ă€ŠKingdom Of The Nine: Vermidia (V)ă€‹


 Prologue

    ---Red---

    I wish I could let it go-all of it. Everything that''s been clawing at the edges of my mind since the moment I arrived here, on Earth. It''s like leaving Naurus, leaving home, broke something inside me.

    Nothing has felt right since.

    But the more I dig into it-into my past-the more I realize it''s not just Earth. Nothing has ever felt right. Not really. Not even when I was a kid.

    Not when my parents died. Not when Kylen had to step up and raise Alyse and me, trying to fill a role he was never meant to take on. Not when Kylen left for the Legion, abandoning us for the first time in our lives. And definitely not when Alyse was taken-ripped away by a daem, an evil god who saw her as just another piece in their sick game.

    That''s when everything really changed. The moment I lost Alyse, my world splintered. I wasn''t just a kid anymore. I couldn''t be. I had to become something else-something more. That''s when I became the Scarlet Phoenix. That''s when I burned through planes of Hell itself, fighting tooth and claw, just to get her back.

    But even that wasn''t the end.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Because then I learned the truth: I''m not just Red. I''m not just me. I''m part of some bigger narrative, some grand design I never asked to be part of.

    And now? Now, I''m stranded here. My best friend is dead-murdered-and I couldn''t do a damn thing to stop it. I couldn''t even get back to Naurus to help him. I couldn''t even bury him. All because I destroyed our one way home.

    Because I couldn''t control my emotions. Because I couldn''t control my powers.

    I let out a sharp breath, trying to shake the weight that''s pressing down on my chest. It doesn''t help. It never does.

    My pen scrapes against the rough stone floor as I close my journal, shoving it into my pocket. Maybe somewhere in these pages, I can make sense of it all. Maybe I can find some version of myself that isn''t drowning.

    I push myself to my feet, the cold wind biting against my face as I step closer to the railing. From the top of Smith Tower, the city sprawls out beneath me, its nightlights glittering like scattered stars. It''s beautiful, in its own way. But it''s not Naurus.

    It''s not the forests of Pinecrest. The towering trees that seemed to hum with life, the scent of wildflowers carried on the wind, the warmth of a sun that felt like it belonged to me-it''s all gone.

    This place, this city... it''s a stranger. And no matter how hard I try, I can''t make it make sense.

    I rest my hands on the railing, staring down at the lights below, searching for answers that aren''t there. Maybe, just maybe, if I write enough, fight enough, or burn enough, I''ll finally make sense of it all.

    Or maybe I won''t.

 Chapter 1

    Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana

    ---Hail---

    The cold night air hits me like a slap as I stumble out of the bar, the neon sign above buzzing faintly in protest of its own existence. The city hums around me-cars honking in the distance, laughter spilling out of open doorways, music pounding from some club a block away. It''s all noise, blending together into one big, pointless roar.

    I lean against the wall for a second, the rough bricks biting into my palm as I try to steady myself. My head feels like it''s full of static, the kind that won''t clear no matter how hard you shake it.

    "Stupid," I mutter, my voice barely audible over the chaos around me. "Stupid... just stupid."

    I push off the wall, my boots scraping against the pavement as I take an unsteady step forward. The puddles beneath me ripple with each misstep, reflecting the dull glow of the streetlights. I catch sight of my mask pushed up on my forehead and shove it back down over my face. Not that it matters-most people are too busy avoiding the drunk guy to care what I look like.

    Then I bump into someone. No, not bump-crash.

    "Watch where you''re going!" the guy snaps, his voice sharp and annoyed.

    I look him over-stocky, short, clearly someone who thinks he''s tougher than he is. I can''t help but let out a low laugh.

    "Maybe you should watch it," I slur, squaring my shoulders. My hand drifts to the hilt of my sword, and I know it''s stupid-really stupid-but my body''s already moving on instinct.

    The guy doesn''t back down, though. He takes a step closer, puffing out his chest like he''s got something to prove. "What''s your problem, huh? You think you''re some kinda big shot?"

    I lean in, the alcohol making me bolder than I have any right to be. "You really don''t wanna do this," I growl, my voice low and full of venom.

    He flinches, just barely, but before I can press it, a familiar voice slices through the fog.

    "Hail, that''s enough. Leave him alone!"

    I glance over my shoulder, squinting as Dylan steps out of the shadows. His face is calm, almost too calm, but I can see the disappointment in his eyes. Behind him, Keegan and Kylen stand with their arms crossed, looking like they''d rather be anywhere else.

    Dylan doesn''t even look at the guy I nearly decked. He just steps between us, his hand clamping down on my shoulder like a vice.

    I laugh. "He hit me Dylan."

    "Yeah and what, you''re gonna kill him for it? I think he has learned his lesson. Now let''s go!"

    The guy backs off with some half-hearted curse, but I''m not letting him go without a parting shot.

    "Yeah, walk away!" I shout, my voice echoing down the street.

    Kylen lets out an exaggerated sigh behind me. "Really?"

    Keegan moves in, grabbing my arm and slinging it over his shoulder like I''m some pathetic wounded animal. "You''ve really outdone yourself this time," he mutters, his tone somewhere between exasperation and resignation.

    "Must you always ruin the fun? I had it handled," I say, the words slurring together as I try to shake him off.

    "Sure you did," Dylan says dryly, already turning to lead the way back to Smith Tower.

    "Come on Hail! You are just drunk is all. Let''s go back to the tower and you can hit me all you want." Keegan says, half joking.

    The walk feels longer than usual, each step a Herculean effort as Keegan half-drags me along. The lights of the city blur together, the sounds becoming distant, like I''m watching it all happen from underwater.

    "We''ve gotta stop letting him do this," Kylen mutters, his voice barely above a whisper.

    I''m not supposed to hear that, but I do. My chest tightens, and for a moment, I think about saying something-snapping back, proving them wrong. Instead, I just laugh.

    "Home sweet home," I mutter as the glowing silhouette of Smith Tower looms ahead.

    "We''re not even close," Keegan says, shaking his head. "You''re lucky I''m in shape. You''re dead weight."

    "Dead weight?" I bark out a laugh, my voice rasping. "Pretty sure I could bench you on my worst day."

    Keegan smirks. "Maybe in your dreams, Hail."

    Dylan chimes in from up ahead. "Let''s hope you don''t dream about that. We''ve already got enough nightmares to deal with."

    Kylen snorts. "Speaking of nightmares, Hail, you owe me for the last bottle of vodka you demolished. That stuff''s imported, you know."

    I groan. "Oh, come on. One bottle? You''re acting like I trashed your whole stock."

    "You would if I let you," Kylen shoots back, his voice dripping with mock seriousness.

    "Don''t encourage him," Dylan says, glancing over his shoulder. "The last thing we need is Hail thinking he''s some kind of connoisseur."

    Keegan chuckles. "I''d pay good money to see Hail review wine. ''This one tastes like grapes. And bad decisions.''"

    I can''t help but laugh at that, the sound rough but genuine. It''s rare we get moments like this-light, easy. Even if they''re dragging my sorry ass back home, I can''t help but feel... grateful, in a way I''d never admit out loud.

    We keep walking, the city growing quieter as we leave the bar-lined streets behind. The glow of Smith Tower gets closer with each step, and the static in my head starts to fade just a little.

    "Thanks," I mumble under my breath, not looking at any of them.

    "What was that?" Kylen asks, his tone playful. "Did Hail just say something nice?"

    "Must be the booze talking," Keegan replies with a grin.

    "Don''t get used to it," I mutter, but there''s no heat in my voice.

    The banter continues all the way to the Tower, a reminder that, despite everything, I''m not alone in this.

    ---Alyse---

    The controller vibrates in my hands as I dodge another attack, but it''s no use. The screen flashes GAME OVER in bold, mocking letters.

    "Ugh, again?" I toss the controller onto the couch and lean back with a groan. Kat smirks from her spot next to me, twirling an arrow between her fingers like she''s showing off.

    "You''ve gotta learn to dodge-roll better," she teases, her tone light but dripping with that signature Kat confidence. "It''s like, Gaming 101."

    Claire, sitting cross-legged on the floor with another controller in hand, gives me a sympathetic look. "Don''t listen to her, Alyse. The bosses in this game are ridiculously overpowered." She pauses, adjusting her glasses as if to emphasize her point. "It''s poor game design, really."

    "Or," Kat cuts in, "it''s a skill issue." She winks at me, and I roll my eyes so hard I''m surprised they don''t get stuck.

    "Next time, you handle the undead dragon," I retort, crossing my arms.

    Kat grins. "Gladly. Those things are way more fun to fight than the stupid goblin mages. Those guys just spam spells like noobs."

    The three of us are sprawled across the lounge, surrounded by empty soda cans, chip bags, and a few discarded game manuals for Caverns and Critters. The game''s been our obsession for the past few nights, ever since Kylen''s gaming company sent over a demo. He claims it''s still in development, but honestly? It''s already better than half the games out there. Probably personal bias though since it was made to resemble life on Naurus.

    "You know," Claire says, breaking the silence as the game reloads, "if this was a real scenario, I''d just heal everyone and we''d be fine. These mana potions are useless."The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    "Yeah, well, not all of us have ''divine healing powers,'' Remedy," Kat says with a sarcastic lilt. "Some of us have to rely on pure skill and determination."

    "Some of us also die within thirty seconds of the fight starting," I shoot back, earning a laugh from Claire.

    "Touch¨¦," Kat admits, raising her hands in mock surrender.

    The banter is easy, comfortable. It''s moments like this-away from the chaos, the fighting, the constant planning-that feel the most real. For a while, we can just be... normal. Friends. No missions, no life-or-death stakes.

    The door to the lounge creaks open, and we all glance up to see Dylan poking his head in.

    "Hey," he says, his voice soft but carrying that calm, grounded tone he always has. "You guys mind if I join?"

    I can''t help the smile that tugs at my lips. "Sure. But fair warning-I''m terrible at this game."

    "Don''t worry," he says, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. "I''ll carry the team."

    Kat snorts. "Big talk for someone who hasn''t even played yet."

    Dylan sits down next to me, grabbing a controller. His shoulder brushes mine, and I feel a flicker of warmth that has nothing to do with the room''s temperature.

    "I''ll prove it," he says, giving me a small smile. "I happen to be a natural at these kind of things."

    The screen lights up again, and the four of us dive back into the game, the sound of laughter and friendly trash talk filling the room.

    For a little while, it''s easy to forget about the weight we all carry. Easy to just exist in this moment, surrounded by people who get it. Who get me.

    And for now, that''s enough.

    The door slides open again, revealing Keegan and Kylen hauling Hail between them like he''s some kind of overgrown rag doll. His head lolls forward, and a faint slur escapes his lips-something about being invincible. Keegan, as usual, looks more annoyed than concerned, though a flicker of worry crosses his face as he glances at Claire.

    "Hey, Claire?" Keegan''s voice carries over the room as he and Kylen shuffle Hail toward the nearest couch. "We might have a problem. I think this idiot''s got alcohol poisoning."

    Claire''s face tightens, and she sets down her game controller, rising from her seat. "Alcohol poisoning? Keegan, how much did he drink?"

    "Enough to make a Russian vodka factory jealous," Keegan mutters, easing Hail down onto the couch. Kylen lets out a grunt, rubbing his shoulder as if hauling Hail''s weight had been more of a workout than he''d signed up for.

    The room dissolves into a flurry of activity. Claire crouches by Hail, her calm demeanor masking a growing unease as she checks his pulse and breathing. Keegan stands nearby, arms crossed, throwing in the occasional sarcastic comment, while Kylen heads toward the kitchen to grab water and...maybe coffee? It''s hard to tell.

    I''m halfway to joining the fray when I feel a gentle tap on my shoulder. I turn to find Dylan standing there, his expression soft but insistent.

    "Hey," he says, his voice low to avoid intruding on the chaos. "Wanna step out for a bit? This is, uh...a lot."

    I hesitate for a moment, glancing back at Claire, who''s now giving Keegan a rundown on the signs of alcohol poisoning and what to watch for. Hail''s incoherent muttering fills the space, punctuated by Kylen''s return with a water bottle that promptly spills halfway to its destination. It''s chaotic, noisy...and a little overwhelming.

    "Yeah," I say, exhaling slowly. "That sounds like a good idea."

    Dylan smiles, a small but genuine curve of his lips, and motions toward the hallway. I follow him, the sounds of the room fading as we step out into the quieter space beyond. The hallway feels cooler, calmer, and I''m grateful for the reprieve. Dylan glances back at me as we walk, his hands stuffed into his pockets.

    "You okay?" he asks after a moment. His tone is casual, but there''s a layer of concern beneath it, subtle but unmistakable.

    "I''m fine," I say, offering a small smile. "Just...a lot going on lately, you know?"

    "Yeah, I get that," he says, nodding. We reach a small alcove with a window overlooking the city. The skyline stretches out before us, glittering with lights that seem to dance against the night sky. Dylan leans against the wall, his gaze distant for a moment before he looks back at me.

    "What''s on your mind?" he asks, his voice soft.

    For a moment, I''m not sure how to answer. There''s so much. The weight of everything we''re facing, the uncertainty of what''s ahead, the lingering worry about Red and his relentless drive to...what? Save the world? Find a way back to Naurus? Get himself killed trying? And then there''s this-this quiet moment with Dylan, where it feels like the rest of the world fades away, just for a little while.

    "Honestly?" I say finally, leaning against the window ledge. "I don''t even know where to start."

    He chuckles softly, a warm, easy sound that makes the tension in my chest ease just a little. "Fair enough. Start with whatever''s easiest, I guess."

    I glance at him, the way his eyes catch the faint glow of the city lights, and something about his calm presence makes it a little easier to open up. "I guess I''m just...worried about everyone," I admit. "Red, especially. He''s carrying so much, and I don''t know how to help him."

    Dylan nods slowly, his expression thoughtful. "Red''s...yeah, he''s got a lot on his plate. But he''s also tougher than he looks. I mean, not that he doesn''t need us, but...you know what I mean."

    "Yeah, I do," I say, smiling faintly. "It''s just hard to see him struggling and not be able to fix it. All he does is sit up on the roof all hours of the day and write in his journal."

    "You''re doing more than you think," Dylan says, his gaze steady. "Just being here, being part of the team...it matters. To him, to all of us."

    There''s a sincerity in his voice that warms something in me, a quiet reassurance that maybe, just maybe, I''m not as powerless as I feel sometimes. I look back out at the city, the lights blurring slightly as my thoughts swirl.

    "Thanks," I say after a moment, meeting his gaze. "For saying that. For...everything."

    He smiles again, a little crooked but no less genuine. "Anytime."

    We linger there for a while, the quiet between us comfortable and companionable. Outside, the city hums with life, a constant reminder of the world we''re trying to protect. And for now, in this moment, it feels just a little more manageable.

    ---Claire---

    I watch Keegan and Kylen wrestle Hail into his room. He''s dead weight, stumbling and slurring, and it takes both of them to keep him upright. As much as I want to roll my eyes, I can''t help but feel bad for him. Hail''s been spiraling lately, and nights like this are becoming too frequent.

    They carefully ease Hail down onto the bed. Kylen and Keegan mumble something about how heavy Hail was before slipping out of the room.

    Hail''s face is pale, his usually sharp features slack. I sit on the edge of the bed and pull out my phone to check his pulse and respiration. They''re both steady-thankfully-but his breathing is slower than it should be.

    "Stay awake for me, Hail," I say softly, tapping his cheek. His eyes flutter open, glassy and unfocused, but at least he responds.

    "You always...boss me around," he mutters, his words thick.

    "And you always make terrible decisions," I shoot back, unable to stop the smile tugging at my lips. I hand him a glass of water Kylen left on the nightstand. "Drink this. Slowly."

    He takes a shaky sip, then slumps back against the pillows.

    For a moment, we sit in silence. His breathing evens out, and I relax a little, though my heart still aches for him.

    "I screwed it all up," he says suddenly, his voice barely above a whisper.

    "What?" I ask, leaning closer.

    "Us." His gaze flickers to mine, and I can see the pain swimming in his eyes. "I ruined everything."

    "Hail..." I sigh, unsure where to start.

    "No, let me say it," he insists, sitting up slightly, though it clearly takes effort. "I was selfish. I pushed you away when you tried to help me. It wasn''t your fault. It was me. I didn''t know how to..." He trails off, searching for words. "I didn''t know how to let you in."

    His vulnerability catches me off guard. For all his bravado, Hail rarely lets anyone see this side of him.

    "It wasn''t all your fault," I say gently. "We were both trying to figure things out, and we both made mistakes. But I don''t regret caring about you. Not for a second."

    His eyes glisten, and he looks away, swallowing hard. "I wish I could''ve been better for you."

    "You still can be," I tell him. "Not for me-but for yourself. You''re not as lost as you think, Hail."

    He doesn''t respond, but his shoulders relax slightly, and I take that as a small victory.

    "Get some rest," I say, brushing his hair back without thinking. "I''ll stay until you''re asleep."

    He nods, his eyes already closing. Within minutes, his breathing steadies, and he''s out.

    I sit there a while longer, just watching him. Despite everything, I believe in him. I just hope he starts to believe in himself.

    ---Keegan---

    The door swings open to the lounge, and Kylen and I step through, leaving Claire to deal with Hail. I glance back over my shoulder, half-expecting to hear him throw up or start mumbling nonsense again, but it''s mostly quiet except for Claire''s steady instructions. Good luck with that, Claire.

    Kat is sprawled on the couch, controller in hand, her feet propped up on the coffee table. She glances at us as we walk in, and a grin spreads across her face. "So, how''s our favorite frost prince? Still standing, or did he finally pass out?"

    "Oh, he''s fine," I say, smirking. "If you call being carried like a sack of potatoes ''fine.''" I plop down on the armrest of the couch, careful not to knock over the snack bowl next to her.

    "I''m amazed he made it this far," Kat replies, her tone light but teasing. "You should''ve seen him at the bar last time. He tried to convince some poor guy he was an ice sculptor."

    Kylen snorts as he heads for the kitchenette. "He''s consistent, at least." He pulls open the fridge and grabs a water bottle before leaning against the counter. "Claire''s handling him now. Pretty sure she''s seen worse."

    "She''s a saint," Kat says with a laugh. "Not sure I''d have the patience." She pauses her game and looks over at Kylen. "So, what''s the plan for tonight? More portal tinkering?"

    Kylen nods, twisting the cap off his water. "Yeah. I''ve got a few ideas to try. If we''re lucky, we might actually make some progress this time."

    "You''ve been saying that for weeks," I tease, leaning back against the couch. "What''s different this time?"

    He shoots me a look, one brow raised. "This time, I have a working theory. And maybe some help, if you''re not too busy cracking jokes."

    "Help?" I say, feigning shock. "From me? I''m just here for moral support."

    Kat chuckles. "Keegan, moral support? That''s rich."

    "Hey," I say, holding up my hands. "I''m great at moral support. I even brought snacks." I gesture toward the half-empty bowl of chips on the table.

    "Mmm, no. I believe Alyse brought those actually." Kat smirks.

    Kylen shakes his head but doesn''t bother hiding his grin. "Anyway, I''ll be in the lab if anyone needs me. Gotta keep chipping away at this thing."

    Kat''s grin fades slightly, and she leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "You really think it''s going to work? That you''ll get a way back to Amerei?"

    Kylen hesitates, the weight of the question settling over him. He looks at her, then at me, his expression serious. "It has to. There''s no other option."

    I watch him for a moment, and despite the confident tone, I can see the exhaustion in his eyes. He''s been at this nonstop, trying to piece together something that might not even be possible. But I don''t say that. Instead, I push myself off the armrest and stretch.

    "Well, if you''re heading to the lab, I guess I''ll come bug you in a bit. Can''t let you have all the fun."

    Kylen gives me a small smile and heads out, water bottle in hand. Kat picks up her controller again, but her expression stays thoughtful as she unpauses the game.

    "You think he''ll actually pull it off?" she asks quietly.

    I sit back down, this time on the couch. "If anyone can, it''s Kylen. He''s stubborn like that."

    She nods, but the doubt lingers in her eyes. I don''t blame her. A working portal back to Amerei? It''s a big ask. But if there''s even a chance... well, I guess we''ll see.

    "How about a night on the town, now that everyone''s gone?" I suggest.

    Kat turns her attention back to me and smirks. "Is that even a question?"

