All eyes shifted to Max.
Eir’s voice cut through the air.
"And why is that?"
Hunter let out a rough breath, shaking his head.
"He thinks we’re weak. That it?"
Kael chuckled.
"Didn’t expect that one—but hey, he’s not wrong. Why stack the numbers when I’m already here?"
Tim crossed his arms.
"I actually didn’t expect this from you."
Max didn’t flinch. His smile stayed calm, steady.
"You’re all wrong, it’s not about weakness. It’s because I’ve got sothing... sothing that might actually tip the fight."
A deep rumble cut through the conversation. Sothing slamd into the southern wall—heavy enough to shake the ground beneath their boots.
Eir’s face hardened.
"We’re out of ti. Everyone, move to your positions!"
He turned toward Max, slower this ti.
"I hope you’re right. I don’t want to watch your team die out there."
Max’s grin sharpened.
"Then don’t blink. I bet you will be surprised."
They moved fast after that—boots slapping dirt, blades at their sides.
VORTEX turned south.
RISE and Galeforce ran north.
And behind them, the air grew heavier with every step.
————
The moose-like creature slamd its bulk against the southern wall. Stone groaned. A sharp crack spread outward from the point of impact, crawling like a spiderweb across the surface.
Above, the duskwither moths arrived.
Their thin, twitching antennae reached over the edge, grabbing nearby guards. From their mouths, long, needle-like tubes slid out—and stabbed deep. Blood drained in steady streams, the guards thrashing as their veins turned pale.
So of the moths landed, claws scraping the wall as they lunged.
The guards didn’t fall back. Rifles lit up with beams of light, slicing through the wings of the attackers. Gray dust scattered like ash—only for the wounds to knit themselves together midair.
But not all survived. A few moths spiraled out of the sky, their bodies torn and smoking.
Then the wall flashed with orange.
A torrent of fire exploded across the air, catching a cluster of moths mid-flight. They burst into fla, falling like burning paper.
The defenders paused.
Their eyes found Kael.
He stood at the edge of the wall, fire curling around his shoulders like a living thing. His grin was sharp.
Below him, the moose-like creature reared back again for another slam.
Kael jumped.
The air shimred with heat. The creature lifted its head, confused.
Too late.
Kael’s foot t its skull, and the impact cracked like thunder. Fire erupted on contact, slamming the beast into the ground. Its flesh folded in on itself, crushed and scorched, until nothing was left but a flattened sar.
Kael stood tall, smoke curling from his boots. Ahead, dozens more creatures rushed the walls—shapes with twisted limbs and too many eyes.
Behind him, the gates creaked open.
He glanced back.
"Huh. "
his voice calm.
"Guess this’ll be easy. Don’t see any creatures immune to fire."
Max stepped forward from the gates, blinking at the chaos beyond.
"Is it just or does Ironhold have really bad luck?"
Kael turned to step forward—then froze.
The crushed corpse beneath him moved. One of the creature’s limbs—burnt, but not gone—snaked up and clamped onto his leg.
Kael didn’t flinch. His smile widened.
"So you’re still breathing."
The heat in his chest flared.
Fire raced down his leg, and the earth beneath him cracked open.
A column of fla surged upward, twisting into a vortex. It roared high into the sky, spinning like a drill. The creature didn’t scream—its mouth had already lted shut.
It twitched once.
Then fell still, dissolving to ash beneath Kael’s feet.
His body was untouched. His clothes, though, hung in blackened tatters.
Kael stepped out of the smoke.
"Now, for them."
Max turned.
The horde had reached the outer line. Shadows with horns and limbs too long poured across the field like a flood.
"They’re here."
Ash drew his blade, the tal cold against his palm. Beside him, Kael stepped forward.
One step. Then another.
Too slow.
Max’s eyes narrowed.
"Kael? What are you doing?"
No answer. Just that sa calm stride. His eyes burned like twin embers, locked on the advancing swarm.
