In just one night, the great cities of Gaia and Oda transformed. The dark blue flag of the Earth nation waved above the gates of Thirtos and the Sanctuary of Plum Blossom—two hearts of a world that was once invincible. The streets, once bustling with merchants, priests, and the sounds of children, now lay empty, silent, or filled only with corpses and the shadows of conquering soldiers. (From the corners of the streets, the stench of decaying bodies wafted, creating an oppressive atmosphere of darkness. Some surviving fighters gasped for breath, huddled in corners, trying to hold back tears—caught between hope and despair.) The Earth forces divided into squads to seize every district, detaining anyone still alive, and burning homes suspected of hiding fugitives.
In Thirtos, the dawn sky was no longer golden. Black smoke billowed from the homes of the people and the old market that had been set ablaze. (Among the ruins, a group of children was trapped in panic, their wide eyes seemingly searching for certainty amid the chaos. A sense of fear wrapped around them like a cold blanket.) The streets were filled with the tracks of iron boots, and the sound of the Earth forces marching echoed like a death song.
General Talgar, after conquering the city center, gathered the remaining elders and nobles in the main square. As he gazed at the pale faces, he felt a wave of anger and hatred from the crowd forced to submit to the conqueror's will. "Today, Gaia has no queen. Any rebellion will be met with blood. For anyone who knows the whereabouts of Iris or her protector, amnesty will be granted. If you lie, this city will turn to ash."
The faces of the people were filled with fear and suppressed anger. They dared not cry, yet could not fight back. Among the crowd, pale figures could be seen, their eyes holding sorrowful tales of loss and fading hope. The remaining female paladins blended into the crowd, trying to disguise themselves. They felt the cold wind carrying the scent of suffering, and their fingers gripped their weapons tightly, reminding them of the demand to endure even as their spirits were nearly broken. Some carried small children, trying to comfort them from trauma, while others stealthily searched for an escape.
The Sanctuary of Plum Blossom had fallen. The main altar building was charred, and the plum gardens had turned into mass graves. Among the ruins, remnants of fire and blood mingled with the dark earth, creating a grim atmosphere that was almost unimaginable. The Earth forces roamed with magical lanterns, searching for any samurai or protector hiding in the underground passages. Every corner was filled with ash, blood, and bodies that had not been given a proper burial. The sound of their heavy footsteps seemed to haunt, creating uncertainty within Akiko's soul, who still struggled to find strength.
Akiko, the last remaining female protector of the five main guardians, now moved in the darkness beneath the sanctuary. Her heart raced, remembering her fallen friends, and guilt weighed heavily on her, making her feel as if she was the only hope left. She carried Nobuzan—weak and nearly unconscious—to a secret hiding place once used by their ancestors in ancient wars. The room was small, damp, and almost devoid of air. Every breath felt difficult, reminding them of the uncertainty and the lurking threat. Only a small lantern flickered.
Nobuzan whispered, her voice hoarse: "If I die here, let the world remember Oda not as a name that vanished. Don't let them take my body, Akiko. Burn everything if the enemy finds this place."
Her voice trembled, carrying a weight heavier than could be imagined. In her heart, Nobuzan fought against the fear gnawing at her soul. She knew that every word could be her last.
Akiko grasped Nobuzan's hand. "My princess, I swear on the spirits of our ancestors, I will not let anyone take the honor of Oda away."
Tension seeped between them, like dark fog threatening. Akiko, though determined, felt every heartbeat tremble with uncertainty. Her fingers gripped tightly, as if trying to channel strength and hope to Nobuzan.
Outside the room, the sounds of boots and harsh commands grew closer.
Beneath the ruins of Gaia's palace, Iris and Miel hid in a narrow basement—once a wine storage room, now their last stronghold. Two other surviving protectors, Sabina and Luria, helped seal the secret door with wooden beams and stones.
Iris felt the narrow walls pressing against her, as if wanting to bury her deeper into the darkness. She heard her own heartbeat, faint and steady amid the clamor of war machines sounding above.
Iris held back pain. Contractions came more frequently, her body weak from wounds and exhaustion. She looked at Miel with eyes full of despair.
Miel saw Iris growing frail, her face pale and sweat beading on her forehead. He felt a deep pain clawing at his heart, praying that time would not betray them in that moment.
"They're above us, Miel. Is… is this the end?"
Iris's question hung in the air, filled with fear and doubt. Miel found it hard to answer, a battle raging within him between hope and the bitter reality they might have to face.
Miel tried to smile, though tears welled up. Yet that smile appeared bitter, as if carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He paused for a moment, trying to dispel the dark shadows lurking in the corners of his mind, fearing the loss of everything. "Not yet, my queen. We still have one way out—the underground waterway once used by Sheena and the fugitives. But it's dangerous. If they find our trail, there will be no place to hide."
