Aisling rushed down the stairs, her heart pounding at a frantic pace, the screams ringing in her ears. She threw herself into the flow of terrified townsfolk, mingling with those fleeing in all directions. The cries of panic, the sobs, and the calls for help merged with the roars of the infernal creatures invading the island.

Outside, it was absolute chaos. The night sky, usually so peaceful, had turned red as if it were on fire. Fireballs fell from the sky at regular intervals, crashing to the ground with violent explosions, igniting buildings and trees in a devastating fury. Huge creatures emerged from the flames, similar to the demon she had left behind in the tree-temple. Winged monsters and emaciated beasts with sharp claws trampled everything in their path.

But there was something else. Aisling squinted, widening her eyes despite the smoke and surrounding terror. Winged beings, luminous, were also descending from the sky in a dazzling blaze, their shimmering feathers contrasting against the darkness. Angels, she realized with horror.

Angels and demons.

They had finally found Nimrach.

Aisling felt a chill of terror run down her spine. In a flash of clarity, she understood that the time had come. They were there for humanity, and humanity was no more prepared now than it had been at the time of the Apocalypse. The villagers were running in all directions, trying to avoid the titanic battles raging around them. Some angels seemed to be trying to intercept the demons attacking the humans, but they offered no refuge. For they too were hunting. For a reason that still eluded Aisling, they made no distinction. The angels appeared to be tracking both the demons and the humans.

She began to run, her mind racing, desperately seeking a place to hide, a spot to think about what was really happening. But a greater terror struck her: a massive demon had noticed her. It let out a guttural roar and lunged after her, its clawed paws digging into the ground with brutal force. Aisling, her legs trembling, tried to escape, but it was too fast, and panic made her stumble over every obstacle.

Her foot hit a stone, and she collapsed onto the dusty ground, breathless. She felt the shadow of the demon looming over her, its claw poised to seize her. A scream of terror escaped her lips.

Suddenly, a blade glinted in the air. Idris stepped in, striking the creature forcefully. The sword pierced the demon, which howled in pain, recoiling and growling, wounded. Without giving it a moment to retaliate, Idris lifted Aisling with a firm grip, his gaze burning with determination.

"Come on, get up! Run!" he ordered her.

In shock, Aisling let herself be pulled along, her legs regaining a semblance of strength. They ran, zigzagging between flames and debris, avoiding the battles erupting all around them. The most seasoned humans had already collected themselves, taking up arms to try to fend off both angels and demons. Houses were on fire, splinters of charred wood scattering into the air. The smoke thickened the atmosphere, making it hard to breathe and stinging their eyes until they burned.

The flames licked at the facades of the homes, turning the village into a hellish inferno. Aisling coughed, her lungs on fire with each puff of smoky air. But Idris gave her no choice. He forced her to move, dragging her along through the horror unfolding around them.

Finally, they reached the sanctuary of the Reflecting Pool, where several villagers had sought refuge. Trembling and injured, they huddled near the water, hoping this place, still untouched, could offer them a semblance of protection. Idris and Aisling entered, exhausted but alive.

For now.

Ren was there, in the middle of the sanctuary, trying to calm the elders and children crowding around him. He spoke in a soothing voice, attempting to tame the palpable panic in the room. The able-bodied adults were already outside, desperately fighting against the invasion. As soon as he saw Aisling enter, relief distorted his features, and he rushed to embrace her, trembling with a fear he was struggling to contain.

"What's happening?" Aisling asked, her voice desperate.

"I don't know. But somehow, the universe has found our trail again."

Aisling pulled away, her eyes burning with panic. "We can't stay here. We have to leave!"

"The best I can do is seal this door," he said, shaking his head with a resignation that chilled her blood. "We have to try to save those who are here."

Aisling nodded, glancing toward the imposing door of the sanctuary. "Sealing that door won't do anything against what's outside. Those creatures… they will get in, no matter what."

Idris, standing nearby, clenched his fists. "Then we have to fight. Waiting here is signing our death warrant."

Ren, despite the tension in his muscles, raised his hand to calm him.