The creatures were close now—snarling, leaping, crawling. But Kael didn’t even glance back.
He twisted his head toward his brothers.
"You’re about to witness why they call the Son of Fla."
Behind him, the horde surged forward.
"The reason I’m the strongest in this settlent."
Max blinked, confused.
"What are you talking about? Get back here—those things will tear you apart!"
Kael chuckled, still walking.
"You’re asking why I didn’t show up last night? I was busy. Figured out a few things."
Ash narrowed his eyes.
"Didn’t you already max out your fire skills?"
Kael raised one hand.
The horde closed in.
Then sothing shifted. A deep tremble ran through the field. Max’s eyes widened as a glow blood far behind the wave of charging creatures.
A spiral of fire—massive, spinning—erupted from the earth like a living storm.
It devoured the rear flank of the horde in seconds, creatures caught in it reduced to cinders before they could scream. The blast roared skyward, painting the sky in shades of red and gold.
The spiral of fire didn’t fade.
It multiplied.
One after another, columns of fla erupted across the battlefield. They tore through the ranks of the horde—blackened bodies fell from the sky like ash, moth-wings shriveling mid-flight, screams snuffed out before they could rise.
The air shimred. The sky burned.
Kael turned with a slow breath, lifting both hands. Smoke curled around his fingers. He inhaled.
The scent of scorched flesh clung to everything.
"Yeah. They were maxed out. But what’s the point of a sharpened blade if you can’t control the cut?"
Max frowned.
"You’re telling you mastered all of it... in one night?"
Kael tilted his head to the sky. The fla spirals danced like red ghosts across the field. They didn’t slow until Kael dropped his arms.
In an instant, the fires collapsed into smoke. Silent. Swift. Like they had never been there.
"Well, it wasn’t easy. I had to fly out."
His gaze still distant.
"Far from here. Needed space to push my limits. But once I did..."
He smirked.
"Turns out, when your skills are maxed, high-tier techniques don’t drain much at all."
Max exchanged a glance with Ash.
Then he let out a short breath and nodded.
"Guess I owe you an apology. Thought you were out doing sothing dumb and reckless."
Kael’s grin widened.
"Reckless? Co on, Max. We’re at war. I don’t ss around when your lives are on the line."
His eyes narrowed, smile turning sharper.
"Ha. Found you."
Max and Ash turned sharply.
Kael was already rising into the air, flas crawling up his body like living armor. His eyes burned with focus. Then the smoke moved—pushed, not by the wind, but by force.
Figures burst through.
Max cursed under his breath.
Dozens—no, more than that. The swarm was closing in again, their twisted limbs dragging across the scorched stone.
He shifted his stance, pulling his blaster around with one fluid motion.
"Hey! Don’t just fly off like that!"
Kael turned his head mid-air, gaze flicking from the horde to Max.
"Didn’t you say you had sothing up your sleeve? Then use it."
"it’s not ready yet! I need more tim—"
A sharp beep cut through his words.
Max’s eyes locked on the flashing signal on his wristband. He tapped the device. A flicker of blue light burst into the air, forming a holographic screen filled with shifting symbols.
Kael arched an eyebrow.
"You’re pulling up tech now? Are you even looking at the damn battlefield?"
Max didn’t flinch. He closed the screen with a swipe and stepped forward.
"I see everything just fine."
He lowered his arm.
Then raised his other hand.
A dull thud echoed—sothing heavy landing in his palm, like a puzzle piece falling into place.
Ash’s eyes widened. Kael turned mid-air, looking up.
The sky had changed.
A dark shadow stretched across the battlefield, wide enough to blanket the incoming wave of creatures. Engines humd low. The wind shifted, dust spinning under the sheer weight of what hovered above.
A massive ship lood overhead, black and angular, its hull covered in burn marks and reinforced plating. Its presence drowned out the sounds of battle.
Kael whistled.
"Well... guess backup’s finally here."
His grin widened.
"And maybe a ride ho too."
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