Chapter 25: The Price of One Life

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: The Price of One Life It began with thunder. But there were no clouds. No lightning. No storm. Just thunder... and the sound of wings. The divine beasts came at dusk. Four of them. Massive. Beautiful. Wrong. Seraphic in shape, each had six wings, golden masks for faces, and halos made of burning scripture. Their bodies pulsed with celestial energy — pure, hungry, ancient. They didn’t speak. They didn’t roar. They just attacked. [System Alert: Celestial Executioners Deployed] Targets: All Members of Kai Veyron’s Party Reason: Harboring an Unbound Catalyst Trial: Terminal Objective: Cleanse the Contamination The forest exploded. Elira clashed with one, her blade singing through holy flame. Yulia screamed incantations faster than her mouth could shape them. Lira fought like a shadow, blinking between strikes. Akari drew her katana and moved like lightning. And Kai? Kai didn’t hold back. He couldn’t. Because one of the beasts went straight for— Yulia. She was mid-cast when it hit. The impact launched her backward, spine cracking against a stone pillar. Her spell imploded. Blood burst from her mouth as she hit the ground, unmoving. "YULIA!" Kai roared. A burst of energy detonated from his chest, shattering the wings of the nearest beast. But it was too late. He skidded to her side, dropping to his knees. Her pulse was weak. Her breath? Fading. Her lips moved. "Did I... do good?" she whispered. He grabbed her hand. "You did perfect. You just have to hold on." She gave him the faintest smile. "Liar." And her eyes closed. [System Alert: Party Member – Yulia Astrem – Status: DECEASED] Soul Preservation Window: 300 seconds A divine choice is available. Do you wish to sacrifice part of your life to revive her? Cost: -12 years from maximum lifespan Warning: Once triggered, cannot be undone The world stopped. Elira screamed his name. Lira was bleeding. Akari was battling two beasts at once. But all he saw was her. Yulia. The smartest. The coldest. The one who always planned three moves ahead... Now still. Gone. Unless— He whispered: "Yes." [Life Transfer Initiated...] Lifespan reduced: 12 years Revival Sequence: Stabilized Yulia Astrem – Status: ALIVE Condition: Critical Bond: Reforged by Sacrifice Light enveloped her body, pulsing once, twice— Then her chest rose. She gasped. Eyes snapped open. And then... Tears. "You idiot," she croaked. "Why would you do that?" Kai smiled, shaking. "Because I didn’t want to win without you." She sobbed once — and it wasn’t from pain. Then passed out in his arms. Alive. The battle raged for another five minutes before Akari decapitated the final beast. The forest was ash. The night—silent. And Kai? Kai looked ten years older. Later, Lira sat beside him as Yulia slept. She said nothing for a long time. Then: "You’d do that for all of us, wouldn’t you?" Kai nodded. Without hesitation. "That’s what scares me," Lira said softly. Then walked away. [System Update: Divine Repercussions Accelerated] Kai’s Lifespan: Severely shortened Prophecy Thread Entangled New Passive Trait Gained: Martyr Instinct +15% Resistance to Divine Trials -10% Resistance to Emotional Collapse Far across the world, Hana felt the pulse. The death. The resurrection. The cost. She gripped the edge of her war table. Then looked up at her generals. "Prepare to move." "Now?" one of them asked. "We’re not ready." "Neither is he," Hana said. And her voice cracked—just once. "But he keeps dying for them... and I’m running out of time to stop him."