"We're not ready. You saw it too. The fighting outside is just buying us time. What we need to do is save what we have left."

As they exchanged words, fear and reason intertwining in their hurried speech, Aisling's gaze fell on the Reflecting Pool, that bluish expanse of water occupying the center of the sanctuary. A wild yet insistent idea sprouted in her mind. She stepped forward without a word, her heart racing. Ignoring the confused looks around her, she made her way to the basin, the villagers stepping aside in silence, stifling screams of terror as they listened to the battles outside.

Aisling did not enter the sacred circle but reached out toward the shimmering surface of the water, placing her fingers upon it with a conviction she did not even know where it came from.

"A place where we will have time," she said in a clear, strong voice.

Immediately, the surface of the water began to shine intensely, an unreal glow spreading throughout the room. The nervous whispers faded away, replaced by a stunned silence. They all stood frozen, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Aisling straightened, the dancing light around her.

"Get in there... trust me."

"We can't go back to Earth, Aisling," Ren stepped forward, his brow furrowed, confusion evident on his face. "And that portal... it's not supposed to activate."

"This isn't Earth," she replied confidently. "Ren, I know what I'm doing." She approached him, took his hands in hers, and locked her gaze with his. "Get them to safety. Idris and I will look for the others."

Ren tried to hold her back, his face grave, torn between worry and the urgency of the situation. But she was already slipping from his grasp, turning to prepare to dive back into the chaos outside. Before he could say anything more, the ground shook again, a low rumble reverberating through the sanctuary walls. Ren cast one last glance at her, his face marked by resigned sadness. He finally turned away, taking on the burden that weighed heavily on his shoulders.

"Go!" he shouted to the others, his voice full of strength. "Take the portal. Now!"

Under his command, the villagers hurried to follow his instructions, crossing the luminous barrier of the basin as the noise of the fighting drew dangerously close to the sanctuary.

Aisling and Idris burst from the sanctuary, immediately plunging into chaos. Everywhere, humans fought desperately, armed with whatever they could find, but their efforts seemed futile against the creatures attacking them. Flames crackled, screams erupted, and the very earth seemed to vibrate under the weight of the battles. Angels and demons, sworn enemies, appeared to be vying for their common prey: the humans.

Suddenly, a familiar light shone in Aisling's hand. Nimue emerged from the ring, smaller and more fragile than ever. The little Watcher, who had been as inconspicuous as possible all this time, looked just as terrified as the humans around her.

"How... how can I help?" she asked in a trembling but determined voice.

"Find survivors," Aisling replied quickly despite the tumult. "Help us gather them and get them to safety."

Nimue nodded as she flew off to carry out her task, despite her evident terror.

Idris and Aisling continued through the devastated alleys of the village. Before them, humans were caught in a desperate struggle, but something strange was taking shape on the horizon. Angels and demons, instead of slaughtering indiscriminately, were herding survivors, sorting them like cattle. On one side, the angels were grabbing humans, pushing them into groups, while on the other, the demons were doing the same. Aisling felt a chill run down her spine as she watched the scene unfold.

"They didn't come to exterminate us..." she murmured as she finally understood. "They want to take us captive."

It was a disturbing thought, but somewhere, it sparked a glimmer of hope. It meant there were still survivors to save. She glanced at Idris, who nodded briefly before resuming their progress.

As they moved forward, they occasionally came across survivors. Each time, Aisling or Idris shouted at them to run toward the sanctuary, not to think, not to hesitate. They encountered familiar faces—neighbors, friends—whose eyes reflected the same terror found in Aisling's own.

Behind some bushes, they found a group of children trembling in fear. They reassured them briefly, encouraging them to flee toward the sanctuary. Further on, beneath flaming debris, they pulled out an injured soldier, half-conscious but still alive. With every life saved, they felt hope rekindling, however tenuous it might be.

However, with every step, danger drew closer. They narrowly avoided the angels and demons fighting each other, each wanting to capture as many humans as possible. The battle raged on, luminous wings beating the air as the demons' claws tore at the skies. The air was thick with ash, the smoke obscuring their vision and stinging their eyes. But they pressed on, determined to save as many people as they could.