 Chapter 2

    I lean against the railing of a nearby building rooftop, outside the tower, taking a long drag from my cigarette while Kat leans beside me, checking her bowstring. The quiet hum of Smith Tower fills the space behind us, but all I can focus on is the city sprawling out below us like a tangled web of light and shadow. It''s always moving, always alive. And lately, it''s been calling us louder than ever.

    Kat smirks at me as she tests the tension on her bow. "You know," she says, "for a guy who just carried a drunken superhero halfway across the city, you seem oddly composed. Should I be impressed?"

    I blow out a thin stream of smoke, shrugging. "You should always be impressed."

    "Sure," she says, rolling her eyes. "That grilled cheese in the void must be keeping you strong."

    I grin despite myself. The void storage thing still feels surreal, like a party trick I haven''t fully figured out yet. But it''s practical, even if Kat seems to enjoy mocking me for it. "Jealous? You should be. Not everyone can have pocket dimensions for snacks."

    Her laugh is low but genuine, and it pulls me out of my own head for a second. Kat''s like that-sharp, quick, always ready with a jab but somehow grounding in her own way.

    She shoulders her quiver, glancing at me. "You ready to hit the streets, or do you need a minute to reheat that sandwich?"

    "Please," I say, flicking the cigarette away and watching the ember trail vanish into the night. "Let''s just go before you start accusing me of hoarding ramen too."

    The wind''s brisk as we step forward, and I pull my hood up against it. Kat''s already scanning the rooftops, her sharp eyes catching every shift in the shadows. I can feel the weight of the void around me, almost pulsing with energy.

    "You''ve been quiet," I say after a while, our footsteps soft against the concrete. "Something on your mind?"

    She hesitates, and that alone makes me pay attention. Kat doesn''t usually hesitate.

    "It''s nothing," she finally says, but the edge in her voice says otherwise.

    I tilt my head, waiting.

    She exhales sharply. "Fine. You remember M.V., right?"

    I nod. The name is enough to stir something in the back of my mind-a figure slipping through shadows, a constant thorn in Smith Inc.''s side. "Mathias right?What about him?"

    "He''s been gone. Three years, no sign of him. And Smith Inc.''s shipments have been running smooth ever since."

    "Sounds like a win," I say, though I know it''s not that simple.

    Kat shakes her head. "It''s weird, Keegan. He didn''t just stop. People like him don''t stop. He''s either dead, retired, or plotting something big. None of those options sit right with me."

    I don''t reply immediately. Her words hang in the air as we move through the quiet streets, her unease rubbing off on me.

    Eventually, I glance at her. "You think we''ll cross paths with him tonight?"

    "No, he''s gone hella dark," she says firmly. "But he''s on my radar."

    "Starting to sound like my dad, that guy has left no trail." I reply.

    "Still no dirt on him? Damn." She says.

    I shrug. "Not a thing, fuck it I guess."

    We slip into an alley, the city''s heartbeat louder here. I let the void ripple around me, drawing the energy closer, while Kat pulls an arrow from her quiver. Her hair waving in the wind. If only she and I were on the same page.

    "Ready to keep the streets safe?" she asks, her grin a mix of mischief and determination.

    I nod, the weight of her earlier words lingering. "Always."

    And just like that, we vanish into the shadows, two figures hunting the night, each with our own ghosts.

    -

    Bridge Lab, Indianapolis Outskirts

    ---Dylan---

    The lab hums with a soft mechanical rhythm, the air cool and sharp with the scent of metal and ozone. I sit cross-legged on one of the stools near the workbench, absently rolling a small Madium tool between my fingers. Kylen''s in the zone, muttering to himself as he adjusts the energy output on the portal prototype. The thing looks like something out of a sci-fi movie-shimmering white arcs forming a rough oval, power conduits snaking across the floor, and that faint, eerie glow that always makes my hair stand on end.

    Keegan''s slouched against the wall, flipping through his phone with one hand and holding a bag of chips with the other. Every now and then, he tosses a piece into his mouth, crunching loudly enough to earn a side-eye from Kylen.

    Claire stands in front of one of the massive monitor screens, her hands moving with practiced precision over the keyboard. She''s pulling up data from the satellite system, her brow furrowed just enough to tell me something''s caught her attention.

    "Hmm," she murmurs, tilting her head slightly.

    I sit up. "That''s either a good ''hmm'' or a bad one. Should I be worried?"

    Claire doesn''t answer right away, which automatically puts me on edge. She taps a few more keys and leans closer to the screen. "Looks like there''s a solar storm brewing. And... an asteroid storm, too."

    Kylen glances up from the portal, wiping his hands on a rag. "Asteroids? That''s normal. Happens all the time."

    "This isn''t normal," Claire says, pointing to the data. "Look at the trajectory. They''re clustered, and the energy levels from the solar storm are unusually high. If it shifts even slightly, it could-"

    "Relax," Kylen interrupts, waving a hand. "The odds of anything actually reaching us are astronomically low. And even if something does make it through the atmosphere, it''s not like we''re defenseless." He gestures vaguely at the portal, as if to say, We''ve got bigger things to worry about.

    "Uh-huh," Claire replies, her tone dripping with skepticism. "You realize that''s the same energy that could fry half our systems, right?"

    Kylen shrugs. "I''ll tweak the shields if it makes you feel better."

    I can''t help but grin. "So, for once, we can confirm this isn''t my fault? This just happens to be a natural occurrence, not being aided by my incredibly handsome ability to control astral bodies."

    Claire gives me a look, but her lips twitch like she''s holding back a smile. "For now, yeah. But don''t tempt fate, Dylan."

    "Noted." I lean back, propping my feet on the nearest surface-probably something important, judging by the glare Kylen shoots me. "So, is this the part where we panic, or is it the part where I do nothing and let the geniuses figure it out?"

    Keegan snorts. "You mean the latter. Always the latter."

    "Hey, I''m moral support," I say, tossing the tool in the air and catching it. "The best moral support money can''t buy. Besides, you never know when they are going to need my gravity powers or your void weirdness to fix or test something."

    Kylen rolls his eyes and goes back to his adjustments. Claire keeps typing, her expression still skeptical but not as tense. Keegan munches on his chips like nothing''s wrong. And me? I just sit back and try not to think about how anything involving the words "solar storm" and "asteroid storm" probably means we''re due for trouble.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    That''s how it always starts.

    The tension in the room is low, but I can''t stop my knee from bouncing. I''m waiting-for what exactly, I''m not sure. Maybe just for something to feel less... heavy.

    The door to the lab opens, and Hail strides in. His silver hair looks as untamed as ever, and the white mask covering his face doesn''t make him any easier to read. He scans the room, his eyes lingering on each of us before they land on me.

    "Dylan," he says, his voice steady but softer than I expect. "Come with me."

    I blink, caught off guard. "Uh, sure."

    He doesn''t wait for a response. He''s already turned, heading back toward the door.

    Keegan smirks, raising an eyebrow at me. "Looks like you''ve been summoned."

    Claire glances at me, her concern subtle but present. "Be careful."

    I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat, and follow Hail out of the lab.

    The sun is blinding as I step outside, the field in front of the Bridge Lab stretches wide under a clear sky. Hail is already there, standing in the middle of the grass, his back to me. He doesn''t move as I approach, but I can feel the tension in the air.

    "What''s going on?" I ask, stopping a few steps behind him.

    Hail turns slowly, his ice-blue eyes locking onto mine. "You''ve been holding back."

    The words hit harder than I expect. "What are you talking about?"

    "In battle. In training. You''re not pushing yourself. You''re afraid of what you might do if you lose control." His voice is calm, but there''s no mistaking the challenge in it.

    I frown, straightening. "That''s not true."

    Hail steps closer, his movements deliberate. "Then prove it."

    Before I can say another word, his sword of ice materializes in his hand, the frost creeping across the ground at his feet. "Fight me," he says simply.

    I hesitate. "What-now?"

    "Yes," he says sharply. "Now."

    I glance back at the lab, half-expecting someone to come rushing out and stop this, but no one does. When I turn back to Hail, he''s already lunging at me, his blade flashing in the sunlight.

    Instinct takes over. I throw up a gravity shield just in time to block the strike, the impact reverberating through my arms. Hail doesn''t let up, his movements fluid and unrelenting as he presses the attack.

    "Stop thinking," he snaps, his blade slamming against my defenses again. "React."

    I grit my teeth, frustration building as I''m forced to give ground. "What''s your problem?" I shout, deflecting another strike.

    "You," he says bluntly, stepping back just far enough to assess me. "You''ve got power, Dylan. More than you realize. But you''re too scared to use it."

    "What, you want me to unleash the full power of my quirk on you or some shit?" I ask, fully knowing he won''t understand the reference.

    "Precisely." he states.

    "Fuck it, your funeral drone." I growl, releasing a pulse of gravity energy that ripples through the air. Hail sidesteps it effortlessly, his blade slicing through the aftershock as if it''s nothing.

    The fight intensifies. I stop holding back, letting my instincts guide me as I unleash blasts of energy and counter his every move. The ground trembles beneath us, the air crackling with tension. For the first time, I feel like I''m not just reacting-I''m fighting.

    Finally, Hail lowers his blade, frost dissipating into the air. He nods, a small, almost imperceptible gesture of approval.

    "You''re stronger than you think," he says, his voice steady but softer now. "But you''ll never reach your full potential if you keep running from it."

    I''m still catching my breath when I ask, "Why do you care?"

    Hail hesitates, his gaze drifting to the horizon. "Because Eluna cared," he says quietly. "She believed in you. She sacrificed everything to keep you safe. And she''d want you to be ready for what''s coming."

    The mention of her name stops me cold. "You knew her," I say, the words catching in my throat. "My mother. I forgot about that."

    Hail turns back to me, his expression unreadable behind the mask. "She raised me. She taught me what it means to fight for something bigger than yourself." He pauses, then reaches into his coat, pulling out a small, leather-bound journal. The edges are frayed, the cover worn with time.

    "She left this for me," he says, holding it out. "It''s yours now."

    I take it carefully, my hands trembling as I trace the faded leather. The weight of it feels almost unbearable, like it carries more than just words.

    Hail watches me for a moment before stepping back. "She''d be proud of you, Dylan. Don''t waste that."

    I look up, but he''s already walking away, leaving me alone in the middle of the field with the journal-and a thousand questions I''m not sure I''m ready to face.

    ---Red---

    The cool night air wraps around me as I lean against the railing of the roof, staring at the city below. The twinkling lights of Indianapolis look so distant, so small, like stars trapped beneath a glass dome. I clutch the journal in my hands, its pages scrawled with memories I''ve tried to make sense of.

    I open it to the last page I wrote. Vermidia. Home. Domnik. All the things I can''t shake, no matter how far I am from them. My hand hovers over the next blank line, but the words don''t come. Instead, my thoughts spiral.

    It''s been three years, and yet Vermidia hasn''t shown herself. Not a whisper, not a hint. Did I make the right choice staying here? What if she''s out there, regrouping, plotting? A small voice in the back of my head tries to assure me, but I can''t trust it. Not when Domnik''s death still feels like a weight pressing on my chest.

    Domnik. He trusted me, and I left him to die. I close my eyes, the imagined memory of his last moments flickering behind my eyelids like a bad dream. No matter how many times I tell myself there was no other choice, it doesn''t make it easier.

    The phone buzzes in my pocket, pulling me out of my thoughts. I fish it out, seeing Kylen''s name on the screen.

    "Yeah?" I answer, my voice rough.

    "Red," Kylen says, and there''s a trace of excitement in his usually calm tone. "Keegan and I did it. The portal prototype is stable. You need to come to the Bridge Lab."

    I blink, letting the words sink in. "Wait, you''re serious?"

    "As serious as I can be," Kylen replies. "But if you want to see it, you''ll need to leave now. And bring Alyse."

    I glance at my journal one last time, then close it and slide it into my bag. "On my way."

    -

    The drive to the Bridge Lab is quiet except for the hum of the car engine and the occasional flicker of streetlights overhead. Alyse is silent, waiting in anticipation, or maybe she''s bothered by my absence in recent days. I grip the steering wheel tightly, my thoughts racing faster than the car. A working portal. A way back to Amerei. To answers. To home.

    When I finally pull up outside the lab, my headlights wash over the sleek, metallic structure that looms in the night. The Bridge Lab is Kylen''s masterpiece, a facility that blends Earth''s technology with Amerei''s magic. I step out of the car, my boots crunching on the gravel as Alyse and I approach the entrance.

    Whatever Kylen has to show me, it feels like everything might finally start to make sense-or fall apart.

    Alyse steps out of the car behind me, her arms wrapped around herself against the chill in the air. She catches up to me as I approach the Bridge Lab, her footsteps soft on the gravel.

    "Do you really think it''s working this time?" she asks, her voice quiet but steady.

    I glance at her, trying to read her expression. There''s hope in her eyes, but it''s cautious-guarded, like she doesn''t want to get her expectations up. I shrug, though my heart is racing. "Kylen wouldn''t have called us here if it wasn''t."

    She nods but doesn''t look entirely convinced.

    The entrance slides open with a faint hiss, and the cool, sterile air of the lab rushes out to greet us. Inside, the lab feels alive-screens flicker with streams of data, and the faint hum of machinery fills the space. Kylen is standing near a console, his grey cloak draped over a nearby chair. He doesn''t even look up as we enter, too focused on the glowing structure in the center of the room.

    Keegan is off to the side, leaning against a counter with his arms crossed, looking like he''s trying not to be impressed. "Took you two long enough," he says, smirking at us. "Missed all the fun."

    "Did we?" I retort, walking further into the room. My eyes lock onto the device Kylen is working on-a large, circular frame made of Madium, glowing faintly with runes I don''t recognize. Pulses of energy ripple through it like water, distorting the air around it. It''s... mesmerizing. It hangs on the wall, filling the room of the now repaired glass box that I... destroyed.

    Alyse''s hand brushes against mine, and I glance at her. She''s staring at the portal, her lips parted in awe. "It''s beautiful," she whispers.

    "It''s stable," Kylen says, finally turning to face us. There''s a rare flicker of pride in his expression as he gestures toward the portal. "We''ve tested it-low-level energy transfers, small objects. So far, everything works as it should."

    I take a step closer, the faint hum of the portal growing louder. My chest tightens as I stare at it, the glow reflecting in my eyes. "You''re saying this can get us to Amerei?"

    Kylen nods. "If the calculations hold up, yes. But it''s still a prototype. We need more testing before we try sending anyone through."

    Keegan scoffs. "Typical Kylen. Build a door to another world, but won''t let anyone open it."

    Kylen glares at him. "I''d rather not disintegrate anyone in the process, thanks."

    I barely hear their exchange. My mind is racing, flooded with images of Vermidia, Domnik, and the life I left behind. The portal feels like a lifeline-a chance to finally get some answers.

    Alyse steps forward, her gaze flickering between Kylen and the portal. "If it works... what does that mean for us? For Earth?"

    Kylen hesitates, his usual confidence faltering. "It means possibilities. Connections we''ve never had before. But also risks. If we can go there, they can come here."

    That last part hits me harder than I expected. Vermidia. Could she follow us back? Could others?

    Alyse must notice the tension in my jaw because she places a hand on my arm. "Red," she says softly, pulling me out of my thoughts. "This is a good thing."

    I nod, though I''m not entirely sure I believe it. "We''ll see."

    Keegan straightens up, clapping his hands together. "So, when do we flip the switch and see if it''s more than just a glorified light show?"

    "Not tonight," Kylen says firmly. "I need more time to run diagnostics."

    Alyse exhales softly, as though relieved. "Then we should get back. It''s late."

    "Yeah," I mutter, my eyes lingering on the portal one last time before turning to leave. "Let''s go."

    As we walk back to the car, Alyse stays close to my side. Neither of us says much, but I can feel her gaze on me, like she''s trying to figure out what''s going on in my head. Truth is, I''m not sure I know.

    All I know is that everything is about to change.

 Chapter 3

    "Hey, you two," Claire calls from the door, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "Before you head back to the Tower, I wanted to let you know the satellites picked up something interesting-a meteor shower tonight. Should be visible from the roof around ten. Might be worth taking a break and catching it."

    Alyse''s eyes light up. "A meteor shower? That sounds amazing."

    Claire nods. "It''s supposed to be one of the brightest displays in years. I figured it''d be nice to watch together... assuming you''re not too busy with your brooding," she adds, raising an eyebrow at me.

    I roll my eyes but smirk. "I''ll consider taking a break from brooding to make an appearance. Thanks for the heads-up."

    "Don''t thank me, thank the universe," she says with a grin before turning her attention back to Kylen, who''s already knee-deep in whatever portal-related mess he''s concocting.

    Alyse and I make our way to the car. It''s quiet on the outskirts of Indianapolis-just the sound of crickets chirping and the hum of the lab''s exterior lights. I unlock the car, and Alyse slides into the passenger seat.

    As I start the drive back to Smith Tower, Alyse gazes out the window, her face illuminated by the glow of passing streetlights. "Do you think Kylen''s portal will actually work?"

    I grip the wheel a little tighter. "Maybe. If anyone can pull it off, it''s Kylen. But whether it should work... that''s another question."

    She looks over at me, her dark hair falling across her shoulder. "You don''t want to leave Earth, do you?"

    I pause, caught between the road ahead and the weight of her question. "I don''t know. There''s a part of me that does-home is out there, not here. But after everything we''ve been through, can we just... leave? Knowing what might follow us?"

    Alyse doesn''t reply immediately. Instead, she turns her attention back to the window. "I think part of you has made Earth your home too. Whether you want to admit it or not."

    Her words hang in the air as we drive through the quiet streets, the city lights growing brighter as we near the Tower.

    By the time we reach Smith Tower, it''s nearly nine-thirty. We step out of the car and into the crisp night air. Alyse tilts her head back, scanning the sky. A few faint streaks of light are already visible against the dark canvas above.

    "Guess Claire wasn''t kidding," I say, stuffing my hands in my jacket pockets as we head inside.

    Inside the Tower, the atmosphere feels different-calmer, almost expectant. People are scattered about, but there''s a quiet buzz in the air, like everyone''s waiting for something to happen. Alyse and I take the elevator to the penthouse, where Claire''s already set up blankets and chairs on the balcony, ready for the show.

    "Grab a seat," she calls out, gesturing to the open space. "The meteors are just getting started."

    As I settle into a chair beside Alyse, I catch myself glancing up at the sky, waiting for the next streak of light. For the first time in a long while, I let myself breathe, let myself just... be.

    The meteors streak across the night sky, thin trails of light breaking through the darkness. It''s a rare kind of beauty, the kind that reminds me of home-but also of how far away that home really is. Claire leans back in her chair, a steaming mug of tea cradled in her hands, while Alyse sits cross-legged on a blanket beside me, her eyes wide with wonder.

    "This almost makes up for the mess today," Claire says, breaking the silence. "Almost."

    I glance her way, raising an eyebrow. "What mess are you referring to? The drunk knight, the barely-functional portal, or Dylan nearly blacking out from training with Hail?"

    Claire snorts into her tea. "All of the above. Honestly, it''s a miracle we''re still upright."

    Alyse laughs softly, her gaze still on the sky. "You''ve got to admit, though-there''s something peaceful about this. Like, for once, we''re not fighting off disaster or chasing after someone."

    "For now," I say, resting my arms on my knees. "Give it an hour. Someone will break something, light something on fire, or stumble in drunk."

    "Speaking of which," Claire interjects, "where is Hail? Off adding another chapter to his drinking saga, I assume?"

    Alyse shrugs. "Probably. He''s been... coping in his own way, I guess."

    Claire sighs. "We should probably stage an intervention at some point. But not tonight. Tonight, I''m focusing on this." She gestures at the sky with her mug. "You know, a little cosmic therapy."

    Alyse chuckles and nudges me. "What about you, Red? You''re awfully quiet. Not lost in your brooding again, are you?"

    I smirk, shaking my head. "Just taking it all in. It''s been a while since I''ve seen anything like this."

    "Home?" Alyse asks gently.

    "Yeah," I admit. "The skies on Naurus... they weren''t like this, exactly. Brighter. More alive, in a way. But there''s something about this sky that feels... grounded. Real."

    Claire tilts her head, studying me. "Do you miss it?"

    I pause, the question heavier than I expected. "Every day. But I also know there''s no going back. At least, not to how it was."

