The battle had destroyed everything. Buildings had collapsed, the ground had cracked open—yet Jessie and Nigyhel were far from finished.
Nigyhel hovered in the sky, arms outstretched. Flames began leaking from her palms as she started to spin. A giant flame tornado formed, growing larger as it advanced toward Jessie.
But suddenly, the tornado halted.
Nigyhel compressed it—twisting it into the shape of a lance.
"Hahahahaha! This is so much fun! Wouldn’t you say, Jessie? You like it! Don’t lie!"
She hurled the lance.
Jessie didn’t flinch. She didn’t move. Instead, she gathered all the heat and flame in her axe. It began to glow—bright, white-hot.
As she raised it, she whispered,
"Oh fire that slumbers beneath flesh and fury… heed the oath of my soul.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobiPxtmmy4
Through battle unending and will unbroken…25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHM5PXLvGK
Shatter the heavens and burn away the evil—Ragnarök’s Ember!"
A sea of crimson light burst from her axe. The heat was so immense it devoured Nigyhel’s flames—and Nigyhel herself.
…
There she lay. Not moving. Her skin had burned away. Her arms and legs were gone. Even her eyes had melted—and yet, somehow, she was still alive.
Jessie staggered toward her, dragging her axe behind.
Then—a voice.
Jessie turned sharply.
"Katlin?! You’re alive? Where’s your mother?"
"Dead. And soon you—"
Katlin collapsed mid-sentence. Jessie dropped her weapon and rushed to her.
She cradled Katlin in her arms.
"What is it, Katlin? Are you hurt? Do you have a fever?"
"She has none of that," Nigyhel's voice answered coldly.
Jessie turned toward her—a fatal mistake.
In that moment, Katlin’s arm thrust through Jessie’s chest.
"You abandoned me, Jessie," Katlin whispered. "You abandoned John. And now you killed him! You abandon everyone… and anyone!"
Jessie dropped her. She fell to her knees. Blood spilled from her wound—it was deep, vital. She barely clung to consciousness.
Katlin didn’t strike again. Instead, she crawled over to Nigyhel.
"What did you do to that kid, Nigyhel… what—"
Jessie coughed blood. Staying awake took everything she had.
Katlin reached Nigyhel. Just like John before, she offered her heart.
Nigyhel couldn’t move, so Katlin placed the heart on her chest—and collapsed, lifeless.
Jessie screamed—a sound that echoed beyond grief. Pain turned into rage.
"You bastard… you bitch! Do you think lives are just toys?! I’ll make you pay!"
"Hahahahaha! How?"
Nigyhel was already standing, fully healed. Her clothes were gone—burned to ashes—but she stood tall, proud, untouched.
"After you escaped in the car with the others, I roamed the city. That’s when I found a mother and her child. They didn’t know who I really was. Hahahaha! They even told me about a police officer they met. And from their description, I knew it was you!"
Jessie’s face contorted in fury.
"I was bored. So I killed the mother."
"You bitch!"
"Yes. A pretty bitch. A living bitch. Hahahaha! The child said you’d come back and avenge her mom. So, I kept her. You never know when you might need a spare heart!"
She walked slowly, with elegance—like she had all the time in the world. Jessie could barely move. Katlin had struck a vital spot—it was a miracle Jessie was alive. Perhaps it was sheer will, her burning desire to split that monster in two.
Nigyhel stopped in front of her, smiling wide.
"It was fun with you. Really. Any last words, Jessie?"
"Did you know… when the bond with a weapon runs deep enough… you can call it?"
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"It means... the weapon will find me. No matter where I am."
Now Jessie was the one smiling.
Nigyhel turned around—just in time to see the axe slam into her skull.
The blade buried deep.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbVIZheSsZ
Yet Nigyhel still lived. She reached for the handle—
"Not on my watch, bitch!" Jessie roared.
She jumped to her feet and rushed around Nigyhel.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuWXKMWjIY
She grabbed the axe with both hands and forced it down.
Nigyhel fought back, using one hand to stop the axe’s descent. With the other, she thrust her fingers into Jessie’s eye.
Jessie screamed. Her body swayed. This was it—she was going to die.
But then—John.
In her mind, he appeared. Arms crossed. A warm smile. His eyes locked with hers. He nodded.
That was all she needed.
Jessie’s eyes burned to life. Flames danced in her gaze.
"ARGHHHHHHHHHH!"
With one final cry, Jessie cleaved Nigyhel in half.
She didn’t stop. She kept swinging. Blow after blow—until there was nothing left but meat and blood and broken bone.
Only when the remains were unrecognizable did she stop. She dropped her axe… and lifted her head.
"I did it…"
And with that final whisper, Jessie died.
Standing.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QHthlx931
As a warrior.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JAizulpM0