Then Aisling spotted a familiar figure in the distance. In an instant, her heart tightened in her chest. The Temple-Tree. It stood before her, but flames had completely engulfed it. The trunk was on fire, exactly as it had been in her nightmares, just as in her visions. The sky above was a dark red, like the color of blood, and ashes fell slowly, covering the ground like sinister snow.

Everything was identical to what she had seen in her visions. The same destruction, the same blazing sky.

Before the burning temple, Aisling spotted four figures in the midst of battle, dominating both the demons and angels surrounding them. Each blow they struck was precise, lethal, and terrifyingly efficient. They were no longer hidden beneath their human guise: the Horsemen had revealed their true nature.

One of them, imposing and massive, wore thick scarlet armor adorned with runes and screaming faces. His gigantic sword, a war artifact inscribed with ancient writings, fell relentlessly upon the creatures around him, cleaving the air and crushing steel and flesh with inhuman strength. Beside him, the one who had protected her in the tree, slimmer and faster, maneuvered with agility, his twin scythes whirling through the air like deadly shadows. His face revealed nothing of his emotions. The woman, on the other hand, moved like a storm of flames and steel, her crackling flaming whip snapping with every movement. Her red-orange hair flowed as she struck with fearsome precision. Finally, the last one, clad in nearly white silver armor and wearing an intimidating mask, shot at anything that moved with his two imposing pistols, one silver and the other ebony.

Aisling, hypnotized by the spectacle, watched these ancient beings fight with terrifying mastery. They had cast aside their human disguises and fought with such ferocity that it seemed impossible for anything to stop them.

She was so absorbed by the scene that she didn't notice the angel diving toward her. The sound of its wings approaching at breakneck speed abruptly jolted her out of her trance, but she had no time to react.

A whistle pierced the air near her ear, followed by a sharp crack. The angel fell to the ground, a bullet lodged in its head. The man in the white armor approached her, his pistol still smoking in his hand.

"Get to safety, kid," he said in a nonchalant tone. He didn't seem the least bit panicked by the chaotic assault unfolding around them. For him, this fight seemed more like entertainment than a real danger.

"They're capturing humans," Aisling, her senses finally awakened, tried to collect her thoughts.

He fired another bullet, taking down a demon that was getting too close.

"Yeah, we saw... Not really their style. All the more reason not to stick around."

"There are still survivors!" she insisted. "Tell them to head to the sanctuary and enter the Reflecting Pool."

"That thing still works? Damn..."

At that moment, a deafening noise erupted behind them. Strife reacted immediately, grabbing her by the arm and pushing her to the ground to make her duck. Another explosion echoed as he shot at a new creature that was approaching dangerously close.

"Take the portal and get out of here! We'll handle the rest. Go, now!"

Aisling looked at him, her heart racing, but she realized she had no other choice. So, she stood up and prepared to run. She found Idris a bit further along, having managed to send a small group of survivors toward the sanctuary. Breathless and covered in ash, he suddenly grabbed her by the shoulder, his eyes widening with a horrible realization.

"Where's Fenja?"

Aisling froze, realizing she hadn't seen her friend anywhere. They had encountered hunters, some fighting, others dead, and still others sent toward the sanctuary. But Fenja... Fenja was not among them. Idris's face fell as he seemed to come to the same conclusion, and without saying another word, he took off running toward the forest where the hunters' camp was located. Aisling followed him without hesitation, both of them avoiding the paths of the angels and demons who continued to clash in a deluge of violence.

They entered a thicket that, by some miracle, had not yet been engulfed by flames. The small camp of hunter huts stood before them, but the flames were beginning to dangerously nibble at the surrounding trees, threatening to reduce everything to ashes. They called out Fenja's name, their voices ringing above the crackling fire and the distant clamor of battle. But no answer came, and Aisling felt a knot of anxiety form in her throat.

Finally, a cry pierced the din. A call for help, weak but distinct.

