The Sun, The Saint, and The Vampire

“Anna-chan!” Serenya cried out, pointing a trembling, golden sword at the monster. “Pietta is inside that thing! Morvane stole her!”

Anna gazed at the writhing mound of screaming souls and flesh the size of a city. 

"I see." 

Then, with a voice that rang out with a distinct, commanding power that even the dark deity could not ignore, she lifted her head.

“Why settle for a broken toy, Morvane? Her body is weak. Come. Claim a worthy host.”

The abomination paused. The countless eyes on its surface swiveled to fix on Anna. Morvane sensed her power, a vessel far stronger than the broken girl at his core.

As the monster got near, Anna simply smiled. She shot out her hand towards the base, where the corpses of knights and dark beings were still being absorbed. “Devour!”

Dozen of the corpses that made up the abomination’s very foundation dissolved into streams of black liquid, flying through the air and flowing into Anna, healing her wounds and replenishing her power.

Morvane was furious. This insignificant gnat was eating his new body. He would not tolerate it. His passive fear aura washed over the sanctuary, freezing every soul in place.

Serenya, Terran, Bella—all of them were paralyzed by the sheer terror of his presence. But Anna… Anna just stood there, her expression unchanging. He was confused, but he didn’t care. She was powerless. He would consume her.

Anna was caught by a hundred tendrils that sprung out of the monster's chest, which opened like a hideous flower and pulled her into its writhing, meaty center.

It was done. As their final hope was devoured, the heroes gazed in terror.

But no longer after, a light glowed from within the monstrosity. Through the monster's tainted flesh, there was first a faint gold, and then a greater, holy glow.

Morvane screamed.

“IT BURNS! THE RADIANCE! WHY!! WHY IS A VAMPIRE?!!”

The abomination convulsed violently, its body tearing itself apart from the inside out.

"DAMN YOU ORIVANEIA!!!"

At its core, two people emerged as it disintegrated into a rain of pure flesh and bone: Anna, encircled by a dazzling, golden-white aura, clutching an unconscious Pietta.

She had successfully separated them.

The black, smoky soul of Morvane, now free of a host, shrieked and tried to flee. But a new figure appeared in a blur of motion. A different catgirl with an orange tail, appeared in its path. With a flurry of slashes from two gleaming daggers, she shredded the soul of the dark god into a thousand fading wisps. Without a word or a backward glance, the mysterious catgirl then vanished.

“So that’s what happened when pure radiance meets Morvane. Thank you, Orivaneia. Your blessing is really good.”

Anna, her work done, brought Pietta back to the stunned group. The fear aura was gone. Everyone could move again. The oppressive black sky began to dissipate, revealing the clear, morning dawn.

She gently laid Pietta down beside a concerned Uetum. “I still need my rest,” Anna said, and promptly collapsed.

The battle was over. The dark god was vanquished. The black sky was gone. And Anna, their impossible, contradictory savior, was unconscious on the ground.

Everyone merely stared for a time until a far more scary threat disturbed the stillness. Now that it has completely risen, the city was bathed in the golden light of the morning sun.

The first to recognize the danger was Maren, in her little human form. Her eyes widened in fear.

“KYAAAAA!” she shrieked,  “THE SUN! THE SUN! IT’S GOING TO BURN HER!”

The words snapped Zebril out of her trance. Her maternal, protective instincts roared to life, overriding all other thoughts.

“COVER HER FROM THE SUN!!” she bellowed, her captain’s voice a thunderclap that mobilized everyone. “QUICK!!!”