    Alyse reaches out and rests a hand on my arm. "You''re not alone, Red. You''ve got us. Even if we''re all a little dysfunctional."

    "Speak for yourself," Claire quips, grinning. "I''m perfectly functional."

    "You spent three hours today yelling at a toaster because it burned your bagel," Alyse says with a grin.

    Claire raises a finger in mock indignation. "That toaster was defective, and you know it. Besides, it''s the principle of the thing."

    I chuckle, the weight on my chest lifting just a bit. "I''m not sure ''functional'' and ''Smith Tower'' belong in the same sentence, but sure, Claire. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

    The three of us fall into a comfortable rhythm, trading jabs and jokes as the meteors continue to fall. For once, the chaos of our lives feels far away, and the stars above remind us that, even in the madness, there''s still room for moments like this.

    The meteor shower begins to taper off, and the three of us sit in comfortable silence, watching the last few streaks of light dance across the night sky. Just as I lean back, thinking the night might actually end peacefully, a sudden bright streak cuts across the horizon, much larger and brighter than the others. It burns intensely, casting a faint glow across the city skyline.

    "That''s not a meteor," I say, standing abruptly.

    Alyse follows my gaze, her brows knitting together. "It''s... heading straight for the city."

    Claire''s mug clatters against the table as she sets it down quickly. "We need to alert Kylen. Now."

    Before she finishes the sentence, the bright object hits the ground with a distant, thunderous boom. Even from here, the shockwave reaches us, rattling the railing of the balcony. A plume of smoke and fire rises into the air near the city racetrack.

    "That''s not just any crash," Alyse whispers. "It''s something-or someone."

    Without waiting, I bolt for the elevator, Alyse right behind me. Claire''s voice calls after us. "I''m sending the alert! Don''t do anything stupid!"

    I ignore her and step inside, my finger pounding the ground floor button. The elevator takes ages but eventually we reach the ground floor and Alyse and I burst out and through the doors to the city street.

    "Red, wait!" Alyse grabs my arm as I move toward my car. "You can''t just run in there without a plan."

    "I know," I snap, though the truth is I haven''t thought beyond getting there. "I''ll figure it out when we''re closer. Stay here."Stolen novel; please report.

    "Not a chance," she says firmly, climbing into the passenger seat as I open the driver''s side door.

    We tear through the streets, weaving between cars and ignoring traffic lights. Alyse has her phone out, pulling up news reports and satellite feeds. The crash site grows closer, the smoke visible even through the dark.

    "Any idea what we''re walking into?" I ask, keeping my eyes on the road.

    "Nothing yet. But reports are already flooding in. Whatever-or whoever-came down, they hit during a race. The place was packed."

    I grit my teeth. Civilians. Of course. This just got more complicated.

    By the time we reach the racetrack, the scene is chaos. Cars are overturned, debris is scattered everywhere, and a crowd of frightened spectators is pouring out through every available exit. Security guards try to control the panic, but it''s no use.

    Alyse grabs my arm as we push through the fleeing crowd. "Look over there."

    In the middle of the track, where the smoke is thickest, a figure emerges. Tall, armored, and radiating power. The armor is black, sharp, and menacing, with an eerie red glow running through its seams. A blade is strapped to the figure''s back, its hilt emitting a faint hum.

    The figure steps forward, raising a hand. A pulse of sound erupts from it, sending shockwaves through the air. Cars buckle under the pressure, and a section of the grandstand collapses.

    Alyse''s voice is barely audible over the ringing in my ears. "Red... who is that?"

    I tighten my fists, my heart pounding. "No clue."

    The figure strides forward through the smoke, the black armor glinting under the floodlights of the racetrack. Spectators scream, scrambling to escape the chaos, while security forces shout futile orders. The air buzzes with tension as I step onto the track, Alyse hesitating a few steps behind me.

    "Stay back," I tell her, my voice sharp. I don''t know what I''m walking into, but I can''t risk her getting caught in the middle of it. "Help the civilians!"

    The armored figure turns its head, the glowing seams along its body pulsing faintly. A low, distorted voice echoes out, directed squarely at me. "Scarlet Phoenix."

    My heart skips a beat. Whoever this is knows me, but I don''t recognize them-or the madium armor. Still, I can''t show hesitation. I let the flames flicker to life in my hands, the heat chasing away the chill creeping down my spine.

    "Who are you?" I demand, my voice steady despite the uncertainty twisting in my chest.

    The figure tilts its head, almost mockingly. "I have come for the DragonsBreath. Hand it over, and I will consider sparing this planet."

    DragonsBreath. My weapon. My mind races. How does he know about it? Is he here for revenge? For power? And why does he seem so familiar?

    "I don''t know who you think you are," I say, stepping closer, "but you''re not getting anything from me."

    The figure raises a hand, and an ear-splitting hum fills the air. The pressure slams into me like a wall, forcing me to take a step back. Alyse cries out behind me, clutching her ears.

    "Red!" she shouts, her voice strained.

    I glance back at her, torn, but she gestures for me to keep going. "I''ll be fine! Just-handle this!"

    Turning back to the figure, I narrow my eyes. The flames in my hands grow brighter, and I launch a bolt of fire straight at him.

    The attack connects, engulfing the figure in flames. For a moment, I think I''ve made a dent. But as the fire clears, he stands unscathed, the dark armor shimmering ominously.

    "You''ll have to do better than that," he growls, reaching over his shoulder to draw the massive blade strapped to his back. The weapon hums with energy, its edge glowing faintly red.

    I grit my teeth, feeling the familiar weight of a fight bearing down on me. Whoever this guy is, he''s no ordinary opponent.

    Without waiting for him to make the first move, I charge, summoning fire to my fists. As I close the distance, his blade swings toward me in a wide arc. I duck under it, flames trailing from my hands as I aim a punch at his side.

    The impact lands, but it''s like hitting a brick wall. The armor absorbs the blow, and before I can pull back, he slams an elbow into my chest, sending me sprawling onto the asphalt.

    "You are unworthy of the DragonsBreath," he says coldly, advancing as I struggle to catch my breath.

    Who is this guy? And why does he care so much about my weapon?

    Alyse''s voice rings out from the sidelines. "Red, get up!"

    I push myself to my feet, shaking off the pain. This isn''t over. Not by a long shot.

    Claire suddenly appears behind Alyse, her face pale and breathless. She''s clutching her side, clearly winded from running.

    "Claire!" I bark over the cacophony of chaos. "Get Alyse out of here! Help the civilians-make sure they''re safe. I''ve got this!"

    Her gaze flickers to Alyse, then back to me, her jaw tightening. She nods, taking Alyse by the arm, despite her protests.

    "Be careful!" Alyse yells, her voice thick with worry.

    I nod sharply, forcing myself to ignore the knot forming in my chest as they disappear into the crowd. I don''t have time to worry about them now.

    I turn back to the armored figure, steadying myself as the brace around my ankle flares to life. A surge of energy pulses through me as the Madium armor unfolds over my body in sleek, overlapping plates. It feels heavy at first, but the weight quickly fades as I adjust, my grip tightening on the DragonsBreath.

    The blade hums as I draw it, the fiery light illuminating the shattered track. I can feel its power coursing through me, matching the intensity of my resolve.

    The figure watches me, tilting his head slightly. "Ah, so the fabled DragonsBreath is in your possession. Fitting."

    I don''t respond. Instead, I charge.

    Our blades clash, sending sparks and fiery arcs into the air. The force of his strike is overwhelming-every swing feels like it could split the ground beneath us. But I hold my ground, matching him blow for blow.

    His blade-black as night, wreathed in dark flames-sings with power, cutting through the air like it''s alive. Something about it feels wrong, familiar in a way that churns my stomach.

    I grit my teeth, parrying another heavy strike. "Who the hell are you?" I shout over the din.

    He laughs, the sound distorted and hollow, like it''s coming from the depths of a cavern. "I am Dreadwind," he says, his voice echoing ominously.

    Before I can process the name, he lifts his free hand and releases another wave of sound. It crashes into me like a tidal wave, throwing me off my feet. The DragonsBreath skids across the asphalt as I hit the ground hard, the wind knocked out of me.

    I struggle to push myself up, my ears ringing. As I reach for my blade, Dreadwind is already closing the distance, his massive sword raised high. He swings, and I barely roll out of the way as the blade carves into the ground, leaving a scorched trail.

    The black flames lick the air around me, unsettling and all too familiar. My eyes widen as realization hits me.

    "The Darkblade..." I mutter, scrambling back to my feet. "How do you have that sword?"

    Dreadwind doesn''t answer. Instead, he lunges again, his strikes relentless. I barely manage to block the next swing, the clash of our weapons sending a shockwave through my arms.

    The duel intensifies, our blades locked in a deadly dance. His movements are precise, calculated-he fights like someone who''s been doing this for a lifetime. Every swing, every step feels deliberate, like he''s testing me, measuring my strength.

    But I''m not about to back down. I force him into a parry and take the opening to unleash a torrent of flames, engulfing him in a fiery storm.

    He emerges unscathed, the dark energy around him absorbing the fire like it''s nothing. "Is that all the great Scarlet Phoenix has to offer?" he taunts, his voice dripping with contempt.

    My grip tightens on the DragonsBreath. "You don''t know me," I growl, surging forward.

    Our swords collide again, the battle escalating. With every strike, I dig deeper, pushing past the fatigue, the doubts. Whoever Dreadwind is, whatever he''s here for-he won''t win. Not tonight.

    I press the attack, flames from the DragonsBreath spilling out with each swing. The heat should be overwhelming, but Dreadwind doesn''t falter. His armor absorbs most of the blows, and his counters are precise, almost surgical.

    He steps back suddenly, swinging the Darkblade low. A wave of black fire explodes outward, and I leap to the side just in time, the heat searing against my armor.

    "Persistent," Dreadwind remarks, his tone almost bored. "I expected more from the wielder of the DragonsBreath."

    I snap, slamming the blade into the ground. A surge of fire erupts from beneath him, forcing him to jump back.

    He laughs again, the sound echoing unnaturally. "You think that blade makes you invincible?"

    I grit my teeth. His taunts are getting to me, but I push the frustration down. I charge forward again, faking high and striking low. The DragonsBreath connects, the flames scorching across his chest plate. For the first time, he stumbles, caught off guard.

    "Not so untouchable now, are you?" I growl, pressing the advantage.

    He recovers quickly, swinging the Darkblade in a wide arc. I duck under it, stepping in close. Our swords clash again, locking us together.

    Up close, I can see the faint glow of his helmet''s visor, the shadow of a face behind it. "Who are you, really?" I demand. "And why do you want the DragonsBreath?"

    He doesn''t answer, just pushes me back with brute strength. I skid across the asphalt, barely keeping my balance.

    "Who I am doesn''t matter," he says finally, his voice calm, almost mocking. "What matters is that you''re not ready for what''s coming."

    Before I can react, he slams the Darkblade into the ground. A shockwave of black fire erupts outward, the force throwing me back. I crash into the side of a ruined vehicle, the impact rattling through my armor.

    I stagger to my feet, the DragonsBreath still burning in my hand. My body aches, every breath sharp and shallow. But I can''t stop now.

    Dreadwind steps forward, his movements slow and deliberate. "You''re holding back," he says, tilting his head. "Afraid of what happens if you go all out?"

    I tighten my grip on the blade. He''s right-I''ve been holding back. But something about him, about that sword, feels too dangerous to underestimate. If I go all out and lose, I could make things worse.

    But if I don''t...

    I charge again, flames roaring around me. The DragonsBreath hums louder, its power surging through me. I swing with everything I have, the fire spiraling into a fiery tornado.

    Dreadwind meets the strike head-on, the Darkblade cutting through the flames like a knife through butter. He''s strong-too strong.

    He forces me back, the weight of his strikes almost overwhelming. But I hold on, matching him blow for blow.

    Finally, I see an opening. I twist the DragonsBreath, catching his sword at just the right angle. The force of my strike sends the Darkblade flying from his hand. It skids across the asphalt, its dark flames flickering.

    Dreadwind stumbles, but he doesn''t panic. Instead, he lifts his hand, releasing another devastating blast of sound. It hits me square in the chest, knocking the wind out of me and sending me sprawling.

    By the time I recover, he''s already retrieved the Darkblade. He stands at a distance, watching me. "Impressive," he says, almost reluctantly. "But this isn''t over."

    Before I can respond, he swings the Darkblade in a wide arc, unleashing a wall of black fire. It engulfs the space between us, and when it clears, he''s gone.

    I stagger to my feet, the DragonsBreath still glowing faintly in my hand. The racetrack is in ruins, the air thick with smoke and the acrid smell of burnt asphalt.

    I glance around, searching for any sign of him, but it''s clear he''s gone. My chest tightens as I think about what just happened-about him, his strength, and that sword.

    Whoever he is, this isn''t the last I''ll see of him. And next time, I need to be ready.

 Chapter 4

    The city lights blur past the car windows as Alyse drives us back to Smith Tower. My body aches in ways I haven''t felt in years. Dreadwind-or whoever he is-hit harder than anyone I''ve faced in a long time. I roll my shoulder, wincing as a sharp pain shoots down my side. Alyse notices.

    "You''re hurt," she says, her voice soft but firm.

    "I''m fine," I mutter, leaning my head back against the seat. "Just need some air and time to think."

    Alyse doesn''t respond right away, but the tension in the car is thick. I can feel her worry as much as I can feel the heat from the DragonsBreath resting on my lap. The fight keeps replaying in my mind. His power, his precision-he wasn''t just strong. He knew me.

    We pull up to Smith Tower, and before I can step out of the car, Claire is already waiting in the entrance. She rushes to my side the second I climb out, her eyes scanning me like a hawk.

    "You look like hell," she says, folding her arms. "What happened?"

    "I don''t have time for this," I reply, brushing past her. The adrenaline is wearing off, and exhaustion creeps into every muscle.

    "Well, too bad," Claire says, following close behind. "You''re bleeding through your armor. Sit down and let me check you out before you keel over."

    I glance at Alyse, who looks just as insistent, and reluctantly drop into one of the lounge chairs. Claire kneels beside me, her hands already glowing faintly as she prepares to heal the worst of my wounds.

    "This isn''t just some run of the mill villain, is it?" Alyse asks, her arms crossed.

    "No," I admit, exhaling heavily. "He called himself Dreadwind. And he has the Darkblade."

    Claire freezes mid-motion. Her head snaps up, eyes wide. "The Darkblade? You''re sure?"

    "As sure as I am about the DragonsBreath," I say. "That sword-it''s impossible to mistake."

    Before anyone can respond, the news playing on the television catches our attention. A reporter stands at the racetrack, the wreckage from the meteor still smoldering in the background. The headline flashes across the screen: "Alien Battle at Indy Speedway: City in Panic." The reporter goes on about how the U.S. Space Force has locked down the area.

    Claire''s lips press into a thin line. She stands abruptly and taps on her wristband. "I''m calling the team again. Everyone needs to hear this."

    -

    Minutes later, we''ve all made our way to the penthouse. The living room fills with familiar faces. Kylen arrives first, still in his repair gear from the lab. Dylan walks in next, clearly still running on adrenaline from his earlier training with Hail. Keegan shows up last, his usual relaxed demeanor replaced with quiet intensity. Kat sneaks in behind him, her mind still clearly racing with deep thought, she''s been researching something, it''s written all over her face.

    "Where''s Hail?" Dylan asks, glancing around.

    "Probably at a bar," Claire mutters, her tone sharp.

    "We don''t have time to wait," I cut in. "This isn''t about him. It''s about Dreadwind and what he wants."

    I stand, gripping the back of the chair to steady myself. "Whoever he is, he knows me. He came here for the DragonsBreath, and he''s not going to stop until he gets it. That and somehow, he had the Darkblade."

    "Wait," Dylan says, frowning. "Why does he want the DragonsBreath? And where did he get the Darkblade?"

    "I asked him," I reply. "He didn''t answer. But he knew how to use it-like it belonged to him."

    The room falls silent as everyone processes what I''ve said. Then Kylen speaks, his voice calm but heavy. "If he has the Darkblade, that means someone gave it to him-or he took it from Domnik. Which also means that somehow he got here from Amerei. Either way, this is bad."

    "No kidding," Keegan adds, leaning against the wall. "And if this guy''s as strong as you''re making him sound, we''ve got a bigger problem on our hands than just him coming after you. This makes three possible daem running wild."

    "Red," Kat interjects, "you went out there alone. What were you thinking?"

    "I was thinking I didn''t have time to call for backup," I snap. "He showed up out of nowhere, and people were in danger. What was I supposed to do? Stand around and wait?"

    "You could''ve died!" Claire''s voice rises, frustration breaking through her usual composure.

    "At least I wasn''t drowning in a bottle like some of us," I fire back without thinking.

    The room goes dead silent. Dylan shifts uncomfortably, and Alyse looks away. Kylen''s expression hardens, but he doesn''t say anything.

    "You want to repeat that?" Hail''s voice cuts through the air like ice as he steps into the room.

    I meet his glare, my own frustration boiling over. "You heard me."If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    "Enough!" Claire shouts, stepping between us. "This isn''t helping. We need to figure out who Dreadwind is and what his endgame is-not tear each other apart."

    Hail''s gaze lingers on me for a moment before he turns and storms out of the room.

    As the tension lingers, Alyse rests a hand on my shoulder. "Red," she says quietly, "we''ll figure this out. Together."

    I nod, though my mind is already racing ahead. Dreadwind isn''t just some villain. He''s something more-something personal. And if he''s willing to destroy a city to get to me, I need to be ready for his return.

    ---Kat---

    Alyse stretches, her voice carrying a soft edge of weariness as she leans against the back of the couch. "It''s been a long day," she says, glancing at the group. "We should all get some rest. We''re going to need it."

    There''s a chorus of nods, murmured agreements, and the shuffle of tired bodies heading toward their rooms. Dylan gives a small wave before disappearing upstairs, and Claire follows, her steps lingering as if reluctant to leave. Red leans against the doorframe, his face shadowed in thought, before he finally turns and retreats to the roof. The sound of the balcony door sliding shut echoes faintly.

    But I''m not ready to call it a night. Not yet.

    Keegan slouches into the armchair across from me, looking every bit as tired as everyone else, though he''s trying to hide it. He reaches for his guitar, his fingers absently strumming a few quiet chords, but I cut him off before he can settle in.

    "Don''t get comfortable yet," I say, standing and crossing my arms. "We''ve got some sleuthing to do."

    Keegan''s fingers pause on the strings, and he raises an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Sleuthing? This late? Thought we were calling it a night."

    "We can sleep when we''re dead," I reply, grabbing my jacket. "Or, you know, when Dreadwind decides to show up again and make it so. I''m not waiting around for him to drop another bombshell on us."

    Keegan sighs, setting the guitar down with exaggerated reluctance. "Alright, Spectra. What''s the plan?"

    "We''re hitting the crash site," I say. "Space Force might have locked it down, but I''d bet my bow they didn''t find everything. Someone needs to look at it with a fresher pair of eyes."

    "And those eyes are ours?" he asks, standing and cracking his neck. "Sounds like fun."

    I grin. "Suit up, Voidstrider."

    ---

    The streets are quiet as we approach the crash site. Keegan''s van is parked a few blocks away, and we''ve been careful to stick to the shadows. The U.S. Space Force has cordoned off the area with floodlights and guards, their vehicles forming a tight perimeter. It''s a fortress-for them, at least. For us? Just another challenge.

    Keegan adjusts his scarf, his dark eyes scanning the scene. "So, what''s the move, boss?"

    "We go quiet," I whisper, notching an arrow and pulling my hood tighter over my head. "I''ll take the east side, slip in through the alley. You-"

    "Make myself useful, I know," he interrupts, smirking. He opens a small void portal at his feet and pulls out...a grilled cheese sandwich. He takes a bite, grinning through the mouthful. "Fuel for the mission."

    I roll my eyes. "Just don''t get caught, Voidstrider."

    Keegan salutes with the sandwich, then disappears into the shadows. I shake my head, smiling despite myself, and move toward the alley.

    The crash site is a mess of scorched earth and twisted metal, the aftermath of Dreadwind''s dramatic arrival. My boots crunch softly against the debris as I creep closer, staying low and out of sight. The guards are methodical, their patrols predictable, and it''s almost too easy to slip past them.