They rushed toward the sound, running through the smoldering embers, and ended up entering a half-collapsed hut. Fenja was there, kneeling, desperately trying to free a body trapped beneath the rubble. Ceorl, Fenja's adoptive father. Aisling recognized him immediately. A single glance was enough for her to understand that he was already dead, but Fenja was still trying, refusing to accept it.

"Fenja, he's..." Aisling began, hesitant.

"No! Help me! We have to get him out of here!" Fenja screamed, tears streaming down her soot-covered face.

Aisling and Idris exchanged a desperate look.

"Fenja, he's gone... We need to leave too, now, before everything collapses," Aisling pleaded, her voice breaking.

But Fenja shook her head frantically, refusing to listen. Idris, seeing the flames licking ever closer to the walls of the hut, resolved to take action. He knelt in front of Fenja, gently taking her by the shoulders to force her to look him in the eyes.

"Fenja... We have to go, now. It's too late," he said in a soft but firm voice, his hands gently framing her face.

Fenja, devastated, broke down in tears, her resistance finally shattering under the weight of reality.

"I... I can't leave him here..." she murmured, her voice trembling.

"It's going to be okay," Idris murmured, looking into her eyes. "But we have to leave, before it's too late for us too."

Fenja finally nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks, and Idris helped her to her feet, supporting her as she swayed under the weight of exhaustion and grief. They left the ruined hut with heavy hearts.

The forest, now engulfed in a raging inferno, forced them to run between the trees that were collapsing under the flames. Each breath was painful, the smoke making the air unbearable. They leaped over burning branches, narrowly avoiding the sparks flying around them. Their escape soon brought them near the cliff, where they stopped, panting, to catch their breath.

From there, they could see the horizon. Fireballs were falling from the red-black sky like hellish rain, illuminating the night with burning flashes. Wherever the gaze fell, the other islands could be seen through a reddish-orange halo. Aisling felt a chilling shiver run through her body despite the oppressive heat of the fire.

Nimrach was burning...

Fenja, supported by Idris, let out a heartbreaking whimper, an expression of pure desolation, while her shoulders shook with sobs that seemed too heavy to bear. Aisling held her stomach, as if the flames ravaging Nimrach were burning her own body. Their village, their home, everything they had built together, had been reduced to nothing in a matter of hours.

Idris, struggling to hold back his tears, held Fenja close while trying to keep a clear head. He grabbed Aisling by the arm and turned their gaze away from the apocalyptic scene unfolding before them.

"We have to go... There's nothing left here," he murmured in a hoarse voice. His bitter words contained a brutal truth that they could not ignore.

Without waiting any longer, he forced them to run again, despite their exhaustion. Their flight took them back through what remained of the burning village. The fighting was still raging, with the Horsemen battling against the angels and demons, their power leaving little chance for their enemies. But the other forces had already withdrawn, taking the captured humans with them as prisoners destined for an unknown fate.

The sanctuary was not far off, but as they ran breathlessly, Aisling was suddenly yanked violently backward. She fell to the ground with a cry of pain, her foot caught by a clawed hand. A demon, hidden among the rubble, had just seized her leg and was pulling her toward it, its fangs bared in a cruel grin. Aisling screamed, her strength abandoning her.

Fenja, despite her mental and physical exhaustion, reacted instantly. Without hesitation, she drew her bow and aimed for the creature's eye. The arrow struck its target, and the demon howled in pain, blood splattering in a reddish spray that seemed to cover everything around them. But even wounded, the demon did not let go, continuing to drag Aisling toward it.

Idris and Fenja, using all their remaining strength, grabbed Aisling by the arms, pulling with all their might to free her from the creature's grip. Their muscles burned with effort, but they refused to give up.

They finally reached the Reflecting Pool, and in a final act of survival, Aisling delivered a wild kick to the demon's toothy maw, striking with desperate force.

The blow landed, and the creature finally released its grip with a terrifying grunt. As they crossed the surface, a great blue flash engulfed them, instantly erasing the chaotic scene around them.