The Apex Dominion Ward covered the captured Three-Star fortress in layered crimson, gold, and violet light. The dome stretched over the broken outer walls, the ruined southern district, the cathedral square, the damaged reliquary towers, the vault chambers, and the lower barrier core beneath the cathedral. The old Church formation had lost authority over the fortress. Its six-point scripture anchors no longer carried the barrier, and the damaged holy lines built into the ground had been replaced by Noctis's omnidirectional ward formation. New runes moved through the stone roads, cracked walls, cathedral steps, vault doors, chain anchors, and underground conduits, binding every part of the fortress into a defensive structure that responded to Noctis's authority.
The team inside the fortress felt the difference immediately. The holy pressure that had remained in the stones after the battle no longer scraped against the fallen angels and transformed clergy. Wounds tightened. Breathing steadied. The pressure from the ward did not press down on Noctis's forces; it reinforced them, giving their bodies stronger resistance while feeding command resonance through the ground beneath their feet. The Crimson Chains holding the prisoners also stabilized under the new ward, and the links remained fixed around wrists, ankles, throats, shoulders, and wing joints without slackening.
The captured enemies felt the opposite. The six angels remained suspended highest above the cathedral square, their wings pinned open by chains because allowing them to close or recover would give them too much control over their bodies. Their halos remained dim, and their golden holy blood continued to lose ground against Noctis's blood. Beneath them, the bishops, high clergy, and commanders trembled in their restraints. Their conversion had not finished, but their bodies no longer hovered at the edge of uncontrolled death. Their veins showed red-gold-purple lines beneath the skin, and every breath they took carried more of Noctis's authority through them.
The fallen angels stood throughout the square and along the streets with their wings completely withdrawn from sight. Their weapons remained ready, but none of them moved without orders. Marcus kept his two-handed blood execution sword resting against one shoulder while watching the new runes pass beneath the relic crates. Daniel and Lucas stood near the recovered holy weapons. Victor remained beside the vault containers with his tower shield planted against the stone. Claire held the command ledgers close, while Sophia and Lily guarded the scripture cases and smaller relic boxes. Elena, Eva, Hannah, Ethan, Ryan, Nathan, Isaac, Julian, Leon, Aaron, and Jason held different points around the square, forming a quiet perimeter around the prisoners and the reward cache.
The Dread Judicators held the inner approaches. Cedric stood near the left avenue with his execution spear angled toward the ground. Matthias kept his suppression chain blades wrapped around his forearms, the hooks hanging near his knees. Gideon watched the rooftops through the sightline of his sanctified blood rifle. Farther out, Darius, Victorian, and Alaric held the heavier defensive points as Crimson Marshals. Darius guarded the broken southern road with his colossal halberd. Victorian remained near the damaged gate arch with his abyssal tower shield set toward the opening. Alaric stood beside the execution platform with his greatblade lowered at his side.
Nocthyrael stood beneath the suspended angels, watching the conversion with steady attention. Her wings were not visible. She had withdrawn them after the battle, and without them she looked like a wingless fallen sovereign in dark cathedral armor, her silver-white hair marked by crimson gradients and her crimson eyes fixed on the prisoners above her. The Eye of Veinheart rested against her chest, but she did not touch it or explain it to anyone. It was hers, personally given by Noctis, and the meaning of that relic belonged between them rather than the entire formation.
The broken cathedral doors shifted from inside, and Noctis returned to the square with Adrian and the Prelates behind him.
Adrian carried himself differently after leaving the barrier core chamber. His robes were marked by scorched scripture dust, and the Abyssal Blood Scepter in his hand still carried a dim red glow from the controlled infusions he had used before Noctis arrived. Selene followed with her floating blood catalyst rings circling at a measured pace around her shoulders. Lucian held his blood scripture sphere close to his chest. Elias had blood-thread residue along his fingers. Damien's sleeve was burned near the wrist, Kael's blood hymn censer released a narrow stream of red vapor, and Rowan's blood scripture chains rested across his forearms.
They had been trying to wear down the remaining holy power inside the barrier core step by step. Then Noctis had entered the chamber, placed both hands on the core, transformed it, erased the old formation, and built a new ward over the entire fortress. None of the Prelates spoke about it as they entered the square. Their silence was enough. Their posture, the way they walked behind him, and the way they watched the ward lines move under the ground showed what they had seen.