    I crouch near the crater, my eyes scanning the ground. There''s something faintly shimmering in the dirt-a fragment of metal, glowing faintly with a strange energy. I pick it up, holding it carefully. Madium. Has to be. But why does it feel...different?

    Before I can examine it further, Keegan''s voice crackles softly through my earpiece. "Spectra, heads up. We''ve got company."

    "Space Force?" I whisper back, tucking the fragment into my pouch.

    "Yup," he replies. "And they''re not happy about uninvited guests."

    I glance up, spotting a pair of guards moving toward my position. Time to move.

    "Meet me at the rendezvous," I say, slipping back into the shadows.

    "On it," Keegan replies.

    -

    We regroup a few blocks away, the crash site safely behind us. Keegan''s grinning as usual, holding up a small device. "Got this off one of their scanners. Figured it might tell us something interesting."

    "Good," I say, showing him the fragment of Madium. "And I found this. Whatever Dreadwind''s up to, it''s connected to this. We need to figure out how."

    Keegan nods, his expression briefly serious before the smirk returns. "Back to the Tower, then? Unless you wanna grab some celebratory tacos first."

    "Tacos later," I reply, already heading toward the van. "Let''s go."

    ---Dylan---

    I lean back against the armrest of the couch, watching as the tower''s lights dim one by one. Alyse is curled up on the other end, her knees tucked under her chin, staring silently at the skyline. The moonlight filters through the wide windows, painting her face in pale silver.

    For a long moment, neither of us speaks. The hum of the city outside fills the silence, broken only by the occasional creak of the building settling. I know what''s bothering her-Red''s fight earlier with that... thing. Whatever that armored guy was, he left more than physical damage behind. The weight in Alyse''s shoulders is proof enough.

    Finally, I break the silence. "You''re thinking about him, aren''t you?"

    She looks at me, startled, but doesn''t deny it. "He''s reckless," she says quietly. "I get why he''s so... driven. But he doesn''t stop to think about what it does to the rest of us. What it does to me."

    I nod slowly, giving her the space to vent. Alyse is usually the calm one, the one holding everything together when the world starts falling apart. Seeing her like this-frustrated, vulnerable-it''s not something I''m used to.

    "I mean, how many times has he run off alone? How many fights has he picked without a second thought?" Her voice rises, then drops again as she pulls her arms tighter around herself. "One day, he''s not going to come back, Dylan. And I don''t know if I can watch that happen."

    Her words hit me harder than I expect. "Red''s tough," I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel. "He''s been through worse, right? Shit, he fought through hell to get you back, literally. He''ll figure it out."

    Alyse shakes her head. "That''s not the point. He''s so focused on Dreadwind-or whatever his name is-that he''s going to start losing sight of everything else. Of us." Her gaze drops to her hands, clasped tightly in her lap. "It''ll be like nothing else matters to him anymore."

    I scoot a little closer, lowering my voice. "You''re not wrong, but... I don''t think he sees it that way. For Red, this is personal. He''s carrying a lot more than he lets on."

    Her eyes lift to meet mine, searching for something I''m not sure I can give. "And what about you?" she asks. "What would you do if it were me out there, throwing myself into danger?"

    The question catches me off guard. "I''d follow you," I say after a beat. "No question. And I''d do whatever it takes to make sure you came back."

    Her expression softens, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "I don''t want to lose anyone else, Dylan. Not him. Not you."

    "You won''t," I say firmly. "We''re in this together, Alyse. Whatever happens with Dreadwind, Red, or anything else, I promise-I''ll be here."

    She leans into my side, and for a moment, the weight of the day feels lighter. I wrap an arm around her, letting the silence speak for both of us. Somewhere in the distance, the city continues its restless hum, but up here, it''s just us. And for now, that''s enough.

 Chapter 5

    ---Red---

    I wake with a scream, sweat dampening my face and sticking my hair to my forehead. My heart pounds against my ribs like a war drum, the echo of a nightmare clinging to me as I sit up in bed. For a second, I don''t even know where I am. The dark room feels oppressive, the shadows stretching unnaturally. I shake my head, trying to clear the fog.

    The images haunt me: Domnik, standing there in the gloom, his eyes hollow, his expression torn between defiance and despair. His hand grips the hilt of the Darkblade. It radiates its dark, ominous energy, the flames licking up the blade as if it''s alive. Then, blood. Domnik falls, his body crumpling like a discarded marionette, and in his place stands Dreadwind, his laughter cold and empty.

    I rub my temples, willing the dream to fade, but it doesn''t. It feels more like a warning than a simple nightmare. Could Dreadwind have killed Domnik? Stolen the Darkblade from him? I can''t shake the thought.

    I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and grab the red scarf from the nightstand, wrapping it loosely around my neck as I head for the door. Sleep isn''t coming back tonight.

    The lights of the living room are low, a soft glow illuminating the figures of Alyse, Kat, and Keegan sitting on the couch. They''re talking in hushed tones, the kind of late-night chatter that feels heavier after a day like the one we just had. Alyse looks up as I enter, her eyes narrowing slightly.

    "Couldn''t sleep either?" she asks.

    I shake my head and drop into the armchair across from them. "Nightmare," I say simply, running a hand through my damp hair. "What about you guys?"

    Kat shrugs. "Figured we''d debrief in the quiet hours," she says, her tone casual, but there''s an edge to it. "You missed all the fun while you were out cold. Keegan and I ran into Space Force agents at the crash site."

    Keegan leans forward, his elbows on his knees. "That''s not even the craziest part," he says. "There was... something. A void energy coming from that ship. Something way darker than anything I''ve ever felt before."

    I sit up straighter, my attention fully on him now. "Darker? How?"

    Keegan shakes his head. "I don''t even know how to describe it. It wasn''t just void energy-it felt corrupted, like something worse was lurking inside it."

    "Space Force agents were all over the site," Kat adds. "They''re already pulling the humans into this mess."

    I exhale sharply, leaning back. "Glad you two are okay," I say. "But if the government''s getting involved, we need to cover our tracks. We need code names-something they can''t trace back to Smith Inc. If they connect the dots, it could lead to all of us being exposed."

    Kat grins. "The three of us already have ours," she says, motioning to Keegan and I.

    Alyse nods thoughtfully. "Dylan likes ''Astralis,''" she says. "He''s been talking about it forever."

    "I''ve always liked Arc Angel," Alyse adds after a pause. "A bard on Naurus gave me the name a long time ago."

    Kat raises an eyebrow, smirking. "Angel suits you, Alyse," she says.

    Before Alyse can respond, Hail steps into the room, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed. "Code names?" he asks, his tone dripping with amusement. "That''s stupid. I''ll stick with my real name."

    The rest of us laugh, and I nod.

    "Hail''s already a fitting alias," Kat says.

    Before the conversation can continue, the elevator chimes, and Kylen, Claire, and Dylan step into the room.

    "What''s this about code names?" Dylan asks, grinning. "Please tell me I finally get to use ''Astralis.''"

    "You do," I say. "And yes, you''ll finally get a costume to match."

    Dylan pumps his fist in triumph, and Kylen smirks. "I''ll go with ''Aegis,''" Kylen says.

    Claire tilts her head, thinking for a moment. "Remedy has a nice ring to it," she says. "That''s what Kat called me the other night."

    I nod, jotting everything down. "Well, that was surprisingly easy," I say.

    Hail steps forward, his expression turning serious. "What''s next? We need a way to draw out Dreadwind. Face him together, figure out his motives-or take him down for good."

    I glance at him. "His motives are already clear-he wants the DragonsBreath."

    Hail narrows his eyes. "Maybe. Or maybe he''s working for someone else. Keegan mentioned that void energy at the crash site-what if this ties back to Vermidia?"

    The name hangs heavy in the air. Alyse nods. "We need to find a way to lure him out," she says.

    Kylen straightens. "Agreed. But I need to get back to work on the portal while my ideas are still fresh. Call me if you come up with a plan."

    "I''ll head to the crash site," Alyse offers. "Smith Inc. has enough pull to get me access. Maybe the scientists missed something."

    Kylen nods. "Good idea. The government won''t block Smith Inc. involvement outright-not with their reliance on our tech."

    As Kylen, Claire, and Dylan leave for the lab, Hail stops Claire on the roof, murmuring an apology for his drunken behavior recently. I can''t hear what they''re saying, but the way she pats his arm and walks away suggests she''s forgiven him.

    I linger in the elevator until after the helicopter takes off. As I step out, pretending not to have heard anything Hail said, he stands nearby, staring into the distance.

    "Can''t sleep either?" I ask, stepping up beside him.

    He shakes his head. "Too much on my mind."

    "Same," I admit, sinking down onto the ledge to write in my notebook.

    "You should be coming up with a plan to draw out Dreadwind," Hail says, glancing at me.

    "I can''t think straight," I reply. "My head''s too cluttered."

    Hail nods, as if understanding. "I need another drink."

    "Look um-I''m sorry for what I said. But you''ve got to admit, there''s truth to it." I say as he walks away.

    Hail freezes in place. "Clearly." He says as he glances back for a second.

    He then turns back to the elevator and leaves, and I''m left alone with the stars and my swirling thoughts.

    ---Alyse---

    The sun barely peeks over the horizon as I step out of the car, Smith Inc. badge clipped to my coat and a tablet in hand. The crash site is a chaotic hub of activity, with Space Force agents swarming the area like ants over sugar. The air smells of burnt metal and scorched earth, and the faint hum of scanning equipment fills the silence of the early morning.

    I approach the perimeter, where two guards in sharp navy uniforms block my path. One of them eyes me suspiciously as I flash my badge.

    "Alyse Smith, Smith Incorporated. I''m taking over the investigation," I say, keeping my tone professional.

    The guard hesitates, but after a brief exchange on his radio, he steps aside, and I walk into the heart of the scene. The wreckage is worse up close-twisted metal scattered across the ground, blackened edges still faintly glowing in some places. I make a mental note: this isn''t a typical crash.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Before I can take a step closer, a commanding voice cuts through the noise.

    "Ms. Smith," says General Stellen, the Chief of Space Operations, as he strides toward me. His polished boots crunch against the gravel, and his piercing gaze is locked on mine. "Care to explain why Smith Inc. seems so interested in this incident?"

    I meet his glare without flinching. "General, Smith Inc. has a vested interest in aerospace technology. We provide half of the military''s spacecraft. Naturally, we want to ensure nothing here compromises our contracts-or national security."

    "Funny," he says, crossing his arms. "This ship''s design looks suspiciously close to some of your prototypes. Care to comment on that?"

    "It''s not ours," I reply firmly. "We''d know if it was."

    His eyes narrow, and for a moment, I wonder if he''s about to arrest me on the spot. But then he smirks, the kind of smirk that makes your skin crawl.

    "If I find out Smith Inc. is hiding anything, I won''t hesitate to tear your company apart," he says, his voice low and dangerous. "For your sake, I hope you''re telling the truth."

    I keep my expression neutral. "We have nothing to hide, General. Good day."

    He doesn''t reply, just turns and walks away, barking orders at his team. I take a deep breath, steadying myself, and focus on the task at hand.

    I pull out my tablet and begin scanning the wreckage. The readings are... unusual. The void energy Keegan mentioned is faint but unmistakable, clinging to the ship like a dark stain. It''s different from anything I''ve seen before-more refined, almost purposeful.

    My tablet beeps, alerting me to a signal buried deep in the ship''s core. It''s encrypted, a series of fragmented codes that make no sense on their own. I try to decode it on the spot, but it''s beyond me.

    "Kat''s going to love this," I mutter, uploading the data to the Smith Inc. servers.

    As I move to the back of the ship, something else catches my eye. The scorch marks around the crash site aren''t consistent with an atmospheric entry. They''re too deliberate, too precise, almost as if the ship was forced down by... something.

    I kneel, running my fingers over the charred earth. This wasn''t an accident.

    Straightening up, I glance toward the Space Force agents still combing the wreckage. They''re thorough, but they won''t see what I see. If we''re going to get answers, it''s going to have to be us.

    I snap a few more pictures, save my notes, and turn back to my car. As I drive away, the pieces swirl in my mind like a puzzle with too many missing parts. Void energy. Encrypted signals. Deliberate destruction.

    Whoever brought this ship down didn''t just want to make a statement-they wanted to send a message.

    And I''m going to figure out what it is.

    ---Kat---

    The dim glow of the computer screen lights up the small study room Keegan and I have commandeered for the morning. Stacks of papers and open files clutter the desk, and Keegan''s tapping on the keyboard echoes in the otherwise quiet space.

    "This is insane," I mutter, scrolling through the data Alyse just sent over. "Void energy readings this high? I''ve never seen anything like it."

    Keegan leans back in his chair, his fingers running through his messy hair. "I have. Once. But this?" He gestures at the screen, his voice lower. "This feels darker, heavier. Whatever powered that ship wasn''t meant to exist here."

    I glance at him, studying his face. There''s something uneasy in his tone, like this energy hit him on a deeper level.

    "You think it''s connected to... her?" I ask, careful not to say Vermidia''s name aloud.

    He shrugs but doesn''t look at me, his eyes fixed on the screen. "Maybe. Or maybe it''s something worse. I don''t know."

    That answer doesn''t sit well with me. Keegan''s always the one with the answers-or at least the confidence to fake them. Seeing him this unsure makes my skin crawl.

    We sit in silence for a while, the hum of the computer filling the air. I sift through the files Alyse uploaded, but the information feels like gibberish. Scans of the ship''s wreckage, fragmented codes, and strange readings I can''t make heads or tails of.

    "This is a dead end," I say, leaning back and crossing my arms. "We don''t have enough to go on."

    Keegan nods slowly. "Maybe. But it''s something. And something is better than nothing."

    I sigh, stretching my arms over my head, when a thought crosses my mind. "Actually... I do have something else that might interest you."

    He raises an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Oh? What''s that?"

    I reach into my bag and pull out a folder, sliding it across the desk toward him. "Thought you might want to see this."

    Keegan eyes it warily before flipping it open. His expression shifts instantly-confusion, then shock, then something deeper.

    "Where did you get this?" he asks, his voice quieter now.

    "Smith Inc.," I reply, leaning forward. "Apparently, they''ve been keeping tabs on all of us. That''s your dad''s address."

    Keegan''s jaw tightens, and for a moment, he just stares at the paper. Then, without a word, he stands and heads for the door.

    "Keegan-" I start, but he cuts me off.

    "I''ve been looking for him for three years, Kat," he says, his tone sharp. "And Red knew. Kylen knew. They knew, and they didn''t tell me."

    Before I can respond, the door swings open, and Red steps into the room.

    Keegan''s eyes narrow as he turns to face him. "You knew about my dad this whole time? You had him followed?"

    Red doesn''t flinch under Keegan''s glare. He folds his arms and nods. "Yeah, I did. We had to know where everyone''s families were, in case... something happened."

    "That''s your excuse?" Keegan snaps. "I''ve been searching for him for years, and you didn''t think to tell me?"

    Red''s expression softens slightly, but his voice stays calm. "I didn''t say anything because I figured you wouldn''t like what you found."

    Keegan clenches his fists, his frustration clear. He glares at Red for another second before storming out, slamming the door behind him.

    Red exhales heavily and turns to me. "Go after him. Make sure he''s okay."

    I grab my jacket and nod. "Yeah. Someone''s got to make sure he doesn''t do something stupid."

    Red watches me go, his expression unreadable. As I step into the hall, I can''t help but wonder: if Keegan''s dad really is here in the city, what kind of answers-or questions-will he find?

    ---Claire---

    The soft hum of my computer fills the silence in the room, broken only by the faint clicking of keys under my fingertips. Rows of data scroll across the screen, each line more fascinating and frustrating than the last. Alyse''s research-raw, dense, and meticulous-has me hooked. Her brilliance is undeniable, but deciphering her thought process is a puzzle in and of itself.

    I lean back in my chair, rubbing my temples as I try to make sense of the latest set of readings. Energy spikes, strange gravitational shifts, and... I stop, my eyes narrowing on the screen. There it is again: the same dark void energy Keegan mentioned, only now it''s tethered to something new. My hand instinctively moves to the keyboard, pulling up the satellite feed. The map of Earth loads in sluggishly, but the new signal pops out like a beacon-bright, erratic, and moving.

    "Kylen, you''re going to want to see this," I call out. My voice is calm, but my heart is racing.

    Kylen appears in the doorway moments later, his tall frame casting a shadow across the room. "What is it?" he asks, his tone clipped but curious.

    I gesture to the screen. "Alyse''s data just got a lot more interesting. The energy signature from the crashed ship isn''t isolated. It''s tied to another one. And this one?" I point at the screen, tracing the signal''s erratic path. "It''s coming in hot. Should hit somewhere in Utah by tomorrow."

    Kylen steps closer, his eyes narrowing as he studies the display. His silence is telling. He''s piecing it together, weighing the options. When he finally speaks, there''s a determined edge to his voice. "We need to move on this. If it''s anything like the last ship..."

    "I know." I''ve already run the simulations in my head. "But there''s good news. It''s still a day out. We have time to prepare."

    Kylen nods, but his focus shifts, already planning ahead. "I''ll get the team together. Where''s Dylan?"

    "Still in the lab," I reply. "He''s been glued to the portal project ever since we got back. I think he''s making progress, but you know how he is, he''s as bad as you."

    Kylen lets out a short laugh, more exhale than amusement. "Yeah, stubborn as ever. I''ll fill him in. You keep monitoring the signal. Let me know if anything changes."

    "Of course." My eyes are already back on the screen, analyzing the signal''s trajectory, but I hear him turn and leave the room.

    The air feels heavier now, thick with the weight of what we''re walking into. There''s no telling what this ship holds or who-or what-might be onboard. But one thing is certain: it''s not here for a friendly visit.

    I glance at the clock in the corner of the screen. Less than twenty-four hours. The countdown has started, and so have the stakes. All we can do now is stay ahead of whatever''s coming.

    ---Kylen---

    The hum of the servers fills the room as Claire and I make our way to Dylan''s workspace. The faint glow of his equipment casts long shadows, giving the place an otherworldly feel-fitting, considering the work he''s been doing. Dylan''s hunched over his desk, his fingers weaving intricate commands on a glowing keyboard. His focus is razor-sharp, as always.

    "Dylan," I call out, my voice cutting through the ambient hum. He doesn''t flinch, just finishes typing before turning his gaze toward us.

    "Found something?" he asks, leaning back in his chair.

    Claire steps forward, handing him a tablet. "The void energy signature from the crash Alyse investigated. My satellites picked up another signal that matches it. This one''s incoming."

    Dylan scans the data, his eyes narrowing. "How close?"

    "Close enough," Claire says. "It''ll be in the Utah desert by tomorrow."

    Dylan sets the tablet down and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Another ship. Sounds fantastic. What''s the plan?"

    "We need to rally everyone," I say. "Get them there before the government starts sniffing around. We can''t afford a repeat of last time."

    Dylan nods but hesitates. "Yeah, but I need to stay back. The portal-" He gestures to the intricate machinery around him. "It''s not ready yet, but I''m close. Really close. I need to finish it."

    I exchange a look with Claire, who shrugs. "We could handle this without you," I say carefully. "But I''d rather have you out there with us."

    "I''ll keep working here drone," Dylan insists. "You go. Take the team. I''ll update you as soon as I have something."

    His tone leaves no room for argument. I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Fine. But stay in contact. If something changes, I want to know immediately."

    "Yeah, yeah, you will," Dylan promises.

    I glance at Claire, who''s already pulling up logistics on her tablet. "Let''s go. We''ve got a lot of people to wrangle."

    As we leave, I can''t shake the uneasy feeling crawling up my spine. Another crash, another unknown, and our team spread thin across their personal messes. I''ve seen things spiral out of control before, and this feels eerily similar.

    "Kylen," Claire says as we step into the hallway, her tone soft but insistent. "You think we''ll make it in time?"

    "We don''t have a choice," I reply, keeping my pace brisk. "Let''s get to it."

 Chapter 6

    ---Red---

    Sitting on the edge of Smith Tower''s rooftop, I let my legs dangle over the abyss. The late afternoon sun beats down on me, its warmth contrasting with the crisp breeze that whips past. The city sprawls below, its noise muffled by the height. I take a deep breath, trying to clear my head. I don''t get many quiet moments like this, and frankly, I''ve been savoring them more and more. Too much chaos lately.

