"You're truly beautiful, my granddaughter. Let me take a closer look at you," Claudia, the Phoenix Empress, said softly, gesturing for Bella to crouch down.
Feeling a mix of embarrassment and pride, Bella knelt down to her grandmother's level, her transformation shimmering faintly as she moved.
The sight of a petite girl examining a fully grown woman like an elder was a comical yet heartwarming moment to onlookers, though none dared to laugh in the gravity of the situation.
Claudia gently touched Bella's face, her small fingers tracing over her features with a grandmother's tenderness. "Good, good," she murmured, nodding in satisfaction. "You also carry the Eternal Phoenix bloodline with pride. Your beauty may truly last a lifetime, my dear."
Turning her gaze to Aengus, who observed quietly with a calm demeanor, Claudia continued. "I can sense it... You are an existence beyond comprehension, my Grandson-in-law. I will honor my promise to you for my freedom. But you must vow to protect Bella and cherish her as she deserves." Her voice was gentle but held an air of seriousness, her small brows raised slightly in anticipation of his answer.
Aengus inclined his head with a reassuring smile. "That's a given, Phoenix Empress. Bella is my wife, and it is my lifelong duty to protect her from any harm." His eyes softened as they locked with Bella's, radiating unwavering love and determination.
Bella's heart swelled with emotion at his bold declaration. Her cheeks flushed, and she felt her love for him deepen. She knew, without a doubt, she had chosen the right man.
Gradually, Bella reverted to her human form, and Aengus dissipated the veil of shadows that had enclosed their private moment.
Outside, an enormous crowd of citizens and Phoenix bloodline warriors in millions had gathered, their numbers stretching across the ruined streets of the capital.
They stared in stunned silence at the aftermath of the battle. The remnants of the shattered imperial palace, the oppressive aura of destruction, and the still-standing figures of Aengus, Bella, and Claudia spoke volumes. The scale of what had transpired was beyond their comprehension.
None dared to speak. All they could do was watch in awe and trepidation.
"Hey, look! The Phoenix Empress is safe!" a female warrior exclaimed, her voice brimming with joy as she pointed toward the figures emerging from the rubble.
"Oh, thank the heavens," another murmured in relief, though her gaze lingered on the regal man standing beside the Empress. Her cheeks flushed slightly. "But... who is that handsome young man with her?"
"That—that's the Ruination Emperor!" a nobleman interrupted, his voice trembling slightly. "Did you not see what happened? He's the one who fought against her! You didn't witness his terrifying Black Dragon form?"
The woman's eyes widened in disbelief. "Oh, lord! He's the one who defeated the Phoenix Empress?"
"Unbelievable, isn't it?" another chimed in, shaking his head, though his tone carried both awe and indignation. "She must have been weakened after her rebirth. Otherwise, how could a newly risen Transcendental possibly defeat our Empress?"
Surprisingly, a group of men stood up defiantly, their collective voices bold and resolute.
"And why is that, Dragonblood Warriors?" the Phoenix Empress asked coldly, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
The men, exuding a noble air of confidence, stood firm.
"Because the Dragon Emperor won't like it!" one man among them smirked confidently, his words dripping with defiance.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
More and more Dragon-blooded men, married into the Phoenix Empire, began standing, emboldened by their leader's courage.
Chrystia, Vira, and the female Phoenix Blood Warriors were visibly shocked by the sheer unity of the men, whose numbers now grew to encompass half the city.
"What's going on, darling?" one female warrior asked her husband, her voice filled with confusion.
"Go away, bi*ch!"
"Yes, husband, why are you rebelling against our Empire?" another woman pleaded desperately.
"Shut up!"
"Don't do it, husband. You'll be killed!"
"Come back!"
Despite the desperate pleas of their wives, the men only smirked mockingly, their confidence unshaken.
They began gathering together, tens of millions strong, united in defiance against the Empress and the Ruination Emperor. Their solidarity reassured them that together, they could resist any force that sought to oppress them.
The Phoenix Empress and Aengus exchanged sharp glances, their eyes narrowing as they assessed the growing rebellion.
"So," the Empress began, her tone icy, "you men from the Dragon Empire have indeed held disloyalty toward the Phoenix Empire since marrying into our land. Is that it?"