Chapter 548 [Epilogue]: [Second Ga: Second Part]
Freyja hovered above the ruined capital of Utopia, her gaze sweeping across the devastation below. For once, she found herself at a loss for words. The city was now little more than a battleground, littered with wreckage and the lingering remnants of an earth-shaking clash. Fortunately, most civilians had long since evacuated, safely residing in Elyen Kiora and the other cities ruled by the Blood Elves and Dark Elves. Only Utopian Knights remained here, and so nobles.
And thank the heavens for that. Freyja's golden eyes flickered as she surveyed the destruction. Though Durathiel and Amael hadn't fought in every corner of the city, the sheer force of their battle had left its mark on the city. The shockwaves of their clashes alone had been powerful enough to level structures hundreds of ters away, and the remnants of their Sins carried an even more devastating aftershock. So of Amael's flas still burned, licking hungrily at the charred remains of buildings, turning them to embers even now. Durathiel's winds had done their own share of damage, slicing through hos and leaving behind rubbles. Freyja had seen worse, of course. Wars that had turned entire kingdoms and worlds into dust. But sothing about this battle interested her—it was rare to see mortals fight with such raw, overwhelming power. Her lips curved slightly, though there was no amusent in her expression. Instead, she whispered, almost to herself. "Samael, even in death, you bring nothing but destruction. Just how deep did your hatred for Eden's world run…?"
It was a question with no answer. And yet, as she lingered on the thought, she wondered—if Samael had still been alive, would she have allied herself with him? It wasn't an impossible notion. They both despised Eden. They both sought revenge. And more than that, Samael had co closer to killing Eden than anyone ever had. If he had been given another chance… would he have succeeded? "Here."
Annabelle's voice cut through her thoughts, and Freyja turned to where Annabelle floated beside her, motioning toward what was left of Utopia's tallest structure—the Tower of Utopia. Or rather, the ruins of it. The tower had completely collapsed into a heap of dust and rubble. It was impossible to tell how many people had been buried beneath it, their bodies now indistinguishable from the debris that had swallowed them whole. A lingering cloud of dust hung over the wreckage, shrouding the field. And then— A flicker of purple ignited within the haze. Freyja, with a re flick of her wrist, a gust of wind swept through the area, parting the dust like a curtain and revealing the scene below. There, standing amidst the wreckage, was Amael. His silhouette stood motionless, bathed in the purple glow of the flas still burning around him. His gaze was fixed on sothing at his feet—a body, engulfed in purple fire, its flesh reduced to nothing but cinders. "Edward!" ***
"Edward!"
Annabelle landed softly on the ruined ground before rushing toward . I turned at the sound of her voice, my expression montarily softening as I caught her. "I'm fine." I reassured her, patting her hair. anwhile, Freyja's gaze lingered on the smoldering remains of Durathiel. She observed the charred body for a mont longer before finally speaking. "So, you burned him." "It was his wish," I said, glancing at Durathiel's remains before shifting my attention back to Freyja. "I need your help." "I heard as much. Is she alive?" Looks like, Annabelle had already given her a brief rundown of the situation, but she wanted to confirm it for herself. I shook his head slightly. "She should be. Her vital organs had veen luckily not touched. She was still breathing when I last saw her, but barely. I asked Samara to keep her alive as long as she could."
That was all I could do—trust in them. Freyja nodded in thought before flicking her fingers. "Then let's head there." A soft glow emanated from her Brísingan, and suddenly, I felt myself being lifted off the ground. Before I could react, Freyja shot forward like a cot, dragging along in her wake. But at that mont– -BOOM!
A massive golden explosion erupted in the distance, blinding for a split second. Alvara?
"What the hell is happening?!"
HIe could feel it—the overwhelming surge of mana radiating from that direction. It was definitely Alvara's. Did she break free from the Sloth's curse? Freyja looked at it without much alarm compared to . "Hm. She lost control." "Lost control? Of what?" I asked.
