Chapter 448

Amid the smoke-filled battlefield, two lovers clung to each other.

Andrew Smith's grip was iron-tight, his nails digging into his palms. He wanted to slap himself—how could he have doubted Luna White's love for their captain? Now, standing there in her bloodied medical uniform, she looked more radiant than any bride.

"I do," Luna's voice cut through the gunfire, clear and unwavering.

Andrew trembled as he slid a makeshift ring—crafted from a bullet casing—onto her finger. No wedding dress, no flowers, only the ever-present shadow of death. Yet it was the most sacred union the world had ever witnessed.

"Salute!" Andrew suddenly roared.

Every soldier snapped to attention, raising their right hands in unison. Tears carved muddy trails down their dust-streaked faces. On the enemy's frontlines, a commander peered through his binoculars, his own eyes burning.

"Sir, should we open fire?" his adjutant whispered.

The commander shook his head. He thought of his wife waiting back home. Love like this didn’t deserve to be shattered by artillery.

Luna stiffened. Her fingers brushed against Andrew’s back—warm, wet. Blood. Shrapnel had embedded itself deep, yet he was still issuing final orders to their unit.

"...Leave the wounded. I’ll clear the path..." His voice grew faint.

Luna seized his wrist. She’d almost forgotten her greatest secret—the hands that could cheat death itself.

"You won’t die. Not while I’m here," she whispered against his ear, her palms glowing faintly.

On the enemy’s side, the commander lowered his binoculars. "Cease fire for two hours," he ordered.

"But sir—"

"That’s an order!" His gaze lingered on the embracing couple. "Let love...live a little longer."

Luna’s supernatural ability surged violently. Andrew’s wounds knit together before their eyes—but her face paled with each passing second. This healing came at a cost: her own life force.

"Luna?" Andrew gasped at the warmth flooding his veins.

Her smile was weak. "This time...it’s my turn to protect you."

The distant roar of engines shattered the moment. Headlights pierced the smoke, illuminating the newlyweds—their faces smeared with blood and grime, yet alight with joy.

(Foreshadowing: Luna’s life-threatening energy depletion; the enemy commander’s humanity hinting at future alliances; the arriving convoy signaling hope.)