the ruined fortress shook violently.
Cracks spread rapidly throughout the shattered valley floor while collapsed walls split apart and enormous sections of buried debris erupted upward beneath expanding waves of crimson authority spreading throughout the basin. Broken roads ruptured while destabilized scripture pylons exploded apart beneath the force moving upward from underground and massive crimson chains forged entirely from condensed blood authority burst violently out from beneath the ruins.
There were eighteen separate eruption points throughout the basin.
Each chain formation tore upward through collapsed stone before wrapping tightly around buried figures hidden beneath the destruction. Moments later, the chains dragged the figures violently upward while shattered debris, fractured metal, and broken masonry scattered throughout the battlefield beneath the force of their emergence.
The angels emerged from beneath the ruins.
Their bodies remained heavily damaged beneath the devastation while torn wings dragged weakly through the rubble and fractured halos continued releasing unstable sanctity pressure into the smoke-filled basin. Golden blood still flowed from wounds spread throughout their bodies beneath ruined armor and shattered divine vestments while portions of broken scripture remained embedded throughout several of their forms beneath the catastrophic damage inflicted during the collapse of the Litany of Final Judgment and the detonation afterward.
Yet all eighteen still lived.
The restrained angels continued breathing weakly beneath the chains despite the catastrophic injuries covering their bodies because Noctis had deliberately controlled the earlier detonation carefully enough to preserve their lives beneath the collapsed fortress while fractured sanctity pressure still drifted intermittently from their damaged halos into the smoke-filled basin.
The chains lifted them completely into the air before slamming them heavily into the fractured fortress floor directly before Noctis beneath drifting ash and lingering battlefield pressure. Additional chains erupted moments later and wrapped tightly around their limbs, waists, throats, and wings beneath dense blood authority strong enough that even the fading holy power surrounding the angels destabilized beneath the restraints.
Noctis's smile widened slightly afterward while crimson chains rattled softly throughout the surrounding ruins.
The angels were too valuable to destroy.
Nocthyrael quietly watched the restrained divine figures while drifting smoke moved continuously throughout the basin and fragments of holy light still flickered intermittently around the damaged halos behind the angels' heads.
Then the ruined ground shook again.
Additional chains erupted violently from beneath the collapsed fortress while broken debris scattered across the basin and several more buried figures were dragged upward through the destruction beneath expanding waves of blood authority.
The Archbishop emerged first.
Or rather, the nearly ruined shell that remained of him after surviving the collapse of the Lance of Final Absolution, the destruction of the Litany, the impact of Sanguinastra, and the controlled Armageddon detonation afterward.
Most of his ceremonial robes had burned away beneath the catastrophic force while blood continued running steadily from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth beneath fractured sanctity pressure still clinging weakly to his nearly destroyed body. One arm hung unnaturally while portions of his chest appeared partially collapsed inward beneath the earlier backlash from the destruction of his holy spell.
Behind him came the three inquisitors.
Their execution armor had partially melted beneath the explosion while fractured scripture chains still remained wrapped around portions of their ruined bodies beneath drifting smoke and lingering holy residue spreading throughout the battlefield.
Then the chains dragged upward the three templar knight leaders together with dozens of surviving bishops whose bodies hovered only slightly above death beneath catastrophic injuries spread throughout their broken forms.
Every one of them was carried through the rubble before being slammed heavily into the ruined fortress floor directly before Noctis beneath drifting embers, fading holy fragments, and the lingering smell of blood saturating the devastated basin.
The battlefield atmosphere itself had become strange after the destruction.
Holy blood mixed together with abyssal residue, melted metal, fading sanctity pressure, and sovereign blood authority throughout the smoke-filled valley while fragments of broken scripture continued flickering weakly beneath collapsed debris throughout the ruins.
Nocthyrael slowly moved closer afterward before naturally wrapping both arms around Noctis's arm beneath the cooling airflow moving throughout the battlefield. Her gaze drifted across the restrained angels afterward while the crimson chains surrounding them rattled softly beneath the lingering pressure spreading throughout the basin.