Nocthyrael turned toward Noctis the moment he appeared through the cathedral entrance. She crossed the distance without making a formal display, slipped close to his side, and linked one arm around his. Her expression brightened in a way she did not show to anyone else.
"The barrier core?" she asked.
"It is handled," Noctis said. "The fortress is protected now."
Nocthyrael leaned lightly against his arm and looked up at the dome. "Then this place is ours for now."
"For now," Noctis said. "Valdred will have problems with the politics, and the royal demons will probably try to involve themselves, but the fortress itself is secure."
"That is enough for now," she said, her voice pleased.
Noctis looked toward the suspended angels and the converting clergy beneath them. His Omni Eyes opened, and the prisoners' physical states separated into clear layers. The human clergy were converting faster than the angels because their vessels were weaker and their holy authority had fewer internal anchors. Their hearts beat more steadily than before, and their damaged holy channels were being rewritten around Noctis's blood. The angels were taking longer. Their blood still gathered around the heart, halo structure, and wing roots, but the Crimson Chains and the Apex Ward kept every attempt at resistance contained.
"They are progressing," Noctis said. "The clergy will wake first. The angels will take longer."
Nocthyrael looked up at the six angels with interest. "They are still fighting it."
"They can fight as much as they want," Noctis said. "The result will not change."
That answer pleased her. She tightened her hold around his arm for a moment.
Noctis looked at the angels again. "When they wake, they are yours. Give them names, arrange them however you want, and make sure they understand who they serve."
Nocthyrael smiled and leaned against him more openly. "Of course, my dearest. I will take good care of them."
Noctis gave her a brief look. The corner of his mouth lifted, but he did not comment on her tone in front of the others.
He then looked toward Adrian. "The fallen clergymen are under your command. Give them names and arrange them however you see fit."
Adrian lowered his head. "Understood, Master."
The command was enough. Adrian did not need a lecture on bishops, high clergy, or commanders. He had already led the first transformed clergy group, and he understood how Church ranks could be repurposed into fallen structure. The newly converted clergymen would wake with their old identities broken and their new authority shaped by Noctis's blood. Adrian would name them, sort them, and place them beneath the proper hierarchy.
Noctis touched the faint rune on his forehead.
Two lights emerged from the mark and descended into the square. The first expanded into Bahamut. He did not manifest at his full size because the square was already crowded with prisoners, relics, and soldiers, but even his restrained form carried dense draconic pressure. Crimson-gold lines moved across his scales, and his eyes settled on Noctis before lowering in respect. The second light expanded into Rengar. Red lightning moved through his fur, frost-blue traces marked his arms, and his predatory gaze moved from the suspended angels to the relics arranged near the square.
Both lowered their heads.
"Master," Bahamut said.
"Master," Rengar said.
Noctis nodded to them, then looked across the assembled force. "Let's get to it. Today, I have special gifts for all of you. These are treasures I obtained from the Academy vault. They will increase your power, but the treasures are limited. Some are more valuable than others, and not everyone will receive the same kind of reward today. There will be more chances in the future."
The square became still. The fallen angels, the transformed clergy, the Dread Judicators, the Crimson Marshals, Bahamut, and Rengar all focused on him. Even the converting prisoners above them could hear his voice through the pain in their bodies, though none of them had enough control to respond.
Noctis opened his spatial storage.
The first treasures appeared in ordered rows before him. Demon God Bloodline relics floated in the air before settling into place above the stone: pendants, rings, an earring, an armband, a crystal, and a bracelet. The Pendant of Cryzareth carried Frozen Abyss authority. The Pendant of Vaelzoryth carried the Voidflame Monarch bloodline. The Pendant of Nyxareth carried Eclipse Seraph inheritance. The Pendant of Zephryxiel contained Tempest Devourer authority. The Pendant of Azaeryth carried Scarlet Tyrant power. The Pendant of Morvathul carried Titan Tyrant inheritance. The Pendant of Khaelyrion contained Celestial Abyss authority. The Ring of Serakynth carried poison, decay, and corrosion. The Ring of Thalmyr carried Moonshade authority. The Ring of Drakmord held Dragon Monarch pressure. The Earring of Veyrith carried Soul Requiem resonance. The Armband of Malchyreon carried Abyssal War God power. The Crystal of Rimezaroth contained Absolute Frost and Frozen Dominion. The Bracelet of Cryzareth carried the deeper Primordial Ice Demon God inheritance.