Miel's voice trembled, reflecting the deep fear in his heart, even as he tried to remain strong in front of Iris. The remaining spirit appeared desperate. Sabina pressed her ear to the wall, listening for the sounds of the Earth soldiers searching the floor above. With every approaching footstep, her heart raced faster, fear gripping her throat. She closed her eyes for a moment, hoping that all of this was just a nightmare. "We must move quickly. If not, they will burn the entire basement. Our choices are only: fight or be burned alive."
As those words left Sabina's mouth, the atmosphere in the room felt increasingly suffocating. Iris could feel as if the fire was already licking the walls, demanding them to make a decision quickly. Iris nodded slowly, holding back tears. Her face was dry and marked with scars, but her eyes shone with the remaining determination. Amidst it all, she felt as if the entire world was watching her, waiting for her decisive choice. "We will go. But if I cannot make it, leave me and save yourselves."
In the streets of the city now conquered by Earth, cries and wails occasionally echoed from dark alleys. Amidst the suffering and emptiness, every scream felt like a needle piercing, reminding them of their losses. Some people dared to hide in warehouses or basements, only to be found and herded to the square by the conquering forces.
In the distance, gunfire sounded, adding to the panic that enveloped the atmosphere. A sense of despair seeped into their souls, driving them to long for the days of peace and safety. Children cried for their mothers, parents embraced the lifeless bodies of their children. In that embrace, hope seemed to vanish—only emptiness and sorrow enveloped them. No heroes, no miracles—only the remnants of humanity struggling amidst the ruins.
For some of the people, hope had vanished. But a small fraction, still loyal to the names of Gaia and Oda, began to spread whispers: "The queen is still alive." "Princess Oda is hiding beneath the altar." These whispers kept the remaining spirit alive, even though they knew betrayal could come from anyone.
(However, in their hearts, there was a lingering anxiety. They woke in the middle of the night, hearts racing, imagining an angry populace and merciless soldiers. Uncertainty cloaked every corner of their thoughts, like thick fog obscuring their vision.
General Talgar deployed a special hunting unit—the Womb Reapers—to scour the city, alleys, and basements. They carried blood-tracking glyphs, destructive spells, and magitek weapons that could kill from a distance. Every suspected house was immediately burned, its inhabitants interrogated mercilessly.
The raging fire consumed not only buildings but also the remaining hope among the debris. Faces that were once cheerful now contributed to the growing number of lost souls, with no place to hide. The hunters, their faces devoid of humanity, reacted like machines—killing without question.
In the sanctuary, Captain of the Iron Blossom Division ordered a re-search of the entire altar and underground gardens. Every sound, every shadow was suspected to be Nobuzan or a surviving protector. There was no mercy—everyone was hunted, everyone was killed if caught.
Panic spread among the members of the forces; they knew that even a slight mistake could mean their death. With every step, tension increased, and fear seeped into their souls, creating gripping shadows they could not escape.
Iris, in the basement, felt her heartbeat racing with the footsteps of the enemy above. Every sound of footsteps was a death threat. Tension enveloped her body, making her feel like a prisoner in the darkness with no way out. She hugged her belly, whispering softly, "If you can hear me, my child, hold on a little longer. Don't cry. Don't move. I will protect you as long as I still breathe."
Nobuzan, in the cramped and dark room, held back tears and exhaustion. Sweat dripped from her temples, and a sense of lethargy enveloped every muscle, as if her last energy was being drained by the darkness around her. Akiko embraced her, trying to provide warmth in the increasingly cold air. The warmth of Akiko's body was the only comfort she felt, even though it did not change the bitter reality outside. Outside, the sounds of the conquerors burning the plum gardens were clearly audible.
Amidst the despair, the remaining protectors planned their final escape. [Their eyes were filled with grim intent, mixed with a faint hope for safety.] Sabina and Luria prepared to open the underground waterway in Gaia, while Akiko in Oda gathered the remaining food and small weapons to possibly survive a few more days.
They knew time was running out. [The ticking clock on the wall seemed to remind them of the end, that sound overshadowing their thoughts like a ghost that refused to leave.] If the escape route was discovered, everything would be over. But before giving up, they promised themselves to uphold the honor of the name they protected—even if it meant dying in the darkness.
That night, the cities that once shone turned into giant prisons. Darkness enveloped everything, creating terrifying shadows in every corner, as if the city itself mourned. The sounds of life were reduced to whispers underground and the heartbeats of mothers holding the world at the brink of death. With every heartbeat filled with hope, their weary faces appeared increasingly faded, reflecting the unspoken tension and despair. Outside, the Earth nation celebrated victory, unaware that the true war was not yet over—as long as there was still a womb beating, as long as there was still a small hope among the ruins. But in their hearts, there was a deep sorrow, remembering what had been lost and what might never return.