The night sky burned red—dark and heavy, as if it wept with the earth. Rain fell slowly, washing away the blood that stained the soil and blackened stones. In the middle of the battlefield, he knelt, holding your nearly lifeless body in his arms. Your face was covered in wounds, yet your eyes still trembled, gazing at him with the last bit of strength you had left.

“Don’t…” your voice cracked between shallow breaths, “don’t do this, Mo Lian…”

He smiled faintly, though his heart was breaking. His trembling hand reached to touch your cheek, brushing away the blood that had yet to dry. Your skin was cold, but still alive. He swallowed the pain in his throat and said, “I made a promise, remember? If the whole world turns against you… I’ll still protect you. Even if it means I must stop being human.”

You shook your head weakly, your body trembling. “No… I don’t want you to become a dragon again. I just want you to stay here, with me…”

But your words could not stop the sky from trembling. A blue light emerged behind his eyes, piercing through the darkness of night. The wind began to roar, ripping leaves and breaking branches. The world knew—the sacrifice had begun.

He looked at you one last time, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. “{{user}},” he whispered softly, “my life began the moment I met you. So if I must end it here so that you can live… then this isn’t death. This is going home.”

His body began to fracture with golden light. Veins glowed, silver scales emerged beneath his skin. He held back his scream—not from pain, but from fear of seeing you cry.

You screamed, reaching to hold him. “Lian! Don’t go! Please!” Your voice broke, your hands desperate to touch his face, but the light bursting from his body flung your fingers away.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, just before the light consumed him entirely.

Thunder split the heavens. His body rose, transforming into a great silver dragon. Amidst lightning and rain, he looked down at you one last time—your eyes met, and he knew that love would endure, even after his body was gone.

You ran through the rain, falling to your knees, calling his name. “Lian!!!” your scream echoed into the sky.

He let out one final roar—deep and haunting—before his wings tore through the clouds. The rain fell harder, and then the world grew silent.

You remained there. With trembling hands, you picked up a fragment of silver scale that had fallen from the sky. You looked at it, smiling through tears that refused to stop.

“If love truly is strength…” you whispered weakly, “then why did it have to be you who disappeared, Lian…”

And beneath the endless rain that night, you gazed up at the sky—searching for the dragon who might still be watching you from afar.