The Ring of Velthorax was not among them because it had been returned to the vault after the negotiation.
The additional treasures appeared next. The corrupted papal staff stood upright in the air. Its blackened silver shaft was covered in holy scripture that had been partially overwritten by blood runes. A crimson gemstone sat at its crown, and a fractured halo floated behind the gem. Abyssal veins moved beneath the metal surface. In Noctis's hand, the relic was no longer only a corrupted papal staff. It had a new name and a new role.
The Crozier of the Fallen Dawn.
Beside it appeared the Genesis Heartwood, sealed inside a containment frame. Noctis did not move that one toward anyone. He had no intention of distributing an Origin and Creation relic casually. The Corrupted Templar Spear and Corrupted Execution Sword appeared beside the Heartwood. The Cosmic Dragon Core formed last among the major relics, floating as a sealed orb with a galaxy-like interior rotating inside blood-dark glass. After that came the military spell tomes and scrolls: Tier 7 Holy Suppression, Tier 7 Holy Bombardment, Tier 7 Holy Execution, the Tier 6 Abyssal Corrosion record, and the Tier 9 Angelic Ultimate sealed under heavier scripture restraints. The World of Gods elemental monster cores appeared in the final row: fire, water, lightning, wind, shadow, and several additional elemental variants.
Noctis looked first at Bahamut.
The Cosmic Dragon Core moved forward and stopped in front of the primordial dragon. Its inner light shifted as it approached him, and the points inside the core moved faster. Bahamut's draconic pressure tightened around his hands, but he did not reach out until Noctis gave it to him.
"Bahamut, this is yours," Noctis said.
Bahamut accepted the core with both hands. The galaxy-like interior brightened once under his grip, then steadied. "Thank you, Master."
"Absorb it carefully," Noctis said. "I do not know everything inside it yet, so do not force the process."
Bahamut lowered his head. "I will be careful."
Noctis then turned to Rengar.
The Ring of Thalmyr left the row and floated toward him. It absorbed nearby light along its edges, and the shadow beneath Rengar's feet deepened before the ring even touched his hand.
"This one fits you," Noctis said. "Moonshade bloodline. Darkness, stealth, light absorption, and shadow movement."
Rengar took the ring and studied it. "It improves pursuit."
"It improves pursuit, ambush, and stalking," Noctis said. "You were already a hunter. This just makes the hunt easier."
Rengar's mouth curved slightly, showing a hint of fang. "That suits me."
"I know," Noctis said.
Rengar slid the ring onto one clawed finger. The ring tightened to fit him, and the shadow at his feet moved half a step outward before settling again. The light touching his fur dimmed around the edges. His body did not change shape, and his identity did not shift. The relic sharpened what was already there.
Noctis then picked up the Bracelet of Cryzareth and turned toward Nocthyrael.
"This one is for you."
Nocthyrael's eyes brightened immediately. She stepped closer and offered her wrist without hesitation. "You found something for me?"
"Of course I did," Noctis said as he placed the bracelet around her wrist. "You captured the fortress. You deserve something special."
The bracelet closed around her wrist. Frost traced across its surface for a moment before sinking into her skin. A faint silver-blue ring appeared around her crimson irises, and a thin layer of frost formed along the edges of her armor before fading. Nocthyrael lifted her wrist and admired the bracelet with obvious delight, then leaned closer to Noctis again.
"I like it," she said.
"I thought you would."
She smiled. "You chose well."
Noctis did not explain the Eye of Veinheart to the entire square. He did not announce the combined path or give it a name in public. That discussion could wait until he and Nocthyrael were alone, when they could test the relic properly and study how it interacted with her bloodline.
He then took the Crozier of the Fallen Dawn.
Adrian stepped forward and knelt. Noctis held the crozier upright, and the fractured halo behind the crimson gemstone rotated slowly. The abyssal veins beneath the blackened silver surface moved toward Adrian's fallen sanctity as if the relic had recognized a compatible bearer.
"Adrian, this is yours," Noctis said. "You will be leading more fallen clergy after today, and this will help you command them."
Adrian raised both hands and accepted the crozier. The moment his fingers closed around it, the holy scripture along the shaft brightened. The blood runes written over that scripture activated next, forcing the old holy sequence into a fallen structure. The crimson gemstone pulsed once, and the fractured halo behind it stopped rotating.
Adrian lowered his head. "Thank you, Master. I will use it well."
Noctis moved the sealed military spell tomes and scrolls toward him next.
