Chapter 35: A Cry for Peace

Gaona’s Desperate Stand

The frozen battlefield stretched endlessly before him, a desolate expanse of snow, ash, and destruction. Gaona emerged from the Ministry’s corridors, his breath visible in the biting cold. The cacophony of war surrounded him—explosions, gunfire, and the clash of metal—but he moved with a singular determination.

Navigating through the wreckage, he stepped over fallen soldiers and shattered Archons alike. His heart pounded, not from fear but from the unrelenting drive to put an end to the senseless violence.

At the heart of the battlefield, Gaona stopped. He stood tall amidst the destruction, raising his arms wide, his voice rising above the chaos.

“STOP!” he yelled, his voice cracking but resolute.

The fighting faltered. Soldiers froze mid-motion, and Archons turned their glowing eyes toward the lone figure standing defiantly between the two forces.

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The Reunion

From opposite sides of the battlefield, two figures broke away from their forces. Lyris, her tall, regal frame gleaming under the dim light, stepped forward, abandoning her towering mechanoid suit. Her glowing blue eyes locked onto Gaona as she quickened her pace, her movements fluid and graceful.

On the other side, Aria moved purposefully through the chaos, her petite frame weaving through stunned soldiers and Archons. Her expression softened as her gaze landed on Gaona.

“Gaona!” Lyris called, her voice trembling with disbelief and concern.

“Gaona, what are you doing?” Aria shouted, her tone laced with worry.

Both women reached him at the same time, their glowing eyes filled with relief and confusion.

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

“This has to stop,” Gaona said, his voice steady despite the chaos. “You can’t keep tearing each other apart. This war… it’s senseless. You both know that.”

Lyris’s glowing eyes dimmed slightly, her tall frame folding as she knelt beside him. “Gaona, you shouldn’t be here,” she said, her voice trembling with something new—a warmth, a humanity that hadn’t been there before. “It’s dangerous.”

Aria knelt as well, her petite hand resting gently on his arm. “You’re going to get yourself killed. Please, let us handle this.”

Gaona shook his head. “No. It has to end now. You both care about me, don’t you?”

Lyris and Aria exchanged a glance, their expressions conflicted. Slowly, they nodded.

“Then trust me,” Gaona said, his voice firm but kind. “We can do better. Together. There doesn’t have to be more bloodshed.”

The battlefield seemed to pause as his words hung in the air. Slowly, the soldiers and Archons lowered their weapons, their leaders’ hesitation rippling through their ranks.

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A Brief Moment of Happiness

Gaona smiled at the two women, his arms outstretched. “Come here,” he said softly.

Lyris hesitated for a moment before leaning into him, her tall frame folding gently as she rested her head on his shoulder. Her voice, no longer mechanical, was soft and vulnerable. “You’re impossible,” she murmured, a faint smile playing on her lips.

“And reckless,” Aria added, shaking her head but smiling nonetheless.

Gaona chuckled, his voice warm and genuine. “Maybe. But I couldn’t let this go on. Not when I know you two can stop it.”

Lyris tilted her head to look at him, her glowing eyes shimmering like tears. “You always find a way to surprise me.”

Aria looked up as well, her cheeks flushed. “He always has a way of making everything seem… possible.”

The three of them stayed there for a moment, huddled together in the cold. It felt as though the war had disappeared, the weight of their struggles momentarily lifted.

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Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

The Shot

The peace shattered in an instant.

Two gunshots rang out in quick succession.

The first bullet struck Lyris in the shoulder, sparks flying as she staggered back, her glowing blue eyes flickering.

The second shot passed her by.

Gaona’s body jerked as the bullet tore into his chest. His expression froze in shock, his arms falling to his sides as his knees buckled. Blood seeped through his shirt, staining the snow beneath him.

“Gaona!” Lyris screamed, her voice now fully human, filled with anguish and desperation.

She caught him before he hit the ground, cradling him in her arms as her tears fell freely.

“No, no, no,” she whispered, her trembling hands brushing his face. “Stay with me. You can’t leave me. Not now.”

Aria froze, her breath hitching as she stared in horror. She knelt beside him, her petite hands pressing against his chest, trying to stop the bleeding.

“Gaona, please!” she sobbed. “Don’t do this. Don’t leave us!”

From a distant sniper’s perch, Ren lowered his rifle, a cruel smile curling his lips. “Perfect shot.”

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