Freyja barely spared a glance before replying. "Of herself. If we don't stop her now, she'll completely lose herself and destroy Utopia.
Seriously now?
"But…" Freyja smiled sweetly at . "If you want to save her, I can help you." "What do I have to do?" I asked imdiately.
Freyja extended her hand. "Show Laima's sword." Without wasting another second, I drew Trinity Nihil.
Freyja ca to an abrupt halt, hovering midair as she placed a hand on the weapon. Her lips moved in a hushed whisper, uttering words in a language I couldn't even begin to comprehend. And then— Brísingan glowed once more, and in an instant, Trinity Nihil was engulfed in a brilliant reddish-gold light. The sa radiance coursed through my entire body.
"You need to pull her out of that tree." I blinked. "…Tree?" I turned my gaze ahead and widened my eyes.
A massive golden tree stood where the boat once was. Vines as thick as serpents lashed violently, twisting and writhing as if they had a mind of their own. And even worse—they were still growing. These vines… I know them.
They weren't just dangerous. They were deadly. And Alvara was at the center of it all. There was no ti to hesitate. With a burst of speed, I propelled himself straight toward the tree.
As soon as I reached the back of the monstrous golden tree, I gathered my Ruah and mana. I wasn't entirely confident that I could break through it—but I had to try. Gripping Trinity Nihil, I swung. To my surprise, the blade *sliced through the golden bark easily, like a hot knife through butter. That had to be it thanks to Freyja's spell.
Wasting no ti, I pushed forward, carving my way through the dense, twisting mass of vines. Each stroke of my sword sent splintered fragnts flying, golden sap oozing from the severed tendrils. And then— A sudden movent took my attention.
Thorn-covered golden vines erupted from the core, lashing out like living whips.
I reacted instantly, twisting my body to evade them. So barely missed—but several struck head-on. Or rather, they should have. Instead of piercing through , the gold and red aura surrounding flared, repelling the attack entirely.
Freyja's spell once again.
I breathed a bit, not wasting another second. My gaze locked onto Alvara.
She was just below—ensnared, bound in a cocoon of writhing golden vines. I raised Trinity Nihil high above my head and swung downward with all my strength. The mont the blade struck, the vines recoiled violently. More of them sprouted in retaliation, twisting toward but my blade cut through them again with unnatural ease. I stabbed Trinity Nihil deep into the heart of the tree— —and felt sothing. A pulse. Like I had reached her. The mass of vines in front of peeled apart, revealing the tangled form of Alvara within. She was tightly wound in thick, thorn-covered roots, her expression a bit pained and tears running down her cheeks.
I lunged forward, about to grab her but suddenly a chill ran down my spine. I froze. Instincts scread at . I turned around but nothing…
My frown deepened, but I ignored it, I didn't have ti.
I gritted my teeth and swung Trinity Nihil in one decisive motion, severing every last vine restraining Alvara. She collapsed into my arms. The mont I pulled her free, the tree reacted violently. The entire structure shuddered, and then, like a beast in its death throes, hundreds of vines erupted from every direction, converging toward us in a crushing wave. The tree was trying to kill . I tightened my grip on my sword. The golden aura from Freyja's blessing still surrounded —but this ti, I pushed further. I called upon Wrath. The mont I did, Trinity Nihil ignited in a purplish-gold glow. Taking a deep breath, I swung it vertically. -BOOOOOOOM! A massive rift tore through the golden tree, splitting it apart in a blinding flash of light. The outside world rushed in—and before the vines could close in on again, I used Samara's ability
I vanished from their reachand reappeared outside, high above the sea. The water rushed toward . I tightened my hold around Alvara, shielding her as we plumted downward. -Splash!
The impact was more brutal than it should have been on
Pain exploded through my ribs, a sharp, unbearable strain as I had pushed my body beyond its limits. And for a mont— My vision blacked out. No!