Then her eyes settled briefly upon the six female angels.
Her grip around Noctis's arm tightened slightly afterward while a faint pout appeared across her face beneath the drifting smoke and fading embers moving throughout the ruined fortress.
She already understood what Noctis intended.
The angels were too valuable to leave unchanged.
Noctis immediately noticed her reaction.
A quiet smile crossed his face afterward before he casually pinched her cheek between his fingers while crimson mist continued drifting around both of them beneath the lingering battlefield pressure.
"You are my only wife," he said calmly while the chains binding the angels continued rattling softly throughout the ruined basin and fragments of fading sanctity drifted through the smoke-filled air. "These angels will serve beneath your authority after the conversion is complete."
Nocthyrael blinked briefly afterward.
The jealousy faded almost immediately.
Warm satisfaction gradually spread across her expression while the Eye of Veinheart pulsed softly beneath the armor against her chest and the lingering intoxication spreading through her bloodstream softened beneath his reassurance.
"Then quickly devour their blood," she said afterward while looking toward the restrained angels again beneath drifting ash and smoke. "Their blood should strengthen you greatly."
Noctis shook his head slightly.
"Their blood no longer holds enough value for my own evolution."
Nocthyrael immediately looked back toward him.
"The Genesis Apex path has already surpassed the level where ordinary angelic blood can strengthen me significantly," he explained calmly while the cooling airflow continued moving throughout the devastated fortress. "My future evolution now requires relics and entities directly tied to the ancient gods themselves."
His gaze shifted toward the restrained survivors afterward.
"But for you, their blood remains extremely valuable."
Nocthyrael lowered her head slightly afterward while drifting crimson mist continued moving softly around both of them throughout the ruined basin.
Even after inheriting his bloodline and becoming his wife, instinct still remained inside her that the strongest resources should belong to Noctis before herself.
Noctis gently cupped her chin afterward before lifting her gaze upward to meet his own.
"It is fine," he said quietly while smoke continued drifting throughout the shattered fortress around them.
His eyes softened slightly afterward before he leaned forward and kissed her forehead beneath the fading crimson glow illuminating the battlefield.
"Drink their blood while we still have time. Demonic scavengers will begin arriving soon, and preserving these survivors while fighting off greedy looters will become troublesome."
Nocthyrael slowly nodded afterward.
Then she stepped forward into the center of the ruined basin while the restrained survivors watched weakly beneath the crimson chains binding them throughout the battlefield.
The moment she opened her mouth slightly, her fangs extended instinctively beneath the lingering crimson glow spreading throughout the fortress ruins.
She activated Devour.
Blood immediately began rising from the restrained survivors.
Thin crimson streams emerged first from the bishops, inquisitors, templar leaders, and Archbishop while blood currents gathered continuously through the air before condensing into a rotating sphere above Nocthyrael's open mouth. The sphere continuously dripped blood downward while she swallowed repeatedly beneath the overwhelming influx of power entering her bloodstream.
Then the angels' blood began rising.
Golden blood emerged from their bodies beneath expanding sanctity pressure while the restrained angels immediately struggled violently against the crimson chains binding them throughout the ruined basin. Holy power erupted intermittently around them while their divine blood was forcibly extracted into the growing sphere suspended above Nocthyrael.
The instant the first drops of golden blood entered her mouth, her eyes widened.
The purity flowing through the angelic blood far surpassed anything she consumed before while overwhelming sanctity spread continuously throughout her body and merged together with the vampiric bloodline inherited from Noctis beneath expanding waves of intoxicating pressure.
A soft breath escaped her lips involuntarily while warmth spread visibly across her flushed face and the Eye of Veinheart pulsed rapidly beneath the armor against her chest.
The sensation resembled drinking divine nectar itself.
