Part I: The Throne of Ruin
Yui and Azazel moved through the burning capital like twin comets.
The sky bled crimson. The sun was gone. In its place, a swirling void crowned the palace.
And at its center—waiting on the blackened throne—sat the Empress.
Or… what was left of her.
She had fused completely with the Infernal Crown. Her skin was pale obsidian. Her gown bled fire. Two horns spiraled from her cracked crown, and her eyes were pits of starlight and hate.
> "I offered you power, Yui," she rasped, her voice threefold. "And now you'll take it… or die under it."
Azazel stepped forward, shadows flaring like wings.
"Give her one reason not to tear your heart out."
She laughed—and the throne erupted into a ring of burning blades.
> [Boss Battle Initiated: Dread Empress Seraphine]
HP: 200,000
Corruption Level: 92%
Terrain Modifier: Throne of Ash – +30% fire damage, -50% healing
Yui summoned her new power—Ashen Requiem—sending shockwaves through the room, disrupting the Empress's spell circles.
But something was off.
> [System Notification: Flame Resonance Spike – 72%]
Emotional Interference Detected… Source: The Dream Realm
Azazel noticed first. "Someone's pulling on your flame. Elion?"
Yui gritted her teeth.
"We hold her. Elion fights his own war."
---
Part II: Dream of the Silent
Elion drifted through the Dream Realm—his body weightless, his voice ripped from him.
He followed the thread of memory, and came upon a door carved with flame runes. It opened silently.
Inside stood… Yui.
Or something that wore her face.
> "Elion," she said, soft and sweet, like she used to be. "You came for me."
He stepped back.
This wasn't her.
This thing had eyes like broken stars and a smile stitched from sorrow.
> "I'm the flame she buried. The one who would've ended this war long ago. But she was too kind."
Elion raised his dagger—silent, shaking.
The false Yui extended a hand.
> "You can stay here, Elion. She won't win. Let go… and you can finally speak again."
He hesitated. For one cruel moment.
Then he stabbed the illusion through the heart.
It shattered like glass—screaming with her voice.
And the moment it broke—
> [System Update: Voice Recovered – Elion's Soul Anchor Restored]
Bonus Trait Gained: Echo Resilience (Resist Phantom Possession)
Special Skill: Silent Invocation – Channel power without words.
Elion gasped awake.
And spoke—truly—for the first time in days:
> "Yui. Don't give in."
---
Part III: Burn Her Crown
Back in the throne room, Yui felt it.
The thread snapped back into place.
Her flames surged with clarity.
> [Flame Resonance: 75%]
Bonus Trait Gained: Soul Sync (Elion, Azazel, Vera)
The Empress lunged.
Yui countered.
Twin flames—light and darkness—spiraled into a spear in her hand.
She drove it forward with a scream that shook the pillars.
The throne cracked. The Crown screamed. And for the first time, the Empress faltered.
Azazel roared beside her.
The battle was just beginning—but now, Yui was whole again.