I bit down hard on my tongue, forcing my consciousness to stay intact. The salty burn of seawater filled my lungs as I fought against the pain, my instincts kicking in. I turned quickly beneath the waves, my gaze scanning the depths— There. Alvara was sinking. Without hesitation, I grabbed her, securing my arm around her waist, and kicked off the ocean floor. Breaking through the surface, I gasped for air. "Ah—!" Water clung to my skin, my lungs burning as I quickly scanned my surroundings. Then, I spotted it—a collapsed half-sunken boat, partially buried in the waves. With the last of my strength, I swam toward it, Alvara held close in my arms. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, forcing to stay awake, to keep moving. The mont I reappeared, my body gave out, and I collapsed onto the ground with Alvara in my arms. "Ah… ah…" I panted, struggling to catch my breath. My chest heaved with exhaustion, but my focus remained locked on her unmoving form. Her skin was pale, her lips slightly parted—but no breath ca. "Hey…!" My voice cracked as I turned painfully onto my side, reaching for her, my hands trembling as I shook her shoulders. "Alvara!" No response. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, drowning out everything else. "I won't let you fucking die after all of this!" I growled, shaking her harder…but she remained still. [] "...!"
I swallowed hard, forcing my hands to stop shaking. I gently tilted Alvara's head back, lifting her chin and checking for any signs of breath just in case. Nothing. How did it go again? I could almost hear my father's voice explaining it to back on Earth, recalling the CPR lessons we'd gone over in class. My movents were hesitant, but I forced myself to focus. I placed my hands on the center of her chest, one over the other, interlocking my fingers. "Co on," I muttered under my breath. I pressed down hard, pushing against her ribcage in a steady rhythm. My arms burned, but I kept going. How many compressions was it again? I stopped around twenty, tilting her head back again. Pinching her nose shut, I took a deep breath before pressing my lips against hers, exhaling into her lungs. Her chest barely moved. "Damn it," I cursed and went again. Compressions. Another breath. Again. "Don't give up!" I growled, my voice shaking. My strength was slipping. My vision blurred. But I refused to stop. One last breath— "UGH—! Ugh—!" A violent cough tore through Alvara's body as water gushed from her mouth. I sighed in relief, my arms nearly giving out beneath . Alvara gasped, sucking in precious air. Her golden eyes fluttered open, unfocused, dazed. I reached for her face, cupping her cheek with my trembling fingers. "Look at ," I said, my voice hoarse. "W–What—" "Look at , Alvara!" I yelled, gripping her shoulders. Her blurry gaze latched onto mine. "Everything is fine," I reassured her as much as I could. Alvara blinked slowly, disoriented. "Do you hear ?" I repeated, my fingers tightening slightly. "Everything is fine." "B–Bryelle…" She let out tearfully. "She's alive," I answered, lifting my head just as a golden light descended from above. Freyja floated down gracefully, with Bryelle floating besides her. The divine radiance surrounded her small body as she was gently lowered onto the ground beside us. . "Bryelle!" Alvara scrambled forward, taking Bryelle into her arms. A choked sob broke free from her throat as she clung to her, feeling the faint rise and fall of her sister's chest. Tears spilled down Alvara's cheeks as she held her tightly, her body trembling with relief. I let out a shaky breath, slumping back onto my elbows. It's over. My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath. Above , the twilight sky stretched endlessly. With a soft thud, Freyja landed gracefully beside . Her face hovered above mine, her golden eyes locked onto mine.
"My body."
I t her gaze, almost laughing if I had the strength. "You have my word." Freyja's lips curled into a soft, satisfied smile. "Durathiel is dead… just like Elashor and Bakarel. Does that an the war is over?" I asked her.
She tilted her head slightly. "It should be… at least for you." I frowned. I knew exactly what she ant—Durathiel had warned of the sa thing before he fell. The war might be over for now, but there were always ripples, consequences waiting to unfold. Still, I wasn't about to let Utopia and all their people take the consequences of the war and let them all die.