    The buzz of my commlink shatters the peace. I glance at the display, seeing Kylen''s name flashing. Of course. I press the button to answer. "What''s up?" I say, my tone calm but a little clipped.

    "We''ve got a situation," Kylen''s voice comes through, direct as always. "Claire''s picked up another ship. It''s tied to the same energy signature as the first one. It''s crashing in Utah tomorrow, and we need to be there before it hits the ground."

    I sigh, leaning back on my hands and looking up at the sky. "Sure thing, but it''s not gonna be that easy. You want me to rally the team? They''re scattered all over the damn place."

    Kylen''s voice tightens. "What do you mean?"

    "Well," I start, running a hand through my hair, "Hail''s probably drunk off his ass in some bar. Alyse? She''s at the race track, still doing research with the scientists or whatever. And Keegan?" I pause for effect. "Keegan''s off with Kat, heading to find his dad."

    "His dad?" Kylen''s voice sharpens.

    "Yeah," I say, stretching out the word. "Turns out he found out you and I kept that little tidbit from him. Not thrilled about it, by the way."

    There''s a pause on the other end, long enough that I can almost hear Kylen pinching the bridge of his nose. "Dammit," he mutters. "That''s going to complicate things."

    "You think?" I reply, dry as desert sand.

    "Do you know where they are?"

    "Nope. I imagine they''re at the prison, we''d be lucky if he even wants to come with us. Utah''s still on the agenda, though, right?"

    "Yes," he says firmly. "We''ll pick everyone up on the way. I''ll start with you."

    "Great," I say, standing up and brushing off my pants. "You know where to find me."

    "Red," Kylen adds, his tone softening just a fraction. "Keep me updated if you hear anything."

    "Always do," I say, ending the call.

    I take one last look at the city before heading for the helipad. Whatever comes next, it''s going to be a long day.

    ---Kat---

    The prison looms ahead like a hulking gray tombstone, cold and uninviting under the waning light. Keegan hasn''t said a word since we got out of the car, but his body language says it all. His hands are jammed in his jacket pockets, shoulders hunched like he''s trying to make himself smaller.

    "Keegan," I say, keeping my voice light as we approach the entrance. "Are you sure about this? I mean... it''s okay if you''re not."

    He doesn''t look at me. His jaw is tight, his eyes fixed on the doors ahead. "Yeah, I''m sure," he mutters. "I just need to see him, that''s all."

    I follow him inside, the air shifting from chilly to stale and sterile. The smell of bleach and something metallic lingers. A guard at the desk glances up, indifferent, as we approach.

    Keegan clears his throat. "Uh, I''m here to see Joshua Blackwell," he says, his voice steady but low. "He''s... he''s my dad."

    The guard raises an eyebrow but doesn''t question it. "ID?"

    Keegan fumbles for his wallet and hands over his driver''s license. The guard looks it over, types something into the computer, and nods. "He''s available. Room three. Wait there, and they''ll bring him to you."

    "Thanks," Keegan says, barely audible, before heading down the hall.

    I trail behind him, my boots scuffing against the polished floor. He pushes open the door to the meeting room and steps inside. It''s as bleak as you''d expect-harsh fluorescent lights, a table bolted to the floor, and a thick glass partition with telephones on either side. Keegan sits down stiffly, gripping the edge of the table like it might disappear under him.

    I take the chair next to him, not saying anything. This is his moment, and I''m just here for support. Or damage control.

    The door on the other side of the glass opens, and two guards escort a man into the room. He looks older than I expected, gaunt and jittery, his hair thinning and streaked with gray. He glances around nervously before sitting down and taking the phone on his side.

    Keegan hesitates, then picks up his. "Are you... Joshua Blackwell?" he asks. His voice is firm but careful, like he''s trying not to break something fragile.

    The man squints at him, his eyes darting like a trapped animal. "Who''s asking?"

    Keegan swallows hard. "I''m your son," he says simply.

    Joshua blinks, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Kevin?" he finally says, his voice cracked and uncertain.

    Keegan lets out a sharp breath, clearly trying to keep it together. "Keegan," he corrects, his tone clipped. "It''s Keegan."

    Joshua nods slowly, his expression brightening a little. "Right, right. Keegan. Of course. Great to see you, kid. Last time I saw you, you were, what, two? Three?"

    Keegan''s knuckles whiten around the phone. "Nine," he says through gritted teeth. "You left when I was nine."

    Joshua scratches his head, laughing nervously. "Oh, right. My bad. Got mixed up with... my other kid, I guess."

    I watch Keegan''s face shift, the hope draining from his eyes. He doesn''t say anything, just lets Joshua''s words hang in the air like a bad smell.

    Then Joshua leans forward. "Hey, listen. You got any money on you? I could really use a little something-"

    That''s it. Keegan slams the phone down, the crack of plastic against metal making me flinch. He stands up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "Twelve years," he snaps, his voice trembling with anger. "Twelve years, and you can''t even remember my name. You don''t ask how I''ve been. You don''t care. All you want is money."

    Joshua starts to say something, but Keegan doesn''t give him the chance. He storms out, the door slamming shut behind him.

    I glare at Joshua through the glass. "You don''t deserve him," I say, knowing he can''t hear me. Then I follow Keegan out.

    He''s sitting on the steps outside, his face buried in his hands. His shoulders shake, and I realize he''s crying. It''s the first time I''ve ever seen him like this.

    I sit down next to him, unsure of what to say. "Murdering people and dealing drugs will do that to someone," I offer weakly, trying to break the tension.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Keegan lifts his head, his eyes red and furious. "Don''t, Kat," he snaps, his voice raw. "Just... don''t."

    I nod, biting back any more comments. We sit there in silence until the low hum of a helicopter fills the air. I glance up to see it descending nearby, the wind from the rotors kicking up dust and loose paper.

    Alyse leans out the open door, motioning for us to get in. Keegan stands, wiping his face quickly, like he doesn''t want anyone else to see.

    Without a word, we climb into the helicopter. The door slams shut, and we''re airborne before I can catch my breath. Keegan stares out the window, his jaw tight, his fists clenched. I don''t try to talk to him. He''s not ready, and maybe I''m not either.

    ---Hail---

    The whiskey burns going down, but I like it that way. Keeps the edges sharp. I spin the glass on the bar top, watching the amber liquid catch the dim light of the overhead bulbs. The bartender-a gruff guy with arms like tree trunks-eyes me warily. Probably wondering how much longer I''m planning to take up space.

    "Another," I say, tapping the bar.

    He doesn''t argue. The glass is refilled, and I take my time, savoring it. Somewhere deep in my pocket, my communicator buzzes against my hip. I ignore it. They can wait.

    The buzz comes again, longer this time. Persistent. With a sigh, I pull it out and glance at the display. Kylen''s name flashes across the screen. Of course.

    I down the rest of the whiskey in one go before answering.

    "What?" I bark.

    Kylen''s voice is steady, as always. "We''ve got a situation. I need you to rally with the others. I''m picking you up in five minutes."

    I snort, leaning back against the bar. "Yeah, good luck with that. Alyse is off playing mad scientist, Keegan and Kat are on some daddy issues field trip, and I''m not even sure where Red is. Oh, and me? I''m busy." I swirl the empty glass for effect.

    Kylen doesn''t bite. "You''ve got five minutes, Hail. Be outside."

    The line goes dead. I glare at the communicator before stuffing it back into my pocket. "Put it on my tab," I tell the bartender, grabbing the bottle this time.

    "You can''t take that!" he calls after me as I push through the door.

    "Watch me," I mutter, stepping into the daylight.

    The glare hits my eyes like a slap, and I pull my scarf up higher, shielding my face. I barely make it halfway down the block before the roar of helicopter blades drowns out the street noise.

    Kylen, punctual as ever.

    The helicopter descends, rotors whipping up a whirlwind of dust and trash. Claire leans out, her expression one of exasperated patience. "Get in. Now."

    I hold up the bottle in mock celebration. "You interrupted happy hour. Hope this is worth it."

    Her glare could cut steel. "Just get in, Hail."

    With a dramatic sigh, I climb into the chopper, taking a seat opposite Red, who looks just as thrilled to see me as I am to be here.

    "We''ve got a lead," Red starts, launching into the details. Something about alien ships, government intervention, and how time is of the essence.

    I can''t help but laugh. "Aliens? Really? People still believe that crap?"

    Red''s frown deepens. "What would you consider us to be?"

    That gives me pause. I tilt my head, considering, then nod. "Oh, yeah. Fair point." I take a swig from the bottle.

    Alyse pipes up from the front, clearly unimpressed. "It''s four in the afternoon, Hail."

    I raise the bottle in a mock toast. "Happy hour somewhere."

    Keegan, sitting beside me, rolls his eyes. "And after all that, you''re still drinking?"

    "You wanted me here," I shoot back. "This is what you get."

    He grabs the bottle from my hand and reads the label. "Vodka? Seriously?"

    "Oh fuck off," I reply, snatching it back. "Go work out your daddy issues, kid."

    That earns me a glare. Without warning, Keegan smashes the bottle over my head, shards scattering across the cabin.

    I laugh, mostly out of shock, as he storms toward the back. "You''re gonna pay for that," I call after him, shaking the glass from my hair.

    Red groans, rubbing his temples. "Kylen, how much longer to Utah?"

    Kylen laughs from the cockpit. "Long enough."

    Red slumps back in his seat. "Great. Just great."

    I grin, leaning back. Maybe this mission won''t be so bad after all.

    -

    ---Red---

    The helicopter blades thundered above us, cutting through the last of the night as the sun crept over the Utah horizon. My body ached from being crammed into the tight cabin all night, but as we descended, the sight of the crash site jolted me wide awake. Smoke still hissed into the air, and the sand around the ship had turned black and glassy from the heat. Whatever hit the ground had hit hard.

    I leaned forward, peering out the window. The ship was massive, a jagged, angular beast half-buried in the earth. The surface shimmered faintly with a deep purple glow, pulsing like a heartbeat. My gut twisted. Void energy. A lot of it.

    Kylen pointed out the window, his voice sharp over the headset. "Look at that signature. It''s off the charts."

    Claire''s voice chimed in from her seat, calm but tense. "This is worse than we thought. The energy readings suggest the core is still active."

    Hail, slouched in his seat and reeking of vodka, squinted at the wreckage. "Active? You mean it could blow up or something?"

    "Or something," Alyse said darkly.

    The helicopter touched down, the sand whipping around us in a choking cloud. I stepped off, shielding my eyes against the grit. The heat hit me like a slap. This place was a furnace.

    Keegan and Kat were the last to disembark, Keegan''s usual scowl even darker after his run-in with his dad. None of us had gotten much rest, and it showed. But we didn''t have time to dwell on it.

    "Spread out," Kylen ordered. "Check for anything unusual. And keep your guard up. That much void energy could mean trouble."

    Trouble was putting it lightly. The air practically vibrated with dark energy, and as we approached the ship, my unease only grew. The hull was covered in strange glyphs that seemed to shift when I tried to focus on them. The closer I got, the heavier the air felt, like gravity itself was pushing down on me.

    "This thing isn''t just a ship," Claire muttered, her eyes scanning her tablet. "It''s a void conduit. It''s pulling energy from... somewhere else."

    I opened my mouth to ask what the hell that meant when the unmistakable sound of engines roared in the distance. A convoy of military vehicles kicked up a dust storm as they barreled toward us. Jeeps, trucks, and armored personnel carriers. At the head of the convoy was a hulking figure in a camo-patterned uniform. General Stellen.

    "Oh, great," I muttered. "Just what we need."

    The vehicles screeched to a halt, and soldiers poured out, weapons raised. Stellen marched forward, his face like stone.

    "This is a restricted site," Stellen barked, his voice carrying over the din. "Stand down and let us handle this."

    Alyse stepped forward, her chin high. "General Stellen, with all due respect, this ship is emitting void energy far beyond your scope of understanding. You need to pull your men back and let us take control of the situation."

    Stellen''s lip curled in a sneer. "I''m not taking orders from you, Ms. Smith. Not after the stunt you pulled at the last crash site. My men are staying right here."

    "If you stay," Alyse shot back, "you''ll only make things worse. You don''t know what you''re dealing with."

    The two squared off, tension crackling in the air. I could see the soldiers gripping their rifles tighter, and for a second, I thought this was going to turn into a firefight. Then the ground rumbled.

    Everyone froze. The rumble grew into a roar, and the ship''s surface began to shift and warp. Panels slid open, and from within the shadows, creatures began to emerge.

    They were small, no bigger than wolves, but their twisted forms were enough to make my skin crawl. Matte black skin stretched over wiry frames, long claws clicking against the ground. Their jaws were impossibly wide, filled with rows of jagged teeth. And their eyes... their eyes were pure void, endless and empty.

    Spawn.

    "Open fire!" Stellen shouted, and his men unleashed a hail of bullets. The Spawn darted forward, their movements a blur. They teleported in bursts of void energy, blinking in and out of existence like living shadows. The soldiers were struggling to keep up, their shots going wide as the creatures closed the distance.

    "Team, engage!" Kylen yelled.

    I didn''t need to be told twice. Flames erupted in my hands as I hurled fireballs at the oncoming swarm. The heat seared through the air, catching a few Spawn mid-teleport and reducing them to ash. But for every one I took down, three more seemed to take its place.

    Hail was next to me, swinging his ice sword in wide arcs. Frost coated the ground as he fought, slowing the Spawn but not stopping them. Alyse stood back, sending bolts of lightning crackling through the horde, while Keegan teleported around the battlefield, his batons flashing as he struck as Kat and Claire took the fight from a far, firing arrows and clouds of poison.

    It wasn''t enough.

    The Spawn kept coming, their numbers overwhelming. I caught a glimpse of Stellen''s men being dragged down, their screams cut short as the creatures swarmed over them. The situation was spiraling out of control.

    "We need to fall back!" I shouted, barely dodging a swipe from a Spawn''s claws.

    "Agreed!" Kylen called. "Everyone, to the helicopter!"

    We fought our way back, covering each other as best we could. Hail blasted a wall of ice to slow the Spawn, buying us precious seconds. The helicopter''s blades were already spinning as we piled inside, breathless and battered.

    "Go!" Kylen yelled to the Claire, and the helicopter lifted off just as the Spawn swarmed the spot where we had been standing moments before.

    As we gained altitude, I looked down at the chaos below. The soldiers were being overrun, the Spawn tearing through their ranks with brutal efficiency. Stellen''s voice crackled over the radio, screaming for reinforcements, but it was too late.

    I leaned back in my seat, trying to catch my breath. The team was silent, the weight of what we''d just faced settling over us. The Spawn weren''t just mindless beasts. They were organized. And if this ship was a conduit, it meant Vermidia''s reach was growing.

    This wasn''t just a crash site. It was a warzone. And we were woefully unprepared for what was coming, Vermidia''s full on invasion.

 Chapter 7

    ---Dylan---

    The hum of the portal prototype fills the Smith Tower''s lab, faint vibrations buzzing through my fingertips as I adjust a conduit panel. This thing is still temperamental-every recalibration a delicate balancing act between stability and chaos. The prototype pulses faint blue light in steady intervals, like a heartbeat. It''s a small start, but a start nonetheless.

    The whoosh of the elevator doors interrupts my concentration. Heavy footsteps, overlapping voices-chaotic, urgent.

    Red is the first to storm into the lab, his scarf trailing behind him like a banner of battle. His expression is tense, his hair wild, and his usual cool composure is nowhere to be found. "Dylan," he barks, "we''ve got a serious problem."

    I straighten up, wiping my hands on my jeans. "What happened?"

    Kylen follows close behind, his face shadowed with unease. "The crash site wasn''t just a ship," he begins, but Claire cuts him off as she strides in, carrying a tablet that looks about ready to shatter under her grip.

    "It was crawling with void energy, Dylan," Claire says. "Unstable, corrupting-it was everywhere."

    "And then the damn military showed up," Hail adds, leaning heavily against the doorframe. His face is pale, his usual smug grin replaced by something grim. "Stellen and his lackeys thought they could just waltz in and take over."

    "They did more than try," Alyse interjects, her voice sharp and commanding. "General Stellen accused us of trespassing-on our own damn mission. It got ugly. Fast."

    I glance between them, trying to piece together the fragments of their story. "Void energy? Military interference? Slow down. What the fuck is going on?"

    Kat steps forward, her arms crossed tightly, her goth aesthetic more ruffled than usual. "It wasn''t just void energy, Dylan. It was Vermidia''s Spawn. Hundreds of them. They came pouring out of the ship like...like cockroaches."

    The room falls silent for a moment. My chest tightens. "Spawn?" I echo. "You mean her minions? Like her own personal drones? Here? On Earth?"

    "Yeah," Red says, his voice hard. "Teleporting little monsters with claws, teeth, and way too much speed. They hit us hard."

    "We tried to hold them off," Alyse says, pacing. "Even with the military''s help, we were completely outnumbered. There was no way to contain them."

    "The ship wasn''t empty," Kylen adds, his tone somber. "And whatever was in it was powerful enough to take over the crash site completely. We barely got out."

    Claire gestures to the tablet in her hands, pulling up a simulation of the void energy readings. "It''s off the charts, Dylan. I''ve never seen anything like this, not even with the first crash. Whatever Vermidia sent through this time, it''s a direct threat."

    "And we left them there," Kat says, her voice low and bitter. "The Spawn are probably tearing through the soldiers right now."

    "They didn''t stand a chance," Keegan mutters. "Even with all their guns, those things...they''re not from this world."

    I exhale, rubbing my temples. The room feels smaller, heavier, as if the weight of their panic is pressing down on all of us. "So Vermidia is escalating," I say. "She''s not just sending ships anymore. She''s sending armies."

    "And whatever else was in that ship," Kylen says, his voice laced with worry. "We didn''t stick around long enough to find out what it was. If Vermidia''s Spawn are just the start, we need to be prepared for something worse."

    I glance back at the portal prototype, its soft glow almost mocking in its stillness. It''s a reminder of how far we are from understanding-or fighting-this war.

    "We''re not prepared for this," Alyse says, breaking the silence. Her voice is unusually quiet, almost vulnerable. "Not yet. Not like this."

    I nod, my mind racing. "Then we need to get prepared. Fast."

    We make our way upstairs into the penthouse living room. The tension is palpable, each step heavier than the last. The team takes their usual places. Red leans against the armrest of a couch, his scarf shifting in the breeze from the ceiling fan. Kylen stands near the corner, arms crossed like he''s already strategizing. Claire sits on the far side, typing rapidly on her tablet. Kat slumps onto a chair, arms folded, her glare practically daring someone to speak. Hail stands by the window, staring out at the city like it might give him answers.

    Alyse sinks onto the couch to my left, while Keegan drops wordlessly into the seat to my right. I glance at him, his posture tense, his gaze distant.

    "You alright?" I ask, breaking the silence.

    Keegan shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. "I saw my dad," he mutters, his voice low but heavy.

    The weight of his words hits me like a punch to the gut. My best friend finally found the man he''s been searching for, obsessing over, for years.

    "I take it... it didn''t go well?" I ask, my voice careful.

    Keegan shakes his head again, staring at the floor. "I''ll tell you later. Right now, we''re just gonna talk about Vermidia, right? Always Vermidia."

    Before I can respond, Kylen''s voice cuts through. "Dylan, Keegan, focus up."

    Kat''s head snaps toward him, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, shut up, Kylen," she snaps. "Can''t you see he''s dealing with something?"

    "Kat, don''t," Keegan says quickly, but she''s not listening.

    "No, Keegan," she says, standing up and pointing at Kylen. "He needs to hear this." Her voice rises, sharp and unforgiving as she turns on Kylen. "You''ve got some nerve acting all high and mighty after what you and Red pulled-keeping information about his dad from him! Who the hell do you think you are?"

    The room freezes, Kylen glaring at Kat with icy precision, but before the tension can snap, Hail turns from the window, his voice cutting through the argument like a blade.

    "Guys, get down!" he shouts, his eyes wide with alarm.

    Before anyone can react, the glass wall of the penthouse shatters. A dark-armored figure crashes through, landing in the center of the room with a deafening thud. The glass table beneath him explodes into shards, the sound reverberating off the walls.

