The sound of war drums on Earth transformed into the roar of wild beasts. The two kingdoms—Gaia and Oda—had been drained to the point of bloodshed. The walls and towers, once standing tall, now trembled, cracked, and slowly crumbled under the onslaught of magic and war machines. The dark sky blazed with flashes of magic, creating terrifying shadows among the ruins. The sounds of battle echoed like a death song, uniting two worlds bound by a tragic fate.
At the fifth hour after midnight, the Obsidian Regiment in Gaia and the Iron Blossom Division in Oda simultaneously activated the "Breaker Rites"—an explosive glyph ritual inherited from ancient wars. The air trembled, the sky was painted with deep red hues, and from afar, the screams of magic seemed to tear at the very heart of the world. Each glyph glowed with primordial energy, emitting a shimmer that reflected the magical power and the emptiness brought by conflict. Amidst the roar of the glyphs, the scent of sulfur and iron filled the air, creating a suffocating atmosphere, as if the world itself groaned in pain.
Under the main gate of the Gaia palace, hundreds of female paladins lined up, most with wounds on their bodies and faces covered in dust. Commander Thalria, with a large sword dripping blood, stood before the iron gate, observing the Earth forces ready to charge. Beside her, the other paladins rallied their fighting spirit, the sound of heavy breaths and clanging weapons blending into a chilling battle song.
"Let not a single one of them touch the basement. We stand here until the last name of Gaia is written upon the ground."
The first explosion of the Breaker Rite shook the gate. The protective glyph layer inherited from Sheena trembled, then cracked in a flash of blue. The blue light cast terrifying shadows around the forces, offering both hope and fear. The paladins tightened their formation, leaning on each other—eyes filled with rage, not despair. In their hearts lay the conviction that the power of the ritual would guide them, even as the threat from the enemy drew closer.
On the tower, one of the guardians ignited the last banner of Gaia, a sign that they were ready to die today. The gold and green of the flag waved proudly, signifying unwavering courage and devotion. However, amidst the preparations, a traitor—a young guardian named Syra—unlocked the glyph at the back of the gate, allowing two dozen Earth soldiers to infiltrate the palace corridors.
Within Syra, an inner struggle raged, pushing her to ignore the guilt that enveloped her. Syra whispered to herself, "Forgive me, Queen. This world is too cruel for me. I choose to survive." She did not know that two hours later, her fate would end at her own hands—betrayed by the enemy she had aided.
As the Earth forces infiltrated, stabbing at the heart of the defense from within, the sound of their footsteps echoed like thunder in the night. The sounds of explosions and screams filled the marble corridors; swords clashed against shields, magic struck stone, and blood flowed down the palace stairs.
In the sanctuary, Hayate, who was nearly dying, led the remaining samurai to the west corridor—where the Iron Blossom Division had managed to breach the large door with explosive glyphs. As dust and debris flew, he felt the air grow hotter, the spreading aura of magic keeping him awake in pain. Fire danced on the stone ceiling, the sound of burning spells from the enemy striking the walls, creating a scorching heat; entering the battlefield felt like diving into a fire that could consume the soul.
The female guardians, led by Akiko, stood firm at the altar. With the Mugen no Hana spell, they created the illusion of thousands of plum petals swirling, blinding the enemy, creating a beautiful image that contrasted with the horror outside. In the chaos, the Oda samurai surged, slashing and stabbing anyone who moved, creating a booming sound that echoed through the corridors as if signaling the end of all hope.
However, numbers were never on their side. One by one, the guardians fell, their bodies dropping to the blood-soaked stone floor, the moonlight shining on the altar as if holding its breath. Hayate held back a stab wound in his abdomen but continued to fight—killing the last two enemies with his bare hands before collapsing, his breath coming in shallow gasps. Amidst the clashing metal and screams, he could feel the power of the Mugen no Hana spell beginning to fade, making the illusion that had surrounded the enemy now thinner, torn apart by the reality of rising violence.
Meanwhile, Nobuzan sat at the altar, her face devoid of tears, only cold pain and final arrogance. She observed closely, feeling the earth tremble as the magical power began to crumble. Outside the room, the screams and booms drew closer, a thousand winds seemed to unite in resistance. She knew, soon the altar would break, and Oda's fate would truly end, reminding her of the curse that clung to their blood, as if the betrayed gods lamented their fate with laughter.