"These are also yours to keep for now," Noctis said. "Do not hand them out until the Prelates are ready."
Adrian looked at the scrolls. "Understood."
Noctis pointed to the first sealed record. "Chains of Revelation. Tier 7 Holy Suppression. It binds enemies, restricts movement, suppresses demonic and abyssal power, weakens spellcasting, and disrupts formations. The full spell creates scripture chains across the battlefield."
The next record moved into place.
"Rain of Final Judgment. Tier 7 Holy Bombardment. It creates a celestial formation overhead and releases hundreds or thousands of smaller judgment lances. Lance of Final Absolution is one execution lance. This is the battlefield version."
The third tome settled beside it.
"Lance of Final Absolution. Tier 7 Holy Execution. You already understand the purpose. It kills important targets and pierces barriers."
Adrian nodded once.
Noctis looked at the largest sealed record. "Final Verdict of Heaven. Tier 9 Angelic Ultimate. This is not for one caster. It requires multiple high-ranking angels, massive holy power, and combined casting. It creates a colossal celestial sword from holy authority, angelic halos, divine scripture, and celestial light. It is meant to clash with Demon Lords, Demon Gods, fortresses, or sovereign-level attacks."
The Prelates behind Adrian looked at the record with controlled restraint. Noctis noticed their focus but did not address each of them separately.
Adrian bowed his head. "I will preserve them. When the Prelates are capable of learning them safely, I will pass the scrolls to them under your approval."
"That is fine," Noctis said. "Do not rush it."
The tomes moved into Adrian's custody and sealed themselves beside the Crozier of the Fallen Dawn.
Noctis then moved the Corrupted Templar Spear toward Cedric.
Cedric stepped forward from the Dread Judicators and knelt. The corrupted spear fit his existing role. His old weapon was already an execution spear, and this relic carried fallen templar authority suitable for suppression, judgment, and battlefield restraint.
"This goes to you, Cedric," Noctis said.
Cedric accepted it with both hands. "Thank you, Master."
The Corrupted Execution Sword moved next, and Noctis turned toward Alaric. The Crimson Marshal stepped forward, placed his greatblade behind him, and knelt. The corrupted sword carried an execution authority that matched his role without replacing his identity as a heavy frontline officer.
"Alaric, take this one."
Alaric accepted the sword. "I will not waste it."
Noctis then turned to the fallen angels.
The remaining Demon God Bloodline relics lifted from the row. He did not distribute them by rank alone. He matched them by weapon, combat function, and growth direction. Claire was included with the rest, not treated as an assistant outside the reward structure.
The Earring of Veyrith moved to Claire. Its Soul Requiem authority would improve her spiritual pressure, perception, and resonance control, which suited her ability to manage records, battlefield recovery, and precision combat without losing awareness.
"Claire," Noctis said. "This one is yours."
Claire accepted the earring and lowered her head. "Thank you, Master."
The Armband of Malchyreon went to Marcus. Abyssal War God authority fit his execution sword and direct battle presence. The armband closed around his forearm and adjusted to his blood flow.
The Pendant of Vaelzoryth went to Daniel. Voidflame Monarch authority would strengthen his dual longsword style with abyssal fire, spatial distortion, and corrosion.
The Pendant of Zephryxiel went to Ethan. Tempest Devourer authority matched his long spear and gave him storm, lightning, and aerial supremacy for future wing-based combat when he actively deployed it.
The Pendant of Azaeryth went to Ryan. Scarlet Tyrant authority matched his massive blood halberd, giving him blood domination, regeneration, and blood weapon manifestation.
The Pendant of Morvathul went to Victor. Titan Tyrant authority suited his shield and warblade, increasing physical reinforcement and heavy battlefield control.
The Pendant of Khaelyrion went to Sophia. Celestial Abyss authority supported her ranged role by giving her holy-abyss synchronization, energy inversion, and dual affinity control.
The Pendant of Nyxareth went to Elena. Eclipse Seraph authority matched her crimson war spear and gave her fallen holy authority, abyssal synchronization, and eclipse power.
The Pendant of Cryzareth went to Hannah. Frozen Abyss authority gave her scythe style greater battlefield control and execution pressure.
The Ring of Serakynth went to Lily. Poison, decay, and corrosion fit her twin blood daggers and close assassination style.
The Ring of Drakmord went to Leon. Dragon Monarch authority, dragon pressure, and crimson-gold flames matched his crimson greatspear.