    "Dreadwind!" Red shouts, drawing DragonsBreath in a fluid motion, the blade igniting in a fiery glow.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    The rest of us spring into action. Kat readies her bow, Alyse summons crackling lightning into her hands, and Kylen''s plasma shield flickers into place. My hands glow dark blue, the energy buzzing at my fingertips, ready to strike.

    The armored figure rises slowly, his helmet folding back to reveal a face twisted with fear.

    "Red... Red!" he stammers, his voice panicked. "Listen to me! She''s coming-she''s coming, and she wants you all dead!"

    Red stumbles back, his breath hitching as if he''s been struck. The DragonsBreath slips from his grip, clattering to the floor as the flames extinguish.

    "Domnik?" Red''s voice trembles, barely a whisper.

    "This is Domnik?" I blurt out, my mind racing. "Isn''t he supposed to be-"

    "Dead," Alyse finishes, her voice sharp and disbelieving. "He''s supposed to be dead."

    Hail steps forward, his sword of ice at the ready. "Who''s coming, Domnik? Is it Vermidia?"

    Domnik''s body seizes, his eyes flickering between their natural color and a dark, ominous purple. His scream is guttural, raw, as if something is tearing him apart from the inside.

    The helmet snaps shut over his face, and when he looks up, his eyes are solid purple. His voice is no longer his own, replaced by something chilling and otherworldly. "Ah, it is you, the children of the Nine," Vermidia says, her voice reverberating through the room like an echo from the void.

    Domnik''s body trembles violently, and for a fleeting moment, his voice breaks through. "Red, please, help me! She''s too strong-" His plea cuts off in another scream of agony, and the purple glow consumes him again.

    "Dammit, let him go!" Red yells, his voice raw with desperation.

    "Never!" Vermidia snarls through Domnik, her tone venomous. Dreadwind lets out a deafening blast of sound, the shockwave shattering every remaining window and throwing us all against the walls like ragdolls.

    The air crackles with tension as we scramble to recover, weapons drawn, powers flaring. The fight begins.

    Glass crunches beneath my boots as I scramble to my feet, the room spinning from the impact. My hands ignite with dark blue light as I focus on Dreadwind-or Domnik, or whatever he''s become. His armored form radiates void energy so strong it makes my stomach churn.

    Dreadwind moves faster than I expect, a blur of dark steel. He charges Alyse, who barely dodges in time. She retaliates with a crackling bolt of lightning aimed at his chest, but the energy fizzles against his armor like water on hot metal.

    "He''s absorbing it!" she shouts, frustration clear in her voice.

    Red is already moving, the DragonsBreath roaring back to life in his hand. "Then we hit him harder!" he yells, launching himself at Dreadwind. The fiery blade arcs down, aiming for the gap in his armor, but Dreadwind catches the blade with his gauntleted hand. Sparks fly as the void energy around him ripples, snuffing out the flames.

    "You''ll have to do better than that, Scarlet Phoenix," Vermidia''s voice taunts from within Domnik''s helmet. With a twist of his wrist, Dreadwind hurls Red across the room like a ragdoll. He slams into a bookshelf, the impact shaking the walls.

    Keegan teleports into the fray, his batons whirling. He lands a series of blows to Dreadwind''s back, the sound of metal on metal ringing out. For a moment, it seems like he''s gaining ground, but Dreadwind spins, catching Keegan mid-swing. A burst of void energy erupts from his palm, sending Keegan flying into the couch, which collapses under him.

    Kat fires an arrow at Dreadwind''s exposed helmet. The shot is perfect, but just as it''s about to hit, he teleports in a burst of dark energy, reappearing behind her. "Nice try," he sneers, swiping at her with a clawed gauntlet. She ducks, rolling away and firing another shot, but he blocks it effortlessly.

    Kylen steps in, his plasma blade forming in his hand. He slashes at Dreadwind, the weapon humming as it cuts through the air. Dreadwind blocks with his arm, the plasma searing a groove into his armor but not penetrating. They clash in a flurry of blows, Kylen''s movements precise, calculated, but Dreadwind matches him step for step.

    "Claire, anything?" Kylen barks, not taking his eyes off the fight.

    Claire, crouched near the shattered windows, furiously types on her tablet. "I''m working on it! There''s something in his energy signature-give me thirty seconds!"

    "We don''t have thirty seconds!" Alyse snaps, unleashing another barrage of lightning. This time, it strikes the floor beneath Dreadwind, sending a shockwave that staggers him.

    Hail charges in next, his ice sword gleaming in the dim light. He slashes at Dreadwind''s legs, the blade biting into the armor and freezing part of it solid. "Now!" Hail shouts.

    I don''t hesitate. I leap forward, both hands blazing with energy, and fire a concentrated blast at the frozen armor. The impact shatters the ice and sends Dreadwind stumbling, but instead of falling, he teleports again, reappearing in the center of the room.

    "Enough!" Vermidia''s voice booms through him, and a wave of void energy explodes outward. The sheer force sends us all sprawling again, and this time, I feel my ribs ache as I hit the wall.

    Red is the first to rise, blood dripping from a cut on his forehead. "Domnik, fight her! Don''t let her win!" he shouts, his voice raw.

    Dreadwind hesitates, his hand twitching as if resisting Vermidia''s control. "I-I can''t," he growls, his voice layered with both his own and Vermidia''s. His helmet retracts for a moment, and I see Domnik''s face, contorted in agony. "She''s too strong."

    "Hold on, Domnik!" Red pleads, stepping forward despite the risk.

    Claire suddenly stands, her tablet flashing in her hands. "Got it!" she shouts. "There''s a feedback loop in his armor-it''s amplifying her control! If we overload it, we can sever the connection!"

    "How do we do that?" I ask, panting as I get back to my feet.

    "Hit him with everything," Claire says, her eyes steely. "At once."

    Red nods, gripping DragonsBreath tighter. "You heard her! Everyone, now!"

    We coordinate in an instant. Kylen''s plasma blade, Alyse''s lightning, and Kat''s arrows all strike in tandem. Hail''s ice sword lands a powerful blow to Dreadwind''s shoulder as Keegan teleports behind him, smashing his batons into the weakened joints of his armor.

    I gather all the energy I can muster, my hands glowing brighter than ever before. "Domnik, hold on!" I shout, firing a massive blast of energy directly at his chest.

    The combined assault overwhelms his armor, which crackles and sparks violently. Dreadwind falls to one knee, his helmet retracting again. Domnik''s face is pale, his eyes flickering between their normal color and the dark purple glow.

    "She''s... losing control," he gasps. "Finish it-"

    Before he can finish his sentence, a final surge of void energy erupts from him, knocking us all back one last time. When the light fades, Domnik collapses, unconscious, his armor flickering with residual energy.

    The room is silent except for our ragged breathing. Red stumbles toward Domnik, kneeling beside him. "Domnik?" he whispers, shaking his shoulder.

    ---Alyse---

    A deafening wave of sound crashes over us like a tidal force from Domnik''s body, slamming into my chest and rattling every bone in my body. The sheer power of it sends me to my knees, the breath forced from my lungs. My ears ring, drowning out the chaos around me, and the world tilts as the ground rushes up to meet me.

    I try to push myself back up, but my limbs feel like they''re made of lead. All I can do is watch in horror as Domnik strides through the carnage, his steps deliberate and unyielding.

    Pain throbs through my body as I struggle to push myself up. The ringing in my ears from the last blast of sound power growing with every second. My vision blurs, and my legs feel like dead weight beneath me. Domnik''s boots crunch over shattered glass as he closes in on Dylan, who lies unconscious amidst the debris.

    "No..." I whisper, my voice barely audible over the chaos in my mind. I fight against the haze, willing my limbs to cooperate, but my body betrays me.

    Domnik grabs Dylan''s limp form with one hand, lifting him like he weighs nothing. The sight sends a surge of panic through me, cutting through the pain. "Dylan!" I scream, forcing my arms to move. I claw at the floor, trying to drag myself closer, but it''s like swimming against a tidal wave.

    Domnik strides toward the gaping hole in the window, the wind howling around him. Glass shards glint in the moonlight, scattered across the floor like forgotten stars. My heart pounds in my chest as I reach out, desperation turning my voice raw.

    "No! Dylan! Don''t take him!" My voice breaks, tears blurring my vision.

    I push harder, digging my fingers into the floor for leverage, but it''s no use. My legs refuse to support me, and the air feels heavy, suffocating. Around me, the others are scattered, groaning or unconscious, unable to stop him.

    Domnik pauses at the edge of the shattered window. For a moment, I think he might turn back, that some part of him-some remnant of who he was-might hear me, might reconsider. But when he turns to glance back, it''s not Domnik who looks at me. It''s the cold, unrelenting presence of Vermidia staring through his eyes.

    "No..." My voice cracks as he steps out into the void of the night sky, carrying Dylan with him.

    The weight of helplessness crushes me as I reach toward him, my hand outstretched as if I could somehow pull Dylan back by sheer will. But Domnik doesn''t stop. His figure disappears into the dark, the wind swallowing the sound of my screams.

    Tears streak down my face as the reality sets in-Dylan is gone.

 Chapter 8

    ---Red---

    Flames lick hungrily at the edges of the shattered windows, casting the room in flickering orange light. Smoke begins to crawl across the ceiling, thick and acrid, stinging my throat with every breath. The fire alarm screams overhead, its shrill, relentless wail only adding to the chaos.

    Everyone struggles to their feet, brushing off shards of broken glass and the dust coating their clothes. The air feels heavy, oppressive, like the weight of what just happened is pressing down on us all.

    Claire clutches her tablet, her face pale and frantic as she scans the screen. "No, no, no-damn it! The military. They''re breaking into the lobby downstairs. How the hell did they get here? Why now?!" Her voice trembles, barely masking her panic.

    I glance at Alyse, sitting frozen near the edge of the broken window, staring out into the night. Her hands tremble as they grip the ledge, and her voice breaks in a whisper that grows into a raw scream. "He took Dylan... Dylan..." Tears stream down her face as her knuckles turn white against the jagged glass. "Fuck!"

    "Alyse, we need to move! Now!" Kylen barks, his tone cutting through the chaos. "The military is coming, and they''ll be here any second!"

    I rush to Alyse''s side, dropping to one knee beside her. "Alyse, look at me. We''ll get him back, I swear, but we can''t do it if we''re captured or killed here. Right now, we have to go." My words feel like they''re bouncing off a wall. She doesn''t respond, her body rigid and unyielding.

    "Keegan! Kat!" I call, my voice sharp with urgency. "Help me get her up!"

    Keegan and Kat rush over, each grabbing an arm as we hoist her to her feet. Alyse doesn''t resist, but she doesn''t help either, her legs like dead weight as we drag her toward the elevator. Behind us, Hail smashes the elevator button, urging the lift to move faster.

    The flames have spread, now consuming the walls and sending plumes of black smoke curling toward the night sky. As the elevator doors slide open with a ding, Hail waves us in, and we cram inside, the heat of the fire pressing against our backs.

    "Come on, come on," Kylen mutters under his breath as the elevator begins its slow ascent. The tight space is filled with shallow, panicked breaths, the smell of smoke clinging to us all.

    When the doors finally open to the rooftop, we spill out into the cool night air. The helicopter''s blades are already spinning, whipping up wind and scattering ash as Hail, Claire and Kylen leap aboard. Keegan and Kat lift Alyse into the chopper, and I follow, glancing back just in time to see the elevator doors below us blast open.

    Soldiers pour out, their rifles gleaming in the firelight as they take position. They stop short of shooting, their eyes following us as the chopper lifts off, their expressions as grim as ours. Below, Smith Tower is a blazing inferno, the fire raging unchecked as the building slowly succumbs.

    I slump back in my seat, every muscle in my body taut with exhaustion and fear. The team sits in silence, Alyse clutching her knees to her chest, her tear-streaked face buried between them.

    "What the hell do we do now?" I whisper, my voice barely audible over the roar of the helicopter.

    ---Hail---

    The helicopter hums as it cuts through the night sky, the rhythmic thrum of its blades drowning out the chaos we just left behind. The air inside feels heavy-stifling even-despite the cold wind slicing in through the open sides. No one speaks at first, and the weight of the silence settles like an anchor in my chest.

    Alyse sits with her arms crossed, staring out at the dark expanse below. Her hair is a tangled mess, and her face is streaked with ash and smoke. She hasn''t said a word since we left Smith Tower.

    I watch her, the tension in her shoulders, the way her nails dig into her arms. She''s barely holding herself together, and I don''t know if she''ll even make it through the night without breaking.

    "I''m sorry," she says finally, her voice small, almost swallowed by the noise of the chopper. "This is all my fault."

    Red looks up from where he''s been gripping the edge of his seat, his knuckles white. "What?"

    Alyse doesn''t turn to face him. "I should''ve been smarter. I shouldn''t have gone to that first crash site as myself. If I''d gone as Arc Angel, maybe... maybe the military wouldn''t have figured out who I was or tracked us back to the tower. I blew our cover. I''m the reason they''re onto us now."

    I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees, the cold metal of my mask pressing against my face. "Alyse, you couldn''t have known. You did what you thought was best."The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    "It wasn''t enough," she says, her voice trembling. "All I''ve done is make this worse. If I''d just handled it differently-"

    "No one blames you," Kat cuts in, her tone firm but not unkind. She sits next to Keegan, her fingers gripping the edge of the seat as if grounding herself. "You did what you had to do to get the information Keegan and I couldn''t. If you hadn''t stepped up, we wouldn''t know anything about Vermidia''s involvement. We''d still be in the dark."

    Keegan shifts uncomfortably, glancing between Kat and Alyse but saying nothing.

    Alyse shakes her head, her voice thick with frustration. "But at what cost? Dylan''s gone. The tower is gone. We''re running blind, and now the military is breathing down our necks. How is that not my fault?"

    "It''s not," Red says, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. He looks at Alyse, his usual cocky demeanor gone. "We''re all in this mess together. We''ll figure it out, but blaming yourself isn''t going to bring Dylan back. If anything that''s my fault for letting Domnik escape the first time."

    I bite my tongue, knowing well it''s my fault for even killing Domnik in the first place. I led him into the hands of his mother in that moment. I was too blinded by vengeance. If they knew I caused this-I can''t even think about that right now.

    She finally looks at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I just... I just wanted to help. And now I don''t even know if I can."

    "You can," I say, my voice quiet but certain. "We all can. But not if we tear ourselves apart over things we can''t change."

    If only I knew Red would say the same thing to me if he found out what I did. He wouldn''t take it this lightly, that I''m sure of.

    The helicopter dips slightly, and I glance at the horizon. The sun is just starting to peek over the edge of the world, its light breaking through the darkness. I let out a breath, the smallest sliver of hope sparking in my chest.

    The tension in the helicopter is suffocating, and I can feel the frustration boiling over inside me. Without thinking, I drive my fist into the wall, the impact reverberating through the cabin. Frost creeps out from my hand, snaking into the metal like veins of ice.

    "What the fuck do we do now?" I demand, my voice sharp and ragged.

    Red leans back in his seat, rubbing his temples as though trying to stave off the weight pressing down on all of us. "Honestly? I have no clue. The tower''s gone. We''ve got no base, no plan. I''d say the Bridge Lab, but government agents are probably crawling all over it by now. And on top of that, this country''s about to be overrun by Spawn."

    His words hang in the air, heavy and bitter. I rake a hand through my hair, feeling utterly useless.

    Claire, seated near the cockpit, glances back at us over her shoulder. "Well, the part about not having anywhere to go... that''s not entirely true."

    Her voice cuts through the gloom, and we all turn to her. I narrow my eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

    She pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose, the faintest trace of a smirk on her face. "Let''s just say I''ve been working on something in my spare time these last few years. It''s at the Smith Inc. facility in Texas. And now feels like the perfect time to show it to you guys."

    "What kind of ''something'' are we talking about?" Kat asks, her tone skeptical but curious.

    Claire doesn''t answer right away. Instead, she taps furiously on her tablet, her fingers flying over the screen. "You''ll just have to wait and see," she says, the faintest hint of smugness creeping into her voice. "I''ve uploaded the coordinates to the nav system. We should be there in a few hours."

    Kylen leans back in his seat, arms crossed. "Alright then. Looks like we don''t have much choice. Everyone sit back and try to relax. We''ve got a long ride ahead of us."

    I exhale sharply, my hand still stinging from the punch. The ice begins to melt, leaving a faint patch of frost on the wall. "Relax," I mutter to myself, shaking my head. "Yeah, easier said than done."

    As the helicopter glides forward, I stare out into the sunrise, the light cutting through the remnants of smoke and chaos from the night before. My mind churns, unable to quiet the storm. We''ve lost too much in just a few hours-Dylan, the tower, our footing.

    Whatever Claire''s been working on, it better be good. Because right now, it feels like we''re barely holding on by a thread.

    ---Keegan---

    I glance over at Alyse, her gaze distant and fixed on the horizon beyond the helicopter window. "You doing okay?" I ask, keeping my tone light but knowing the answer is probably no.

    She sniffles and brushes away a tear with the back of her hand. "Yeah... just thinking, that''s all."

    I offer her a small smile, leaning back slightly. "Do you always cry when you think?"

    That gets her attention. She groans, shoving me lightly, a laugh breaking through the cracks of her sadness. "No, you smartass. I''m thinking about your best friend."

    "Dylan''s a tough guy," I say, my voice steady. "I''ve known him my whole life. If anyone can handle this, it''s him. I promise you, spiraling over it isn''t helping him-or you."

    She sighs deeply, her shoulders slumping as her walls begin to crumble. "Well, what else am I supposed to think about, Keegan? Should I think about how we''re criminals now? How we''ve lost our home-again? How one of my best friends, who I thought was dead for four years, just showed up brainwashed by his psychotic mom and kidnapped my boyfriend? Or maybe I should think about how this world is about to be overrun by daem, just like Naurus?"

    The words spill out of her like a flood, raw and jagged. For a moment, there''s only the sound of the helicopter blades slicing through the air.

    "Well, when you put it that way..." Kat mutters from across the cabin, her voice dry but soft enough to cut some of the tension.

    I lean forward slightly, meeting Alyse''s tired eyes. "Think about the people who are still here, Alyse. The ones still fighting with you."

    She pauses, her lips twitching into the faintest smirk. "Right... glass half full," she murmurs, the smallest glimmer of hope creeping back into her voice.

    "That''s the spirit," I say, trying to match her smirk. Deep down, though, I can feel the same weight pressing down on all of us. Dylan''s out there somewhere, and everything feels like it''s hanging by a thread. But for now, we just have to hold on to whatever we can-because that''s all we''ve got.

 Chapter 9

    ---Red---

    The sun crests over the horizon, casting streaks of orange and gold across the clouds below us. I lean against the cold glass of the helicopter window, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. The vibrations of the engine hum faintly beneath my feet, a constant reminder of the miles passing beneath us. Yet my thoughts remain frozen, tangled in a storm I can''t escape.

    Domnik.

    The name alone sends a wave of emotions crashing into me, each one sharper than the last. He''s alive. He''s alive, and yet... he isn''t. Not really. Vermidia has him. His eyes-the way they flickered between fear and that horrifying purple glow-keep playing over and over in my mind. I should''ve done something. I should''ve saved him.

    He was begging me for help.

    My fist clenches against my side. The DragonsBreath rests sheathed at my hip, the weight of it familiar but hollow. What good is this weapon if I can''t even protect the people I care about? I told myself Domnik was gone, and I buried the guilt so deep I thought it was over. Now it''s all back, raw and fresh, threatening to tear me apart.

    I press my forehead against the glass, closing my eyes as the sun''s rays grow brighter. The warmth feels wrong. There''s no warmth in what happened back there.

    This is my fault.

    If I had been stronger, if I''d found him first, maybe Vermidia wouldn''t have gotten to him. Maybe he wouldn''t be her pawn, her weapon. The thought of him trapped inside his own mind, fighting her control, is like a knife twisting in my chest.

    I want to scream, to let out all the rage and helplessness boiling inside me, but I can''t. Not here. Not with everyone else depending on me to keep it together. So I stay quiet, staring out at the rising sun like it has answers I''ll never find.

    "Red," Kylen''s voice cuts through the silence, steady but concerned.

    I glance back over my shoulder at him, just briefly. "What?"

    "You''ve been staring out there for a while," he says, his tone soft but pointed. "You okay?"

    I shake my head and turn back to the window. "No. I''m not."

