A terrifying stillness enveloped the night, far more oppressive than the roar of war. Cities that had fallen into the hands of Earth now resembled mass graves, where the remaining hopes were hidden in the dark underground chambers. The defensive walls had long since crumbled, magical shields shattered, and protective beliefs had fallen away along with the blood of the heroes.
In the underground corridor of Gaia's palace, the sound of footsteps grew louder, echoing against the ancient stone walls. Rinoa leaned against the wall, her body weak and her breath labored. Contractions came more frequently, yet she stifled her groans to avoid drawing attention above. Around her, the shadows on the walls seemed to quiver, as if responding to the overwhelming fear pulsating in her chest. Each heartbeat was not merely a sign of life but a reminder that time was running out; when the flicker of hope dimmed, they would be left behind in darkness, leaving no trace.
Sabina examined the protective glyph on the secret door. Each spell had weakened; only remnants of Sheena's blood still safeguarded this hideout. In the corners of the space, wisps of nostalgia lingered, enveloping them in the bittersweet memories of a brighter past. Miel sat beside Iris, his hands trembling as he prepared a small vial of poison—his last resort if the door was forced open. In the quickening of his breath lay a determination buried beneath fear; he would rather ingest the poison than allow the enemy to touch his friend. A burning desire flickered in his heart as darkness clung to their skin, demanding sacrifices beyond what they could imagine.
"Queen, if I fail, I won't let them touch you. I will... I will do what needs to be done."
Iris looked at Miel with a soft gaze,
"I trust you. It's better to die with honor than to become a tool for the enemy."
Across the room, Luria—the youngest—couldn't hold back her tears. She whispered,
"I... I am afraid, Sabina. We can't hold on any longer. It's all over. Maybe... it's better for us to give up."
Sabina shot her a sharp look,
"Don't ever say that. As long as we are alive, as long as the Queen and her child have not fallen, Gaia's name shall not perish."
As the booming sounds from outside drew closer, clawing at the walls of sorrow that imprisoned them, the irises of their eyes shimmered with repressed fear. Shadows of fleeting thoughts enveloped their hearts, as if reminding them of promises yet to be fulfilled, mingling with the evening dew that refused to fade away. Between doubt and extinguished hope, there lingered a longing to surrender to the encroaching darkness.
Yet within all of them, the shadows of destruction were too overwhelming to be dispelled by words of encouragement. The damp walls bore witness to tales of grief, etched every time they held their breath in a deceptive peace. In that increasingly suffocating space, every second felt like a heartbeat, as they realized that choices were only revealed at the edge of a sword or the fate that awaited them.
Under the altar of Sanctuary Plum Blossom, Oda Nobuzan lay weakly in the embrace of Akiko. The sound of Earth's footsteps above them grew more frequent, the thud of heavy objects shaking the ground.
Only three of their remaining protectors remained hidden with them. One of them, Reika, had long since lost her spirit. She sat in the corner, staring at the small sword that had once been a gift from her father.
"Princess, I can't bear it any longer. I don't want to be a prisoner. I… I want to die now, before they find us."
In a neglected dark corner, Reika's shadow depicted a limp fist, resembling a young girl left in the rain without protection. Memories of her father's smile resurfaced, casting a shadow over her face filled with longing and guilt. She felt trapped in a labyrinth of time that twisted her emotions and memories, where each corridor only deepened her sorrow, making her yearn even more to escape the bitter reality that enveloped her life.
Oda Nobuzan turned, her face cold and stiff. Shadows crept around her, seemingly absorbing all remaining light within the room. The silence of the atmosphere felt like darkness seeping into her bones, stifling every breath she would take.
"Do what you must. No one will stop you. But if you truly wish to uphold Oda's honor, hold on until your last breath."
Reika cried, then with trembling hands, she plunged the sword into her own chest. Visions of the past flashed through her mind, happy moments that now felt like a nightmare. Blood streamed across the stone floor; her body fell into Akiko's lap, who held back tears while whispering prayers, each word piercing the silence like bullets. The prayer mingled with pain, striking her heart as if she were the one snatching away her friend's soul.
Two other guardians clung to each other. One of them, Tomoe, whispered,
"If I were a traitor, I would have run away by now. But I am here because I believe... even if only death awaits."
Fear and trauma made some guardians begin to distrust one another. The whispers of "betrayal" echoed in every dark corridor, as if the very walls were aware of the uncertainty and treachery lurking nearby. In the darkness, they were like sheep lost in a wild forest, accusing each other, betraying one another. In Gaia, Luria secretly wrote a small letter, planning to reveal the hiding place to Earth in hope of gaining forgiveness, though her heart was bound by the guilt that gnawed at her soul.