"I might have a solution for Utopia," I said, watching her reaction closely. Freyja raised an eyebrow. "The Seed? That wouldn't change anything. If anything, Utopia would just beco a divine mine for the whole world." She dismissed the idea with a shake of her head. I shook my head in return. "It's not about that." I pushed myself up slightly, ignoring the dull ache in my body. "I'm talking about an alliance—one that ensures no one dares exploit Utopia." Freyja's gaze squinted. "Interesting. I'm listening." "If we're going to do it, we need to move now—before Sancta Vedelia sends their n to seize Utopia for themselves," I said seriously. She studied for a mont. "Do what exactly?" I hesitated. Not because I doubted my decision, but because I knew the weight of what I was about to say. "A marital union. Between you and ." Freyja blinked, her expression briefly unreadable. Then, her lips parted slightly in curiosity. "Go on." "This isn't about uniting the Olphean House and the Ruvelion House," I clarified. "That would be impossible. Your people would never accept it—not after their defeat. Just hearing the Olphean na would be enough to enrage them. Moreover using the Olphean na could be also used by the Heads..." Freyja tilted her head. "And yet, this is what you're offering?" "No," I corrected. "I will marry you as Edward Falkrona—not as Amael Idea Olphean." Freyja's golden eyes flickered. "Falkrona, you say?" I nodded. "One thing I know about my grandfather—he has always put the prestige of the Falkrona House above everything else. If we make our engagent official—if we unite the Falkrona and Ruvelion Houses—no one, not even Sancta Vedelia, would dare challenge it." I said, forcing myself to sit up properly despite the dull pain pulsing through my limbs. I locked eyes with Freyja, making sure she understood my words. "My grandfather might not be aware of this yet. He might not even approve. But he won't have a choice. If it cos down to it, he'll be forced to intervene and take my side whether he likes it or not. Even if he does not, I know that my Aunt will follow so he won't have choices."
This was the best way to prevent Sancta Vedelia from turning Utopia into nothing more than a pile of scorched ruins. If they did that, the hatred between them and Utopia would never fade. In the years to co, another war would be inevitable—one even more brutal than this one. But with Freyja, I could trust that peace would hold. After all, she had fought for her city's survival from the very beginning. Still… I couldn't predict what Sancta Vedelia planned to do with her now that they had won. Would they strip her of her power? Imprison her? Execute her? And what about Freyja herself? Was she planning to flee? Or did she have a different plan entirely? I didn't know. But what I had just offered her was the best possible solution. Now, all I could do was wait. Freyja remained silent, deep in thought. She was a Goddess—she understood all the implications of such a union better than anyone. The Falkrona House. I knew enough about that House to understand that even the highest authorities of Sancta Vedelia wouldn't dare to act against them—whether directly or indirectly. That was my greatest leverage. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Freyja spoke. "Very well." I blinked, caught off guard by how quickly she agreed. "You… accept?" I had expected at least a little resistance, maybe a counteroffer. "I do," she said simply. "Now, let's announce our union to the world. Change your clothes imdiately." She didn't waste ti. I reached for Bryelle's pendant, focusing on shifting back into my previous form as Edward. The disguise had served its purpose, but now I needed to be seen as a true Falkrona.
Freyja was already floating away.
I forced myself to stand, but my legs imdiately gave out, and I collapsed back onto the deck of the drowned boat.
Before I could even attempt to push myself up again, Freyja flicked her wrist, and an invisible force lifted into the air. With quite grace, she carried along as we departed. As we ascended, I glanced down one last ti. Alvara was still kneeling on the ground, clutching Bryelle tightly in her arms. Her shoulders trembled, but her expression was one of pure relief. She looked up, eting my gaze. I managed a faint smile before turning away. At last, the Utopian War had co to an end and...
...I ended it in my way.
NihilRuler
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