    Kylen doesn''t push further, and I''m grateful for that. What could I even say? That I''m scared? That I''m angry? That seeing Domnik again feels like losing him all over again?

    The sun rises higher, its light spilling across the cabin and catching the reflections of my teammates. They''re all silent now, exhausted in their own ways, but I can feel the weight of their thoughts pressing against mine.

    I take a deep breath, trying to steady the storm inside me. Domnik''s voice echoes in my mind, fractured and desperate: "Red, please, help me..."

    "I will," I whisper, so low it''s barely audible over the hum of the helicopter. My fists clench tighter. "I''ll get you back, Domnik. I swear."

    The sun keeps climbing, indifferent to the chaos it illuminates. And for now, all I can do is stare, the fire in my chest burning hotter with every passing moment.

    -

    The helicopter touches down with a faint jolt, the hum of the rotors slowing as I slide the door open. The team files out, their boots crunching against the gravel of the deserted launch site.

    Kylen glances around, his expression tense. "Claire, why are we at my NASA property?"

    Claire doesn''t hesitate, already moving toward the gate. "Because this was the only place I could think of to build our new home away from home."

    Something feels off. There''s an unnatural stillness in the air, a silence that puts me immediately on edge. As Claire scans the perimeter, her brow furrows. "This is weird. No guards. No personnel. Nothing."

    Kat doesn''t wait for answers. She pulls her bow from her back and nocks an arrow, her movements sharp and deliberate.

    Keegan jogs to catch up, looking between us with confusion. "What''s going on? What''s with the weapons?"

    Kat takes a slow step forward, her eyes sweeping the shadows. "Claire, the gate''s unlocked."

    My gaze shifts to the launch site in the distance. A massive ship looms there, its silhouette stark against the early morning sky. "Is that what we''re here for?" I ask.

    Claire doesn''t answer right away. She stops mid-step, tilting her head slightly. "Do you hear that?"

    The tension in her voice sets my nerves on fire.

    Kat tightens her grip on her bow. "Yeah. We''re not alone. There''s something else here."

    "Military?" Alyse asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

    "Not sure," Claire replies, her hands glowing faintly green with poison energy. "Just keep your guard up."

    We move toward the main building, the uneasy silence following us. Inside, the darkness is suffocating, broken only by the faint glow of a computer terminal at the far end of the room. Claire heads straight for it, typing rapidly.

    "Watch my back," she says, her voice clipped. "You see that ship out there? That''s our space station." She points out the window, but her eyes stay on the screen.

    I take up position near the left-side door, scanning the shadows. Kat stands guard at the entrance we came through, her bow ready. The room feels like it''s holding its breath.

    "This place gives me the ick," Hail mutters, his voice low.

    "Tell me about it," Kylen agrees, his hand hovering near his weapon.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    "Almost done," Claire says, her fingers flying over the keys. "And... there. We have clearance to launch. They just need a name."

    She glances back at me, expectant.

    I think for a moment before replying. "K. For Knights."

    "Space Station K," Claire confirms, a small smile breaking the tension for a moment. "Let''s get out of here. This place gives me the ick too."

    Alyse chuckles softly, though her posture is still tense.

    We start toward the exit, but I hesitate at the threshold, glancing back into the room. Something''s wrong. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end.

    And then, a voice cuts through the silence like a knife.

    "Red..."

    I spin around just in time to see him-Dreadwind. He''s a massive figure in the darkness, his presence suffocating. The Darkblade gleams in his hand, catching the faint light of the terminal as he charges toward me.

    Before I can react, he swings the blade with brutal force. It connects with my side, the impact throwing me across the room. I crash into the wall, pain exploding through my body as I collapse to the ground.

    "Red!" Alyse''s voice is sharp with panic, and lightning crackles from her hands as she fires at him.

    Dreadwind sidesteps the attack effortlessly, raising a hand. A concussive blast of sound erupts from him, sending Alyse and the others flying through the doorway and into the pavement outside. The door slams shut behind them, sealing us in with a metallic hiss.

    "Time we had a chat," Dreadwind says, his voice deep and warped by Vermidia''s influence. "Just the two of us."

    I hear the pounding of fists on the door, muffled shouts from the team as they try to break in. But they''re locked out, and I''m on my own.

    Blood trickles from my side where the Darkblade struck me, warm and sticky beneath my fingers. I force myself to my feet, leaning on the wall for support.

    "What do you want?" I ask, my voice low and strained.

    Dreadwind tilts his head, a cruel smile spreading across his face. But it''s not really him-it''s her. Vermidia''s voice pours from his mouth like venom. "I''ve already found everything else I need. The last thing I want is that blade of yours. You''re going to give it to me."

    "Domnik, please," I say, desperation creeping into my voice. "Fight this. I can''t... I can''t kill you. I can''t lose you again."

    But there''s no recognition in his eyes, only the cold glow of Vermidia''s control.

    I draw the DragonsBreath, its familiar weight steadying me as I prepare for the fight of my life. My hand moves to activate the Madium armor at my ankle, but before I can, another wave of sound crashes into me, slamming me into the floor.

    Every bone in my body screams in protest, but I grit my teeth and push myself up. My vision blurs, but I can see Dreadwind advancing, the Darkblade raised for another strike.

    I tighten my grip on the DragonsBreath, the fire in my chest igniting despite the pain. If this is how it has to be, then so be it.

    "Let''s finish this," I growl, and the battle begins.

    "You always were stubborn."

    I don''t respond. There''s no point- Domnik isn''t in there. Not anymore.

    Dreadwind lunges, closing the distance between us with terrifying speed. The Darkblade comes down in a sweeping arc, its weight threatening to cleave me in two. I sidestep and counter, swinging the DragonsBreath upward. Our blades collide with a deafening clang, sparks erupting from the clash of madium.

    Before I can press the attack, he slams his free hand into my chest, releasing a concussive blast of sound. The force sends me skidding across the room, my back slamming into the wall. My vision blurs as the vibrations rattle through my body.

    I push off the wall, gritting my teeth. Flames coil around my hand as I thrust it forward, sending a roaring fireball in his direction. Dreadwind dodges, the flames licking the edge of his armor but not slowing him.

    "You''ll have to do better than that," he sneers, his voice carrying an unnatural resonance.

    He swings the Darkblade again, its edge trailing dark energy. I parry with the DragonsBreath, the force of the blow reverberating up my arm. I twist, pivoting to the side and slashing at his torso. The DragonsBreath grazes his armor, leaving a glowing scorch mark

    He growls and retaliates, this time unleashing another sound blast from his blade. The air ripples as the wave of energy rushes toward me. I roll to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack as the wall behind me crumbles from the impact.

    Focusing my energy, I channel fire into the DragonsBreath, the blade igniting with a fiery glow. I charge, slashing downward with all my strength.

    Dreadwind blocks, but the force of the attack drives him back a step.

    "Is this all you''ve got?" he taunts, but I can hear the strain in his voice.

    I summon more flames, letting them engulf my free hand. With a sharp motion, I hurl a stream of fire at his feet.

    The flames surge upward, forcing him to leap back.

    Seizing the opportunity, I rush forward, slamming the hilt of my sword into his gut. He stumbles, and I slash again, this time catching his arm. The Darkblade wavers in his grip, but he steadies himself and retaliates with a wild swing.

    The blade clips my shoulder, and pain flares as blood seeps into my armor. I grit my teeth, the heat of the

    DragonsBreath coursing through me as I swing again, aiming for his side.

    Dreadwind blocks and counters with a powerful soundwave, the force sending me crashing into the floor. I roll onto my back, gasping for air as the vibrations threaten to tear me apart.

    "Give up, Red," he says, looming over me. The Darkblade glows with dark energy, ready to strike. "You can''t save him. You never could."

    His words cut deeper than his blade ever could, but I push the doubt aside.

    With a roar, I slam my fist into the ground i, a wave of fire erupting outward.

    The flames surge around him, forcing him to retreat.

    I stagger to my feet, flames swirling around the DragonsBreath as I raise it once more. My body aches, every movement a struggle, but I can''t stop. I won''t.

    Dreadwind charges again, his blade a whirlwind of dark power. Our swords clash in a frenzy of strikes and counters, the room echoing with the sound of battle. I weave fire into my attacks, each swing of the DragonsBreath leaving trails of flame in its wake.

    He counters with sound, his blasts tearing through the air and forcing me to keep moving. But with each strike, each block, I see him falter.

    "This isn''t you, Domnik!" I shout, my voice hoarse. "You''re stronger than this! Fight her!"

    For a moment, his movements falter, the glow of Vermidia''s influence dimming in his eyes. But then, with a snarl, he slams the Darkblade into the ground, unleashing a shockwave that throws me across the room.

    I hit the wall hard, the DragonsBreath slipping from my grasp. Dreadwind stalks toward me, the Darkblade raised for the killing blow.

    "This ends now," he says, Vermidia''s voice echoing through him.

    Summoning the last of my strength, I raise my hand. Flames burst forth, engulfing him in a fiery explosion. The force of it sends both of us flying, the room shaking from the impact.

    I try to rise, but Dreadwind is already on me, his shadow eclipsing the faint light from the terminal. With a vicious thrust, the Darkblade plunges into my chest.

    A searing pain tears through me as the blade''s dark energy burns into my core.

    My ribs feel like they''re fracturing under the force, and my heart feels like it''s being squeezed by an invisible vice.

    "You should have killed me when you had the chance," Dreadwind says, his voice cold and venomous.

    He yanks the blade free, and a fresh wave of agony courses through me.

    Blood spills from the wound, soaking the floor beneath me. My hand instinctively moves to clutch my chest, but the damage is done.

    Before I can react, he grabs my wrist.

    His grip is like iron as he rips the Madium Claw from my hand, the device slipping free effortlessly. My body is too weak to resist, my vision swimming as I watch him place the claw over his own hand.

    Then he kneels, picking up the DragonsBreath from the floor beside me. The sight of him holding both the Claw and the blade-the weapons meant to protect our world-twists something deep inside me.

    "You were the last obstacle," he says, his tone laced with Vermidia''s cruel influence. "Now nothing stands in the way of my Spawn. They will spread unchecked, consuming this world and everything beyond."

    He steps closer, his silhouette looming over me as he tilts his head, letting Vermidia''s voice resonate through him.

    "The plan I enacted so many years ago is finally complete. Give Chronos my regards... and my good riddance."

    The weight of her words crushes me as much as the pain in my chest. I grip the wound, trying to hold myself together, but my strength is fading fast. My vision blurs, the world dimming around me.

    This can''t be the end. It can''t.

 Chapter 10

    ---Hail---

    I rear back and slam my fist into the frozen wall of metal, the force of my blow shattering it into countless shards.

    Ice and steel explode outward like jagged stars, clattering to the floor in a deafening crash.

    Alyse, Keegan, Kat, Claire, and Kylen rush in behind me, weapons raised, their eyes darting over the destruction. I step inside, my heart pounding as my gaze sweeps the room.

    "Red!" Alsye shouts before collapsing.

    Her knees hitting the cold floor as she buries her face in her hands. Her screams pierce the air, raw and filled with anguish. Kat and Keegan kneel beside her, their expressions stricken as they try to console her.

    Across the room, Claire and Kylen crouch over Red''s unmoving form.

    "Claire!" Kylen yells, his voice trembling.

    "I''m already on it!" Claire snaps, her voice steady but urgent. Her hands glow a radiant gold as she presses them against Red''s chest, her healing powers igniting over his torn body.

    "Fuck," she mutters through gritted teeth. "He''s alive, but just barely. Gods, this is going to take everything l''ve got."

    I step closer, my eyes scanning the wreckage. The air smells of blood and scorched metal. My chest tightens when I notice what''s missing.

    "He took it," I growl, my fists clenching at my sides. "The DragonsBreath is gone. Vermidia has everything she needed."

    Kylen looks up sharply, his face pale. "What do you mean, everything she needed?"

    I meet his gaze, my voice low and grim. "She''s going to do it. She''s going to resurrect Iridian."

    Kylen''s eyes widen in horror, his voice barely a whisper. "No..."

    Claire falters for a second, her glow dimming as the weight of my words hits her. Then she nods to Kylen. "Help me," she says softly.

    Kylen bends down and carefully lifts Red into his arms. Red looks so fragile, his body limp and covered in blood.

    Kylen carries him toward me, his face a mask of determination.

    Rage boils up inside me, a storm I can barely contain. I take a step forward, my voice cold and unyielding. "I''m going to find him, and I''m going to kill him."

    Kat stands, her bow in hand. "And how exactly are you going to do that? Even Red couldn''t kill Domnik."

    "Because he was holding back," I snap, my voice like ice.

    "I want him dead too-for this," Keegan says, his voice firm, but he looks at me with sharp eyes. "But we need to focus. Right now, we have to get out of here."

    A screeching sound echoes through the air, distant but growing louder. It''s a sound I know all too well.

    Everyone freezes, their heads turning toward the noise.

    "Spawn," I say, the word heavy in my throat. "They''re here to clean up the mess."

    "Then let''s move!" Kylen barks.

    Claire glances toward the window, where the space station looms in the distance. "We have to launch now, or we''re not getting out of here alive."

    I look back at the others. "Come on," I say, my voice steely. "Let''s get the fuck out of here before they rip us apart."

    -

    The screeching grows louder, cutting through the air like nails on steel. My heart pounds as I glance toward the horizon. Shadows writhe and twist in the distance-Spawn, dozens of them, maybe more, surging toward us in a relentless wave.

    "They''re closing in fast!" I yell, ice forming instinctively around my hands as I ready myself for the fight.

    Kylen, with Red limp in his arms, shifts his grip and grits his teeth. "Just keep them off me," he growls.

    "We will," Alyse says, stepping beside him. Lightning crackles at her fingertips, illuminating her determined face.

    "Let''s move!" Claire shouts, taking point and sprinting toward the launch site. The massive silhouette of the space station looms ahead, a promise of salvation if we can make it in time.

    The first wave of Spawn reaches us. They''re monstrous, twisted creatures with spindly limbs and razor-sharp claws. I throw my hand forward, a jagged spear of ice hurtling into one''s chest. It shrieks and crumples, but three more take its place.

    Keegan teleports in a blur, his batons flashing as he strikes another Spawn down. "We''ve got to pick up the pace!" he calls, flipping backward to avoid a swipe.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    "I''m trying!" Kylen snarls, his pace steady but slower than I''d like with Red''s weight dragging him down.

    "Then we''ll clear the way," Kat says, loosing an arrow that glows faintly with her energy. It pierces a Spawn''s head, dropping it instantly.

    The air grows thicker with their screeches as more pour out of the shadows. Alyse launches bolts of lightning, frying several Spawn in a single burst, but even more emerge, their claws glinting in the dim light.

    "They''re endless!" Claire shouts, her hands glowing green as she hurls toxic blasts at the advancing horde. "We''re not going to make it if we stop to fight every single one!"

    She''s right. We need to keep moving. I freeze the ground behind us, creating a slick barrier that sends a group of Spawn skidding and crashing into each other. "Go! I''ll hold them back!"

    "No!" Alyse shouts, firing another burst of lightning at a Spawn lunging for me. "We stick together, I''m not losing anyone else!"

    A Spawn leaps from the side, its claws reaching for Kylen and Red. I react without thinking, forming a wall of ice in an instant that it smashes into. It shrieks in frustration, but Kat puts an arrow through its head before it can recover.

    "I''ll give you that one," she says with a smirk, not breaking stride.

    The gate to the launch pad is just ahead, but the Spawn are closing in faster now, swarming from every direction. Keegan appears beside me, his batons flashing as he fends off another group. "This isn''t working!" he says. "We need a plan!"

    "I have one!" Claire yells, already at the gate''s control panel. Her fingers fly across the screen as she types furiously. "Get them inside-I''ll secure the launch pad!"

    A Spawn barrels toward her, but Alyse intercepts it with a bolt of lightning that sends it sprawling. "You good, Claire?"

    "Almost there!" she replies, slamming her fist against the terminal. The gate creaks open, the space station just beyond.

    "Go!" I shout, ice spreading across the ground to slow the Spawn''s advance.

    Kylen charges through the gate, Red still cradled in his arms, and the rest of us follow close behind. Claire types one last command, and the gate slams shut behind us with a resounding clang.

    The Spawn scream and claw at the barrier, their grotesque faces pressing against the metal.

    "We''re not safe yet," Claire says, her voice tight. "The station''s defenses won''t hold them forever. Get to the ship!"

    We sprint toward the towering space station, the screeches of the Spawn still echoing behind us. My lungs burn, my body screaming with exhaustion, but I push on. Red''s life depends on it.

    As we reach the entrance, Claire hits another terminal, opening the hatch. "Everyone inside, now!"

    Kylen enters first, carefully laying Red on the floor. Alyse follows, her hands still crackling with residual energy.

    I glance back at the gate. The metal groans under the weight of the Spawn, and I know it won''t last much longer.

    "Move!" Claire shouts, shoving me forward.

    We pile into the ship, the hatch slamming shut behind us. The sound of claws raking against metal fades as we''re sealed inside.

    Claire runs to the controls, her fingers flying over the keys. "Launching in thirty seconds-hold on to something!"

    I drop into a seat, my chest heaving as I catch my breath. We made it-for now.

    ---Alyse---

    The rumble of the engines roars through the cabin as the space station rockets off the launchpad. My heart slams against my ribs with each jolt, the force of acceleration pinning me back against the seat. I can feel Red''s head resting against my shoulder, his breathing shallow and uneven.

    I hold his hand tightly, my fingers trembling as I glance at Claire and Kylen across the cabin. They''re frantically checking monitors and control panels, making sure we''re not about to blow ourselves up. The rest of the team sits silently, strapped in and battered. No one speaks. No one dares to.

    "Come on, hold on," I whisper to Red, my voice shaking. His skin feels too cold, and the faint golden glow of Claire''s healing magic is fading from his wounds. It''s not enough.

    My mind races with everything that''s happened. Domnik-no, Dreadwind-plunging the Darkblade into Red. The screams. The chaos. Hail''s relentless fight to get us here. The Spawn clawing at our heels the whole way. And now this...this empty feeling, as if we''ve won a battle but lost everything that matters.

    The ship lurches violently, and my heart jumps into my throat. A sharp beeping fills the cabin, and Kylen''s voice cuts through the tension.

    "We''re clear. No sign of pursuit," he says, leaning back in his chair. His hands shake slightly, and his face is pale. "We''re in orbit."

    A heavy silence follows his words.

    Claire exhales sharply and swivels her chair to face me. "We need to get Red stabilized. Now."

    I nod, carefully shifting his weight as Claire rushes over. She kneels beside me, her hands already glowing again, but I can see the strain in her eyes.

    "I don''t know how much more I can do," Claire says softly, pressing her hands against Red''s chest. "That blade...it wasn''t just physical damage. It''s like it left a curse in him."

    "No." The word tumbles out of me before I even realize I''m speaking. "No, you can save him. You have to save him."

    Claire looks at me, and for a moment, I see the flicker of doubt in her expression. It crushes me.

    "Let her work," Hail says from across the cabin, his voice hard and clipped. He''s leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, but I can see the tension in his stance.

    I glance around the room. Kat sits with her head in her hands, silent for once. Keegan stares out the small window, his jaw tight. None of us looks like we belong here, like we''ve just escaped death and now find ourselves adrift, literally and figuratively.

    Red stirs faintly, a low groan escaping his lips. My head snaps back to him, hope blooming for a brief second.

    "Red?" I whisper, leaning closer.

    His eyes flutter open, just barely. "Alyse..." His voice is barely audible, rasping and broken.

    "I''m here," I say quickly, tears pooling in my eyes. "I''m right here."

    He tries to speak again, but his voice trails off, his eyelids falling shut.

    Claire pulls her hands back, the glow fading. "That''s all I''ve got for now. He''s stable, but just barely." She glances at Kylen. "Get him to the med bay. We''ll hook him up to the machines there, buy us more time."

    Kylen nods, gently lifting Red from the seat. He moves past me without a word, carrying Red like he weighs nothing.

    As the door to the med bay slides shut behind them, the tension in the room thickens.

    "We''re running out of time," Hail says flatly. "If Vermidia has what she needs, she''s already started preparing to resurrect Iridian."

    "And we''re stuck in space with nothing," Kat says bitterly, finally lifting her head. "What the hell are we supposed to do now?"

