The moon hung high over the crimson-stained battlefield, its eerie glow illuminating the destruction left in Mary's wake. Bodies of fallen enemies littered the field, their lifeless eyes reflecting the pale light. The scent of blood was thick in the air, but Mary remained unmoved by the carnage. She had grown accustomed to war, to the cries of those who dared to stand against her, to the silence that followed as she claimed victory.
She stood in the center of it all, her Saber of Mist resting at her side, its blade shimmering with residual energy. Lela stood beside her, gripping Gáe Bolg tightly, her crimson eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of movement. Their enemies had been relentless, wave after wave of hunters, priests, and rival vampires attempting to bring them down. But they had failed.
Loosie, their younger sibling, emerged from the shadows, her face still marked with the remnants of battle. "We need to move," she said, urgency laced in her tone. "Reinforcements are coming, and they're not just hunters this time."
Mary turned to her, wiping a streak of blood from her cheek. "Who?"
Loosie hesitated. "Angels."
A silence settled between them. Lela cursed under her breath, gripping her spear tighter. "Heaven is getting involved now?"
Mary's expression remained unreadable. The war had been escalating, but she hadn't expected the divine to step in so soon. If angels were coming, it meant their actions had truly disrupted the balance of power.
"They won't let you keep the Heaven Crystals," Loosie added. "Your weapons—our existence—they'll see it as a direct challenge."
Mary exhaled slowly. She had known from the moment she had forged her Saber of Mist that it would make her a target. Heaven's power did not belong in the hands of a vampire. And yet, she had taken it anyway.
"We don't run," she said firmly. "We stand and fight."
Lela shot her a wary glance. "Are you sure about this? We've fought humans, vampires, demons—but angels?"
Mary sheathed her sword. "We didn't come this far just to bow now."
A gust of wind swept across the battlefield, carrying with it a sense of impending doom. The ground trembled as a golden light filled the sky, piercing through the darkness like a divine beacon. A moment later, they saw them.
Descending from the heavens were six armored figures, each radiating an aura of overwhelming power. Their wings, vast and luminous, stretched wide as they touched down upon the earth. Their leader, a towering being clad in silver and gold, stepped forward. His gaze met Mary's, and in that instant, she understood—this was no ordinary angel.
An Archangel.
"Mary Innocent," his voice resonated through the night, both commanding and filled with judgment. "You have defied the natural order. Surrender the Heaven Crystals and relinquish your stolen power."
Mary did not flinch. "And if I refuse?"
The Archangel's expression darkened. "Then you will face divine retribution."
Lela and Loosie tensed, preparing for the inevitable battle. The air around them crackled with energy, the tension so thick it was suffocating.
Mary took a step forward, her gaze unwavering. "You call it stolen power," she said, her voice steady. "But it was given to me. By your own kind."
A murmur passed through the ranks of the angels. They knew she spoke the truth. The Heaven Crystals had not been taken by force—they had been bestowed upon her. By whom, they did not yet know.
The Archangel's eyes narrowed. "Blasphemy."
With a swift motion, he unsheathed his divine blade, its brilliance nearly blinding. The other angels followed suit, weapons drawn, ready to strike.
Mary's fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword. This was it. The battle that would decide everything.
Lela moved to her side, her spear pulsing with energy. "We're with you, sister."
Loosie nodded, shadows swirling at her fingertips. "Always."
A smirk played at the corner of Mary's lips. "Then let's give Heaven a fight it won't forget."
And with that, the night erupted into chaos.