Holy authority surged throughout her bloodstream while blood authority erupted continuously around her body beneath evolving waves of pressure spreading throughout the basin. Golden sanctity mixed together with abyssal corruption beneath the sovereign bloodline now dominating her existence while drifting crimson aura and holy radiance spread outward from her body together.
Noctis quietly observed the feeding while smoke and embers continued drifting throughout the devastated battlefield around them.
The rotating sphere above Nocthyrael's mouth continued growing while streams of blood rose continuously from the restrained survivors throughout the basin beneath the lingering aftermath pressure still saturating the ruins.
Whenever one of the surviving bishops or clergy approached fatal blood loss, Noctis calmly ordered her to stop feeding from that target before redirecting the extraction toward another survivor.
He controlled the feeding carefully.
No one was allowed to die.
The process continued for a long time while holy blood, crimson blood authority, and abyssal corruption continuously mixed throughout the ruined fortress beneath the lingering sovereign pressure still spreading throughout the basin.
Eventually the sphere above Nocthyrael's mouth began shrinking.
The remaining streams condensed together before the entire blood sphere suddenly collapsed downward directly into her mouth.
Nocthyrael swallowed everything.
Both hands immediately rose to cover her flushed cheeks afterward while a trembling breath escaped her lips beneath the overwhelming heat now spreading uncontrollably throughout her evolving body.
Blood authority erupted around her.
Golden holy pressure surged outward together with abyssal corruption while expanding waves of evolving power spread throughout the ruined basin beneath the drifting smoke and fading embers.
She quickly turned afterward before throwing herself directly against Noctis's chest beneath the overwhelming heat consuming her body.
"I'm too hot…" she whispered while gripping tightly against him beneath the lingering battlefield pressure still spreading throughout the ruins. "I need you…"
Her hands moved eagerly across his body while the evolving power flooding her bloodstream continued intensifying beneath the lingering intoxication created by the angelic blood she consumed.
Noctis calmly kissed her forehead again while blood aura spread softly around both of them beneath the cooling wind moving throughout the devastated basin.
"Be patient," he said quietly. "The demons will arrive soon."
Nocthyrael let out a soft dissatisfied sound afterward but still obeyed him while remaining tightly pressed against his body beneath the overwhelming warmth spreading throughout her bloodstream.
Then Noctis finally began the conversions.
Streams of blood authority emerged directly from his hands before spreading outward throughout the ruined fortress like living crimson serpents beneath expanding sovereign pressure. The blood streams pierced directly into the chests of the restrained angels first while the chains binding them tightened throughout the basin beneath the spreading Genesis authority.
Then the streams pierced the Archbishop.
The inquisitors.
The templar leaders.
The bishops.
Genesis spread through every one of them simultaneously beneath expanding sovereign pressure while the battlefield itself seemed to destabilize briefly beneath the authority rewriting their existence from within.
The angels would inevitably become fallen angels.
But the clergy…
Noctis genuinely wondered what Genesis would reshape them into.
Meanwhile, beyond the devastated fortress, the surrounding frontier had already begun reacting to the earlier catastrophe.
The demonic portal stronghold had recovered enough from the earlier shockwave that large groups of demons had already begun organizing scavenging raids toward the ruined fortress after witnessing the explosions and pressure flooding throughout the frontier.
At the same time, the academy expedition group hidden earlier inside the ravine had changed objectives completely after witnessing the descending sword and the catastrophic detonations afterward.
Most of them already suspected the truth.
Noctis caused this.
Now they were rushing toward the fortress ruins as quickly as possible.
Nearly thirty minutes passed afterward while the battlefield gradually stabilized beneath the lingering aftermath pressure still spreading throughout the basin.
By then, Nocthyrael had calmed enough that the overwhelming heat consuming her body no longer threatened to overwhelm her completely, though her flushed face still carried traces of lingering dissatisfaction beneath the evolving power spreading throughout her bloodstream.
She still wanted more from him.
But Noctis's attention had already shifted toward the completed conversions now kneeling throughout the devastated basin beneath drifting smoke and fading embers.
