The sky above the Witch Tower split open.
Not cracked.
Split.
Three massive sigils rotated in perfect synchronization high above the battlefield, their light no longer probing or testing.
This was execution.
Selmara's voice echoed coldly across the ruined courtyard.
"You have resisted beyond projections."
Velmira's crescent blade hummed with void-laced moonlight.
"Therefore… we escalate."
High above them—
The third witch finally stepped fully into view.
Tall.
Regal.
Terrifyingly calm.
Her eyes locked directly onto Lyra.
"End it."
The three sigils aligned.
And the world screamed.
---
The Catastrophic Descent
A beam formed.
Not light.
Not darkness.
Annihilation.
It descended like the judgment of a dead star.
Every Celestial Ring ignited violently.
Not warning.
Panic.
Serena's voice broke first.
"That will kill everyone!"
Kael's lunar aura flared desperately.
"We can't fully redirect it!"
Emma's ice formations shattered before even forming.
Kai's lightning misfired wildly in the distorted air.
Sofia's vines withered under the pressure.
Nero, still weakened, slammed his fist into the ground—
"Earth Wall—!"
The wall formed—
And instantly cracked.
Mia's water spiraled upward—
Vaporized.
Rafael's wind screamed—
Flattened.
Seraphina's darkness surged beside Zane's shadow—
Even their combined eclipse began to tear apart.
This attack was beyond normal suppression.
Beyond battlefield control.
It was designed to erase the entire formation.
---
Lyra Understands
Time slowed.
Lyra's golden eyes widened.
Not in fear.
In clarity.
If this lands…
Everyone dies.
Her fingers trembled.
Deep in her core—
The Phoenix Flame flickered violently.
Not weak.
Warning.
Orion grabbed her wrist.
"Lyra. Don't."
He felt it.
That terrifying resolve.
Her voice was soft.
Too calm.
"If I don't… they all die."
His grip tightened.
"We find another way."
But above them—
The annihilation beam doubled in size.
Selmara's eyes narrowed.
Velmira's crescent glowed darker.
The third witch smiled faintly.
There was no time.
---
The Forbidden Decision
Lyra inhaled slowly.
Then—
She stepped forward.
Orion's hand slipped from hers.
"Lyra—!"
Her Celestial Ring burned.
Her Phoenix Flame roared—
Then compressed inward.
Not expanding.
Condensing.
Seraphina's eyes widened first.
"…she wouldn't."
Zane's shadow trembled.
"Lyra, stop—"
Too late.
Lyra raised both hands.
Ancient witch runes—freshly learned within the academy—ignited across her arms in burning crimson patterns.
The air itself recoiled.
Morgana, watching through the tower's distant projection arrays, went pale.
"No…"
Lyra's voice rang out across the battlefield:
"Forbidden Witch Art—"
Her blood ignited.
Golden-red flames erupted directly from her veins.
"Blood Sacrifice."
---
The Burning Life Force
Her aura exploded.
Not smoothly.
Violently.
Wild Phoenix fire surged outward in a massive spiral, her power skyrocketing far beyond her current stable limits.
Orion's eyes widened in horror.
"Lyra, STOP!"
But the technique had already locked.
Her heartbeat thundered like war drums.
Once.
Twice.
Faster.
Faster.
Too fast.
Blood seeped from the corner of her lips.
But her eyes—
Burned brighter than ever.
---
Phoenix Shield — Absolute Defense
Lyra thrust both hands upward.
"Divine Phoenix — Eternal Aegis!"
A massive flaming barrier erupted above the twelve Celestial Warriors, expanding outward in layers of molten gold and crimson fire.
Just as—
The annihilation beam struck.
---
Impact
The collision detonated the sky.
Sound vanished.
Light bent.
Reality warped.
The Phoenix shield held.
Barely.
Cracks spread across its surface like spiderweb fractures.
Lyra screamed—not in fear—
In strain.
Her blood continued burning.
Her life force pouring directly into the shield.
Below her—
The Celestial Warriors could only watch in horror.
Serena's voice trembled.
"She's burning herself alive…"
Kael's fists shook.
"Damn it…"
Orion stepped forward desperately.
"Lyra, that's enough!"
Her voice came back weak—
But unwavering.
"I won't… let them… die…"
---
The Final Push
The witches increased output.
Selmara's sigil flared violently.
Velmira's crescent turned fully black.
The third witch raised one finger.
The beam intensified.
The Phoenix shield began to collapse.
Lyra's vision blurred.
Memories flickered—
Her first death.
Orion's arms around her.
Nyx's whisper.
"You will die again."
Her flame surged one final time.
Wild.
Defiant.
Beautiful.
"PHOENIX… ASCEND…!"
The shield stabilized—
And the annihilation beam finally shattered apart into harmless fragments of fading light.
---
Silence
The sky cleared.
The attack was gone.
The academy was safe.
The twelve Celestial Warriors stood unharmed.
For one brief moment—
Victory.
---
Then Lyra Swayed
The Phoenix flames around her flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
They went out.
Her eyes lost focus.
Orion's heart stopped.
"Lyra…?"
Her body fell.
---
The Second Death
He caught her before she hit the ground.
Too light.
Far too still.
"Lyra. Hey… hey, look at me."
No response.
Her chest did not rise.
The Phoenix Flame inside her—
Was gone.
Completely.
Serena covered her mouth in horror.
Sofia froze mid-step.
Kai whispered hoarsely,
"…no way…"
Orion's hands began to shake.
"Lyra…"
Nothing.
The wind died.
The battlefield fell into absolute silence.
High above—
For the first time—
The three witches' expressions turned serious.
Selmara spoke quietly:
"…she actually did it."
Velmira's eyes narrowed.
"Interesting."
The third witch simply watched.
Calculating.
---
Orion Breaks
He pulled Lyra closer, voice cracking for the first time.
"Lyra… wake up."
His sunlight flickered wildly.
Unstable.
Desperate.
But the Phoenix Princess did not move.
Did not breathe.
Did not burn.
For the second time in her life—
Lyra was dead.