But when Sabina caught her, she cried and begged for mercy.
"I... I just want to live. I can't endure this any longer, Sabina. I... I'm so sorry…"
Sabina did not kill Luria; instead, she took the letter and burned it right in front of her. The flames crackled ominously, as if signaling that the last remnants of hope were being consumed alongside it.
"Traitors do not deserve to die as heroes. If you wish to live, never repeat this act."
Luria simply looked down, silent tears streaming down her face. Around her, the shadows of the cold stone walls enveloped her tightly, as if to suffocate any hope that once existed. She spent the remainder of the night in silence, haunted by guilt and fear. Every teardrop bore witness to an unbearable loss; each droplet that fell from her eyes represented shattered dreams, while each breath was filled with an unspoken tightness.
In the midst of all this devastation, Iris clutched her abdomen with her remaining strength, whispering prayers for the unborn child. As the cold wind seeped through the cracks in the walls, she felt a faint yet precious flicker of life within her.
"You are the last hope of this world, even though everyone wants to kill you. Forgive me if I fail to keep you alive, my child. But as long as my blood flows, no one shall have you but me."
Nobuzan stared at the small flame flickering in the cramped space. The light danced against the darkness, casting swirling shadows on the walls as if illustrating the uncertainty enveloping the trapped souls. Her body trembled from pain and exhaustion, yet her eyes remained sharply focused on Akiko, as though delivering a message only those chosen could comprehend.
"If I die before the enemy arrives, burn my body. Do not let them carry Oda's name out of this place."
Akiko nodded, holding back the tears that had long since run dry over the previous nights; her heart was filled with longing and fear for an uncertain future. The confined space added to the weight of silence, enveloping them in a heavy embrace alongside the anticipation of the injustice that might confront them. She could sense Luria's presence here, like an inevitable shadow, providing a sense of unity yearning for peace amidst the dark night.
Slowly, one by one, the protectors succumbed to fatigue and fear. Some chose to take their own lives, others fell into silence until death arrived, and there were those who betrayed or simply resigned themselves to fate. Yet amidst the ruins, a handful still held onto their honor—aware that as long as the womb of Iris and Oda Nobuzan remained unclaimed by the enemy, the war was not entirely over. In the suffocating silence, the thunderous footsteps of the Earth army echoed powerfully, like the remnants of hope crushed beneath their march. Dark shadows danced along the subterranean walls, creating the illusion of an endless nightmare.
Above ground, the Earth army had seized every city, setting up deterrent glyphs, suppressing the populace, and ordering the slaughter of anyone suspected of sheltering the mothers. The city transformed into a silent sea, drowning in the stench of blood. In the darkness, there was no sound except for breaths heavy with fear; the land that was once fertile had become a field of sacrifice. Iris felt that pressure penetrating her skin, as if every flow of her blood was bound by the guilt and pain of those who could not be saved.
As dawn approached, the sound of Earth's footsteps grew louder above Iris and her protector. Miel gripped a small knife, while Sabina prepared for the final sacrificial spell. Iris glanced at each of them in turn—faces worn with fatigue, unable to distinguish between fear, anger, and resignation. Every second felt like a fiery eternity; time crawled by, as if it could choke the breath in this cramped room filled with sorrow. Iris felt the light of hope beginning to fade, yet within her heart, the flame of her spirit continued to fight for survival.
In Oda, Akiko strengthened Nobuzan, who was beginning to lose consciousness.
"Princess, if I must choose between life and honor, I will choose honor."
Nobuzan smiled faintly,
"I know. That is why I have never doubted you." Akiko nodded, gripping Nobuzan's hand tightly, as if trying to transfer her remaining strength. In the midst of biting despair and silence, her soul merged with the spirit of the prince, vowing to resist even when there seemed no reason to hope.
As the sun began to rise behind the black smoke of the city, the underground world remained dark and cold. Yet, there in the shadows, the last wombs of the world were still pulsing—becoming the final shield for the remnants of hope, even though all spells and faith had shattered. The roar of life's yearning was faint, like a song of longing from the earth's belly, starving for light. The damp walls that enclosed them seemed to bear silent witness to all the sacrifices made, creating a dark palette of shadows and pain.
That day, the world lost many heroes. But amidst the devastation, the voice of the protector who endured, even if only one, was enough to pen the final chapter—a chapter where life was preserved not by magic or swords, but with courage and determination that couldn't be measured by number. In the thick darkness, a warrior stood tall, her eyes sparkling like stars struggling to pierce the night sky, battling against every fear and doubt that gripped her soul. Each breath she took became a symbol of waiting, hope dancing among the shadows of sorrow, melting into the resonating silence.