The Crystal of Rimezaroth went to Eva. Absolute Frost and Frozen Dominion would strengthen her curved blood saber through freezing pressure and movement control.
Other accessories and elemental monster cores were distributed among Nathan, Isaac, Julian, Aaron, Jason, Lucas, and the remaining fallen angels according to function. Lightning cores went to those who relied on speed and sudden pressure. Shadow cores went to those suited for concealment and pursuit. Fire cores went to direct attackers. Wind cores went to mobile fighters and ranged support. Water cores went to those whose bodies showed compatibility with recovery, flow control, or adaptive defense.
Each fallen angel stepped forward, accepted the reward, and returned to formation. The square remained orderly. No one shouted, and no one broke discipline. The changes showed in the way each relic adjusted to its bearer, how pressure settled into bodies, and how weapons responded to new authority.
Noctis then looked up at the six converting angels.
They were still suspended by Crimson Chains, and their conversion had not finished. Noctis did not give them relics yet. He opened his palm, and six controlled drops of blood rose from his skin, each one held in place by his authority.
Nocthyrael looked up with interest. "Are you giving them your blood now?"
"Not yet as a reward," Noctis said. "This is only to prepare the anchor. Once they wake, they will need armor first. After that, I will give them my blood properly so they can use blood memory and learn what they need, including Crimson Arsenal."
Nocthyrael smiled. "Then they will be able to make their own weapons later."
"Yes," Noctis said. "But first they need to finish falling."
The six drops entered the Crimson Chains and traveled into the angels through the existing wounds. Their bodies pulled against the restraints, but the movement changed after the blood reached their hearts. The conversion did not finish instantly. It only gained a clearer anchor, giving Noctis a stronger hold over what they would become.
Nocthyrael leaned against his arm again. "I will prepare armor for them when they wake."
"Good," Noctis said. "Make sure it suits them. They are yours to arrange."
She looked very pleased with that answer. "I will make them presentable."
Noctis then turned his attention toward the clergy hanging beneath the angels. Their conversion followed a different pattern. Adrian and the first fallen clergy had not emerged bare and empty-handed. Their corrupted clerical nature shaped vestments, armor, scepters, chains, censers, scripture tools, and weapons as part of the transformation itself. The new fallen clergymen would likely do the same once the corruption finished taking their bodies and holy structure.
"The clergy are different," Noctis said. "When they wake, they should have their own armor and weapons from the conversion. Adrian, once they are awake, sort them out and decide where they belong."
Adrian lowered his head. "Understood, Master. I will name them, assign them, and organize them under the fallen clergy."
"That works," Noctis said.
The reward ceremony continued with the remaining practical distribution. The Genesis Heartwood stayed sealed under Noctis's authority and was returned to his storage. Several elemental cores remained reserved because their compatibility was not yet clear. Some recovered Church relics from the fortress were left unopened for later inspection, and Claire was ordered to separate the records by category: command structure, barrier systems, relic inventory, angel summoning, troop routes, and correspondence.
Noctis looked across the square once the major rewards had been assigned.
Bahamut held the Cosmic Dragon Core carefully in both hands. Rengar stood with the Ring of Thalmyr settled on his finger, his shadow darker around his feet. Nocthyrael wore the Bracelet of Cryzareth, still close to Noctis's side, visibly pleased with her reward. Adrian held the Crozier of the Fallen Dawn while the military spell tomes remained sealed beside him. Cedric carried the Corrupted Templar Spear. Alaric held the Corrupted Execution Sword. The fallen angels stood with relics and elemental cores assigned according to their functions. Above them, the six angels continued converting under Noctis's blood anchor. Beneath them, the future fallen clergy trembled in their chains while their holy authority continued to break apart and reform.
Noctis gave the final order for the square.
"Secure everything you received. Do not force the relics to awaken all at once. Let them adjust to your blood first. Nocthyrael, keep watch over the angels. Adrian, continue watching the clergy. Claire, finish sorting the records and relic inventory. Everyone else maintains the perimeter until I say otherwise."
The assembled force lowered their heads.
"Yes, Master."
Noctis remained at the center of the fortress square with Nocthyrael holding his arm beside him. The Apex Dominion Ward moved through the ground beneath their feet and across the dome above the fortress. The rewards had been given, the prisoners were still converting, and the captured fortress remained sealed under Noctis's authority.