The night sky still hung with the residual fiery clouds of the battle and a faint golden, holy radiance.

  The earth was scarred and broken; the battlefield was strewn with charred armor fragments, broken weapons, and the remains of comrades who would never rise again. The roars of the monsters had fallen silent, replaced by the scent of gunpowder and blood mixed with embers, swirling unceasingly in the air.

  Khagurem lived—

  But every soul still standing knew clearly that this was a victory paid for in flesh and blood.

  Yggdrasil remained suspended in mid-air, six wings spread, golden light coiling around him as he looked down upon the battlefield like a celestial sovereign. After the hundred angels completed the final sweep under his guidance, they flew back to assemble before him.

  The two high-ranking angels standing at his left and right—the gold-eyed, four-winged "Fafa" and the silver-haired, four-winged "Ione"—likewise flew silently to the front of Yggdrasil. With solemn countenances, they slowly knelt.

  Following them, the rest of the host took action. All hundred angels knelt on one knee in mid-air, their wings vibrating slightly like waves. Their expressions were unified, and their voices seemed to resonate from the depths of every soul simultaneously:

  "The judgment is complete. We wish to return to the Holy Domain and leave the glory in this place."

  This low, pure vow seemed to transcend air and time, settling into the hearts of everyone looking up.

  Yggdrasil nodded gently, his white beard and brown hair moving slightly in the wind. His eyes were deep and calm. He slowly raised his right hand, and a streak of golden light rose from his palm, pointing toward the still-open "Heavenly Gate" high in the sky.

  The angels stood one by one and flew serenely into the brilliant golden portal. Their wings sliced through the night sky without a sound, vanishing as peacefully as morning mist. Finally, the two high-ranking angels—Fafa and Ione—acting as the final guides, looked toward the protagonist once more before departing, whispering softly:

  "Proxy, may glory and mission be with you always."

  As the last silhouette entered the golden gate, the Heavenly Gate slowly closed. The inscribed golden rings manifesting in the air contracted circle by circle, turning into a shimmer that dissipated with the wind into the night.

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  The angels had returned to their place.

  An unprecedented silence fell over the entire area.

  Tens of thousands of people looked up at the night sky—dwarves, adventurers, veterans, citizens, children, and elders. Every pair of eyes watched silently as the figure began his descent.

  Yggdrasil slowly retracted his six wings; the light condensed into a halo behind his back before fading away. His body descended steadily like a falling star, his feet finally touching the scorched and dust-covered city wall.

  The moment he landed—

  In the silent crowd atop the wall, a trembling, low voice spoke:

  "...The Proxy of the Dwarven God."

  The voice was faint yet clear, as if confirming that the miracle before them was real.

  Soon, another voice joined in: "The successor of the fire of Brom Stoneheart..."

  Then someone cried out through sobs: "The Star-Flame Judge—!"

  These titles, which originally existed only in ancient legends, spread as rapidly as sparks blown by the wind. From one voice, they became ten, then a hundred, finally transforming into a torrent that covered the entire wall and the streets below:

  "OUR HERO—!"

  The shout was like a crack of thunder tearing through the night, followed by an explosion of sound. Dwarves, adventurers, and surviving soldiers raised their weapons or cast aside their shattered shields, roaring, weeping, and laughing. This city, which had struggled through blood and fire, finally took its first real breath of relief.

  But amidst this tide of cheering, Balin’s gaze followed only one figure.

  He gripped a war hammer still stained with blood; his face was covered in sweat and dust, his black beard tangled, but his eyes were locked onto the figure whose radiance was fading.

  When Yggdrasil’s feet touched the wall, Balin nearly lunged forward.

  He opened his arms, pulling the other man fiercely into his embrace. His thick chest pressed tightly against that familiar rounded belly. As their beards brushed against each other's cheeks, ignoring the gazes of everyone around them, Balin lowered his head—after the baptism of war and holy light, he kissed Yggdrasil directly on the lips.

  It was not a hurried plunder, but a deep confirmation—confirming that the other truly existed within his arms, confirming that all of this was not a dream.

  The surrounding shouts and cheers vanished completely from their world; there were only their breaths and heartbeats intertwined.

  When the kiss ended, Yggdrasil seemed to lose all the strength in his body, slumping down and allowing himself to sink into Balin’s stout, warm chest. His hands gripped the other's clothes slightly, as if afraid that letting go would mean being snatched away by fate once more.

  Balin held him tightly, his forehead resting against Yggdrasil’s, whispering: "Yggda... you're back... you really... you did it..."

  Yggdrasil let out a long breath. The golden light in his eyes finally faded completely, replaced by a weary but peaceful smile.

  "Mmh... I'm back."

  He closed his eyes, burying his face into that steadying warmth. All the tension collapsed in this moment, his shoulders trembling silently.

  He had not fought to receive the praise of the masses, but to protect the person before him—this lover who allowed him to feel love and warmth.

  And he knew—that after this night of divine punishment concluded, his journey had only just begun.

  The battle for Khagurem has ended, not with the cold decree of a god, but with a warm embrace on a scorched wall. Yggdrasil has fulfilled his duty as Zareon's proxy, but for him, the greatest victory is returning to Balin's arms.

  If you were touched by their reunion, please follow, favorite, and leave a comment on Royal Road. Their journey is far from over, and new challenges await in the aftermath of the storm!