Before him knelt eighteen fallen angels.
Twelve male.
Six female.
Every one of them possessed overwhelming beauty together with terrifying pressure beneath the crimson glow illuminating the ruined battlefield. Divine perfection still lingered throughout their appearances while abyssal corruption and sovereign blood authority had reshaped them into something far more dangerous than ordinary angels beneath the drifting smoke moving throughout the basin.
The six female fallen angels rivaled Nocthyrael herself in appearance.
Nocthyrael's grip tightened slightly again afterward while jealousy surfaced faintly across her face beneath the lingering crimson glow.
Noctis barely acknowledged it.
Instead, Omni Eyes activated within his pupils while crimson-gold rings rotated beneath the lingering battlefield pressure still saturating the basin.
Information immediately surfaced before him.
All eighteen had become Vampiric Fallen Angels.
Just like Nocthyrael.
Their blood affinity stabilized at level eight.
Their holy affinity stabilized at level eight.
Only their abyssal affinity remained lower at level three.
Noctis glanced toward Nocthyrael afterward.
Her own evolution had advanced significantly after consuming the blood.
Blood affinity level eight.
Holy affinity level eight.
The feeding accomplished exactly what he intended.
A satisfied expression appeared briefly across his face afterward before his gaze shifted toward the other side of the devastated basin where the transformed clergy had finally stabilized beneath the lingering sovereign authority still saturating the battlefield.
The former Archbishop no longer resembled a holy leader of the Church because towering black cathedral robes layered with deep crimson inner lining now draped over his transformed body while fractured black-and-gold halo segments rotated slowly behind his head beneath drifting abyssal scripture that moved continuously around him like burning ash through the ruined fortress air.
Glowing blood sigils spread visibly beneath the pale flesh of his neck and hands while sanctified blood flowed through transparent veins beneath his skin. Crown-like horn structures curved backward from his temples and his eyes shifted intermittently between crimson, gold, and void-black beneath the drifting smoke continuing throughout the battlefield.
Every step he took caused faint hymn-runes to burn briefly into the fractured stone beneath his feet before fading moments later.
Omni Eyes immediately identified the transformed being as an Abyssal Hierarch.
Nearby, the transformed bishops stabilized into Sanguine Prelates beneath the lingering battlefield pressure still moving throughout the basin. Layered crimson-and-white vestments flowed around their bodies beneath living blood patterns crawling continuously throughout the fabric while floating droplets of blood orbited around them like rosary beads beneath eclipse-like halos rotating slowly behind their heads.
Metallic prayer chains wrapped throughout their arms and waists while faint golden light escaped their mouths beneath overlapping hymn whispers spreading softly throughout the ruined fortress.
The inquisitors had become Dread Judicators.
Black inquisitorial coats reinforced with abyssal plate armor covered their transformed bodies while fractured halos rotated behind execution masks like bladed rings beneath the drifting smoke moving throughout the battlefield. Crimson scripture spread throughout the interiors of their cloaks while armored gauntlets dripped sanctified blood beneath the lingering heat still rising from the ruined ground.
Their presence spread suffocating pressure throughout the surrounding basin.
Lastly, the templar leaders stabilized into Crimson Marshals.
Massive cathedral-black armor fused together with abyssal organic growths covered their towering bodies while crimson capes resembling flowing blood shifted continuously behind them beneath drifting embers and lingering battlefield heat. Wing-like mantle structures extended outward from their backs while glowing sanctity lines pulsed faintly throughout the black armor plating beneath blood vapor venting continuously through the seams.
The armor itself continuously repaired damaged sections through flowing blood-metal spreading throughout the plating beneath lingering sovereign authority.
Smoke continued drifting throughout the ruined basin while the transformed hierarchy stabilized beneath the lingering crimson pressure spreading across the battlefield and the fractured remnants of holy sanctity gradually disappeared beneath the new sovereign order now occupying the destroyed fortress ruins.