In the underground altar of Gaia, Iris heard the sounds of battle drawing nearer, the bitterness creating an uncontrollable panic. The contractions now came stronger; her body weakened, sweat soaking her pale face, as if time slowed down waiting for the outcome of her fate guided by the magic of life. She gazed at Miel, who still stood guard, and her heart's voice spoke louder than the war cries outside, as if pleading that their sorrow not be in vain.
"If I cannot give birth today, I will die as a failed queen. But if I give birth… this world may never be the same again." In the complexity of her thoughts, Iris imagined her baby growing amidst the chaos they faced, a new hope that could change the course of dark history. Miel held Iris's hand, giving strength amidst the sounds of destruction echoing throughout the palace, her spirit seemingly merging with the protective magic that always enveloped them.
In the Oda sanctuary, Nobuzan drew her family sword and placed it on her lap. She whispered to Hayate's body, now weakly leaning against the altar, as if voicing the last hope in the whispers of ancient mantras hidden behind the wisdom of their ancestors; a resurrection that was completely unimaginable.
"Do not be afraid, Hayate. I will write the last chapter of Oda with my own blood. If this is the time, then let the whole world know: a Nobuzan never bows to fate."
The Obsidian Regiment finally breached the underground of Gaia. Thalria fought fiercely, slashing five enemies before finally collapsing, blood flowing from her severed neck. The last paladin retreated to the altar, forming a defensive circle around Iris and Miel. Around them, the high-pitched sounds of protective mantras began to fade, as if signaling hope that vanished along with the spilled blood.
The sound of footsteps trembled, echoing against the underground walls. The scent of iron and sulfur filled the air, creating an atmosphere of tension. Every heartbeat felt like thunder amidst the silence of the horrific war. That dark day drew closer, bringing with it a curse long awaited by the war gods.
General Talgar entered the room with heavy steps. He gazed at Iris, who was sweating and pale. "Today, there will be no negotiations. Give us your womb, or we will take it by force."
His strong hand held a blood-stained sword, adorned with symbols of ancient power. Each symbol was like a flame reminding him of the defeats suffered by his enemies. "This curse," he thought, "will incapacitate and destroy anyone who opposes me." Iris met his gaze with a look full of vengeance and pride. "If I fall, my blood will stain every step you take in this world, Talgar."
In the sanctuary, the Captain of the Iron Blossom Division entered the Oda altar, now filled with smoke and blood. He bowed to the bodies of Hayate and the three female guardians who had burned themselves. The magical fire burning within them united with the power of Oda, creating a wave of energy that seemed to challenge death. Above the altar, Nobuzan still sat upright—barely able to distinguish between life and death.
Darkness enveloped the room, and the light from the failed ritual circle flickered weakly, as if struggling against fate. The captain bowed, as if giving a final salute to the enemy who died with honor.
After the defenses of the palace and sanctuary were breached, the world seemed to pause for a moment. There were no victory cries; even the Earth forces merely looked at each other in silence. They knew that tonight's victory was just the beginning of a greater curse. For a moment, a cold wind blew, carrying the scent of blood and emptiness. In the distance, a faint rumble from the sky could be heard, as if predicting the rise of dark forces trapped in another dimension, waiting for their moment to be unleashed.
Outside, the sun slowly rose—the sky reddening, dark clouds hanging. The whole world held its breath, awaiting the next chapter: would this blood and destruction be enough to end the spiral curse, or would it awaken something far more terrifying beneath the blood-soaked ground? Shadows resembling giant creatures passed over the ruins, indicating that the ancient ritual once called upon may have awakened again. The magic locked within centuries-old mantras began to stir, demanding that their resurrection be honored with unimaginable sacrifices.
That day, for the first time in the history of Gaia and Oda, their proud gates were breached at the hands of the enemy. But in the silence and destruction, two women—Queen Iris and Oda Nobuzan—still held the unborn life, becoming the last bastion of hope or the beginning of a curse that would consume the world. With a sharp gaze full of determination, Queen Iris raised her hand, ready to summon the power buried within her. "If this is the end, then let me be the protector of light in the midst of darkness," she cried, her voice echoing against the stillness of the night, calling upon the ancient energy from the rituals that dwelled within the blood of their ancestors.