    Claire stands, brushing off her hands. "We''re not completely out of options," she says, walking to the console. "This station wasn''t just built as a safe haven. There''s tech here that might give us an edge."

    Her words hang in the air, and for the first time, I see a glimmer of hope in the others'' eyes.

    But I can''t focus on that. My gaze lingers on the door to the med bay, and all I can think about is Red lying in there, barely holding on.

    "Please," I whisper to no one in particular. "Don''t take him from me."

 Chapter 11

    The tension in the room is unbearable. Everyone is shouting over one another, their voices bouncing off the cold metal walls of the command center. Kat is pacing furiously, her boots echoing against the floor. Keegan leans against the far wall, arms crossed, trying to keep his frustration in check, while Claire stands at the console, her fingers twitching as if she''s resisting the urge to slam it.

    Hail stands near the doorway, his eyes burning with fury. He hasn''t stopped glaring at the holographic map of Earth displayed in the center of the room. It shows the spread of Vermidia''s Spawn like an infection, the red zones growing larger by the hour.

    "We can''t just rush in blind!" Claire shouts, slamming her hands on the console. "We need a plan, or we''ll all end up dead!"

    "There''s no time for plans!" Hail fires back, his voice like a thunderclap. "Every second we waste, Vermidia gets stronger!"

    "And what''s your brilliant idea?" Kat snaps. "Go charging in there alone and hope for the best?"

    "Maybe I will!" Hail growls, his fists clenching.

    "That''s enough!" I shout, my voice cutting through the chaos. Everyone stops, turning to look at me. I feel the weight of their stares, but I don''t care. My hands are trembling, but I ball them into fists and step forward.

    "Have all of you forgotten something?" I ask, my voice cold. "Dreadwind didn''t just try to kill us. He kidnapped Dylan."

    Keegan straightens from the wall, his jaw tightening. "No one''s forgotten that," he says quietly.

    "Really?" I say, shaking my head. "Because it sure sounds like you have. You''re all so focused on Vermidia''s next move, but before we do anything, we need to get Dylan back."

    There''s a heavy silence, broken only by the hum of the ship''s systems.

    Hail steps forward, his expression hard but his voice softer than I expected. "Alyse is right," he says, though the words sound like they cost him. "They wanted him alive for a reason. We need to figure out what that reason is."

    "What could they possibly want him for?" I ask, my voice cracking. "Why take him and not just..." I trail off, unable to finish the sentence.

    No one answers. The silence stretches on, oppressive and suffocating.

    Claire finally speaks, her voice hesitant. "He''s powerful," she says. "But so are we. Why him? Why now?"

    "I don''t know," Keegan admits, rubbing the back of his neck. "But it''s not like Vermidia does anything without a reason. Whatever it is, it can''t be good."

    "Fuck it, it doesn''t matter why they took him," Hail snaps, his voice rising again. "What matters is that we get him back. And when we do, I''m going to make Domnik and his mother pay for everything they''ve done."

    "Hail," Claire says, her tone cautious. "We all want revenge, but we can''t let it cloud our judgment."

    "My judgment is just fine," Hail says sharply, his eyes blazing. "I''m not going to sit around and play chess while they have Dylan, not after what they did to Red, to my-." Hail pauses as if he''s about to go into his family again, his sister, Mia, Eluna, Zen, hell even his father Chronos Magnus, but he doesn''t. He just stands there and shakes his head. "I''ll find Domnik, and I''ll kill him. Then I''ll deal with Vermidia."

    "Hail-" Keegan starts, but Hail cuts him off with a glare.

    "I''m not waiting," Hail says firmly. "We can''t afford to. Every second we hesitate, Dylan is suffering."

    I look at him, trying to meet his eyes. "And what if we lose someone else because of your recklessness?" I ask, my voice quiet but steady.

    Hail''s jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think he might snap back. But instead, he turns away, his shoulders tense.

    "We won''t," he says finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

    The room falls silent again, the weight of our uncertainty pressing down on all of us.

    "Then we start with finding Dylan," Claire says finally, her voice firm. "But we do it smart. We''re no good to him if we''re dead."

    Everyone nods, though the tension between Hail and the rest of us lingers like a storm cloud. I glance at the holographic map, my chest tightening. Dylan is out there, somewhere, and I can''t shake the feeling that we''re running out of time.

    ---Dylan---

    The chains dig into my wrists, cold and unyielding. My arms ache from being suspended for so long, and the rough edges of the metal cuffs bite into my skin every time I move. I hang in the dim chamber, the air thick with the smell of burnt metal and something rancid that stings my nose. The faint hum of machinery vibrates through the walls, like a countdown ticking toward something I can''t stop.

    I keep my head down, my breaths shallow, pretending to be more broken than I feel. But I''m listening.

    "Everything is in place," Vermidia''s voice echoes across the room, smooth and sharp like a blade. "The Crux of Amerei, the Heart of Iridian, and now the DragonsBreath. It''s taken a century of planning, but the pieces have finally aligned. All we need now is the solar storm."

    "Which is mere hours away," Domnik replies. I hear the smug satisfaction in his voice, and it makes my blood boil.

    "Indeed," Vermidia says, her tone dripping with pride. "Once the storm hits, its energy will amplify the machine beyond anything this world has ever seen. Iridian will rise again, stronger than ever. His power will eclipse even the gods."

    "Your name will be etched in history," Domnik says, his voice reverent. "The one who brought Iridian back to claim his throne. And mine," he adds, his tone laced with arrogance. "The slayer of the Scarlet Phoenix."

    Red.

    The name hits me like a knife to the chest. My breath catches, and my vision blurs as the words sink in. No. No, that''s not possible.

    "He fought valiantly," Domnik continues, as if to twist the blade. "But in the end, he was just another mortal."Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    I feel like I''m drowning, the air stolen from my lungs. Red... is gone?

    My arms shake against the chains, and a ragged breath escapes me, drawing their attention.

    "Oh, he''s awake," Vermidia says, amusement in her voice. Her heels click against the floor as she strides toward me. I lift my head, glaring at her through the haze of my grief and fury.

    "You''re lying," I spit, my voice raw. "He''s not dead."

    She crouches in front of me, her face inches from mine. Her smile is venomous, her eyes gleaming with dark delight. "Oh, but he is, dear boy. And you''ll join him soon enough. But first," she leans closer, "you''re going to help me." her finger brushing across my cheek.

    "Help you?" I snarl. "I''d rather die you dumb broad!"

    Her laughter echoes through the chamber, cold and hollow. "That''s the idea," she says.

    Domnik steps forward, his expression unreadable. "Are you sure he''ll survive long enough?" he asks, gesturing to me.

    "That''s the fun part, isn''t it?" Vermidia says with a smirk. "Will the mighty Astralis burn out, or will he endure?"

    She stands and paces slowly, her voice carrying across the room like a dirge. "Your powers, Dylan, are a conduit for cosmic energy. The perfect channel for the storm''s power. When the solar storm strikes, I''ll use you to funnel its energy into the machine. Your pain will be... exquisite."

    I lunge against the chains, blue light igniting in my hands despite the restraints. "You''ll never get away with this!"

    She turns, unimpressed, and flicks her wrist. A wave of force slams into me, pinning me back against the wall. My light fizzles out as pain ripples through my body.

    "Oh, Dylan," she says, her voice mockingly sweet. "You really don''t have a choice."

    Domnik watches in silence, his gaze briefly meeting mine.

    "You won''t win," I hiss through clenched teeth.

    Vermidia laughs again, turning back to her machine. "Oh, but I already have."

    ---Keegan---

    Red''s chest rises and falls, but it''s too shallow for my comfort. The medbay lights hum softly, their glow reflecting off the bandages wrapped tightly across his torso. His face is pale, but at least he''s alive. I kneel beside him, my voice barely a whisper.

    "You really got yourself messed up this time," I mutter, brushing a hand through my hair. "Not that it''s new for you, huh?"

    Silence fills the room, broken only by the quiet beeping of monitors. I lean closer, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I get it now, you know? Why you didn''t tell me about him. My dad, I mean." My voice cracks, and I let out a bitter laugh. "You were trying to protect me, weren''t you? From what I''d find out. From what it would do to me."

    I glance down at my hands, flexing my fingers. "I hated you for it. For keeping it from me. But I think... I think I forgive you now. Not that you can hear me, unconscious and all."

    The sound of footsteps pulls me from my thoughts. I look over my shoulder to see Hail leaning casually in the doorway, arms crossed. His silver hair is disheveled, and his piercing eyes seem heavier than usual.

    "Stop brooding," he says with a sigh, shaking his head.

    I snort. "You''re one to talk."

    Hail lets out a low chuckle, surprising me. "Fair point," he admits.

    I stand, folding my arms. "What''s the plan, boss?" I ask, my tone light but not entirely joking.

    "Don''t call me that," Hail says immediately, shaking his head. "I''m not the leader. Not even close. Red might be down for the count, but that doesn''t mean it''s me."

    Before I can respond, a chorus of voices fills the room as the rest of the team gathers behind him. Claire pushes past Hail, her eyes blazing.

    "You need to stop saying that, Hail," she says firmly. "You''re not fooling anyone. You''re the one holding us together right now, whether you like it or not."

    "Yeah," Kat chimes in, leaning on the doorway with her arms crossed. "You''ve got more experience with Vermidia than any of us. You should be the one leading us into this."

    "You''d be great if you stopped drinking and blinding yourself with revenge," Claire adds, her tone blunt but not unkind.

    Hail scowls at her, but there''s no real bite to it. Alyse steps up next, her voice softer but no less determined. "She''s right. You''ve been through hell, Hail, but you''re the best shot we''ve got right now."

    Kylen nods in agreement, though he stays silent.

    Hail exhales slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. I can see the conflict in his eyes-he doesn''t want to admit we''re right, but deep down, he knows it.

    Finally, he straightens up, his jaw set. "Fine," he mutters. "I''ll stop drinking. I''ll stop letting revenge blind me. But this isn''t about me being a leader. This is about us stopping Vermidia, and that''s the only thing that matters."

    "What''s the move, then?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

    Hail''s expression hardens. "We need to find Dylan. Wherever he is, Vermidia will be close." His voice drops, a cold edge creeping into it. "We''ll kill two birds with one stone."

    The weight of his words settles over the room. There''s no cheering, no argument, just grim determination. We all know what''s at stake, and we''re ready to see this through, no matter what it costs.

    -

    ---Kat---

    The view through the massive observation window is breathtaking-Earth spinning slowly below, the darkness of space stretching infinitely around us-but I can''t enjoy it. My mind races as Claire explains her idea, her hands moving animatedly in the air.

    "We can use satellites to track gravitational anomalies," she says. "Dylan''s powers always leave a trail of distortions, especially when they''re being used intensely. If we overlay that data with the dark void signatures we picked up from the Madium samples, we might be able to pinpoint where Vermidia is keeping him."

    I tilt my head, impressed despite the tension. "That''s genius," I admit.

    Claire flashes a quick smile and rushes over to her console. Her fingers fly across the keys, data streaming across the holographic screens. I glance at Hail, who''s leaning against the wall, arms crossed. He looks calm, but I know better-it''s the kind of calm that hides a storm.

    A moment later, Claire lets out a frustrated groan. "No, no, no! The solar storm-how did I forget?" She smacks her forehead. "The storm''s electromagnetic interference is throwing off my satellites. I can''t get a clear reading!"

    I step closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, we''ll figure it out."

    Claire turns to face the group, her expression riddled with guilt. "Maybe coming here was a mistake," she says softly. "I wasn''t thinking clearly. I just knew we had to get somewhere safe, but now the storm could seriously hurt us, and I don''t know if the shielding here is strong enough to withstand it."

    "It''s fine," Hail says, his voice steady. "You made the best call you could at the time. The question is, where do we go now? If Earth isn''t safe because of the Spawn, we need another option."

    "The Bridge Lab," Kylen suggests. "It''s isolated enough, and if the military hasn''t already overrun the place looking for us, we might stand a chance."

    "It''s a risk," Hail acknowledges, "but it''s one we''ll have to take if we want to survive this storm and find Dylan."

    Claire nods, a glimmer of hope returning to her eyes. "The lab has other tech I can use-stuff I didn''t have time to set up here. It might give us another shot at tracking him."

    "Indiana, then," Keegan says, his tone resolute. "We''re heading to the lab."

    Claire points toward the far hallway. "There''s a lander in the docking bay. It''s small, but it''ll get us back to the surface."

    Before anyone can move, a groggy voice cuts through the air. "Indiana? Why... are we going back to Indiana?"

    We all turn to see Red sitting up, his face pale and his movements sluggish. Claire is the first to rush over to him, her hands glowing golden as she stabilizes him with her powers. Alyse follows close behind, tears of joy in her eyes.

    "Easy, Red," she says. "You''re in no shape to be moving around, let alone fighting."

    Red shakes his head, his gaze darting between all of us. "What happened? The last thing I remember..." He trails off, his eyes narrowing as memories resurface. "Dreadwind. He took the DragonsBreath. He''s with her now, isn''t he?"

    "Yeah," Hail says bluntly. "We''ll fill you in on the details later, but right now, you need to rest. You''re too weak to go anywhere."

    "I''m coming with you," Red says firmly, his voice hoarse but determined.

    "You''re not in any condition-" Hail starts.

    "I don''t care," Red interrupts. "Even if I can''t fight, I can still help. Guide you. Advise you. Whatever it takes."

    Claire sighs, her hands glowing once more as she channels more energy into Red. "This is the last boost I can give you for a while," she warns. "You''ll be strong enough to walk, but you''re staying in the lander once we''re on the ground. Got it?"

    Red nods, though the defiance in his eyes says he''ll do what he wants when the time comes.

    Hail shakes his head but doesn''t argue further. "Fine," he mutters. "But don''t push it, Red. We can''t afford to lose you again."

    The group exchanges a look-silent but unified. There''s no room for doubt now. We''re all in this together, every step of the way.

 Chapter 12

    ---Red---

    The lander shakes violently as it breaks through Earth''s atmosphere, the roar of turbulence making it impossible to hear anything but my own thoughts. My body aches with every bump and jolt, a grim reminder that I''m barely hanging on.

    I grip the seat tightly, keeping my breathing steady. Around me, the team is tense, each of them locked in their own thoughts. Alyse stares out the window, her brows furrowed, while Kat holds onto Keegan, who fiddles with the blade of one of his daggers, his leg bouncing restlessly. Claire''s eyes are glued to her tablet, her fingers flying across its surface as she works. Hail, sitting closest to the cockpit, leans forward, watching Kylen pilot the ship with a surprising level of focus for someone who''s only ever flown a helicopter. Maybe it''s similar in a way?

    The lander steadies as we descend. Ahead, I see the Bridge Lab-a massive, isolated structure surrounded by dense forest. But even from up here, I can see the Spawn. They swarm like ants, crawling over the building and spilling into the surrounding area.

    "We''ve got company," Hail mutters.

    "No kidding," Keegan says, already strapping on his weapons.

    The moment we touch down, the hatch hisses open, and the chaos begins.

    I stumble out of the lander, leaning heavily on Kylen for support. His ward shimmers around us, forming a protective barrier as the rest of the team charges forward. Claire''s green poison flashes, cutting through the horde with precision, while Alyse sends arcs of lightning through the air, her strikes splitting the ground beneath the Spawn. Keegan moves like a shadow, his daggers slashing and spinning in a blur of motion.

    Kat is a force of her own, her arrows striking true with every shot. But it''s Hail who draws the most attention, his sword of ice carving through the monsters like they''re nothing. His movements are relentless, fueled by a quiet rage that burns brighter with every swing.

    "Stay close to me," Kylen says, his voice steady despite the chaos. He raises his arm, and the ward expands outward, pushing a group of Spawn back as they try to flank us.

    I nod, gritting my teeth as another wave of pain shoots through my chest. I want to fight. Every fiber of my being screams to grab a weapon and help, but I know I''d only slow them down. For now, staying alive is the best I can do.

    The battle rages on, each of them pushing closer to the lab''s entrance. Finally, the last Spawn falls, dissolving into black smoke that dissipates into the air.

    Inside the lab, it''s eerily quiet. The sterile white walls and rows of equipment feel like a world away from the chaos we just escaped.

    Claire doesn''t waste a second, rushing to one of the consoles and plugging in her tablet. Data streams across the screen as she begins her search. "Give me a few minutes," she says, her voice sharp with focus.

    Alyse paces near the door, her hands clenched into fists. "What if he''s-"

    "He''s fine," Hail interrupts, his tone softer than usual. "We''ll find him, Alyse."

    She gives him a doubtful look but doesn''t argue.

    Kylen, meanwhile, wanders deeper into the lab. He stops suddenly, staring at a console covered in notes and blueprints. His eyes widen. "He actually did it."

    "Did what?" I ask, moving to stand beside him.

    Kylen''s voice rises, filled with awe. "Dylan got the portal to full power. It''s complete-it should work perfectly."

    "That''s great and all," Alyse says sarcastically, her arms crossed, "but how exactly is a portal supposed to help us find him?"

    Claire looks up from her tablet, a triumphant smile on her face. "It''ll help because we can use it to get to him."

    We all exchange confused looks.

    Claire taps her screen, projecting a map into the air. "Dylan''s energy signature isn''t on Earth. He''s in a weird pocket dimension-a space where the line between Naurus and Earth is at its thinnest. Vermidia must''ve created it. That''s where she''s been hiding this whole time and it''s where she''s been keeping him."

    A chill runs through me. "Can you pinpoint his exact location?"

    "Already did," Claire says, uploading the coordinates to the portal frame. "Now we just need to activate it."

    I step back, my mind spinning. A pocket dimension? Vermidia''s power and ambition seem to know no bounds. But if this portal is our way in, then we''ve got our path forward.

    "Let''s go get him," I say, the fire of determination burning in my chest despite the pain.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    The others nod in agreement, and for the first time in what feels like forever, there''s a glimmer of hope.

    The glow of the portal pulses through the room, its energy vibrating in my chest like a heartbeat. For a moment, the chaos of the past few days fades, replaced by sheer awe. Dylan, you absolute madman. You really pulled it off.

    "God damn, Dylan, you mad genius," Kylen says, breaking the silence. "You actually fucking did it."

    Alyse smirks, the tension lifting from her face just a little. "Jealous my boyfriend figured it out before you, Kylen?"

    Kylen nods without hesitation, his grin sheepish. "Yeah, a little bit. I won''t lie."

    I almost smile, but the moment doesn''t last. A shadow moves at the edge of the room, and then the unmistakable hiss of Spawn fills the air.

    The first wave spills in from the portal-twisted forms with sharp claws and glowing, hollow eyes. The sight snaps me back to reality, the ache in my body replaced by adrenaline.

    "Here we go again," Hail mutters, drawing his sword of ice. He doesn''t even wait for a plan, charging forward to meet the Spawn head-on.

    The others spring into action, their movements sharp and efficient. Lightning crackles from Alyse''s hands, and Keegan moves like a phantom, his daggers flashing in the dim light. Kylen''s ward expands across the room, forcing the Spawn to recoil momentarily, and Claire''s green blasts punch through their ranks with precision while Kat fires a volley of arrows.

    I step forward, but Hail''s voice stops me. "Stay back, Red. Hide while we deal with this."

    I grit my teeth, frustration boiling in my chest. "There''s no way I''m letting you fight Vermidia alone."

    Hail spins to face me, his expression dark. "You''re in no shape to fight-"

    "I''m not asking for permission," I snap. Before he can argue, I summon the Madium armor. The metal crawls from the bracelet on my ankle, encasing me in its familiar weight. Strength courses through me as the armor locks into place, dulling the pain in my body.

    "Get me to the DragonsBreath," I say, my voice steady. "Its power should be enough to keep me going."

    Hail stares at me for a long moment before exhaling sharply. "Fuck it. I knew you wouldn''t take no for an answer." He steps closer, gripping his sword tightly. "Just stay close. We make it through this together."

    "Deal."

    Hail raises his voice, cutting through the chaos. "We''re going through that portal! Everyone, cut us a path!"

    The others barely hesitate. Claire throws herself into the fray with renewed intensity, her green poison cleaving through the horde. Alyse and Kylen coordinate their attacks, her lightning weaving through his ward like a deadly dance. Keegan moves like a blur, his strikes silent and deadly, while Kat''s arrows find their marks with pinpoint precision.

    "Go!" Keegan shouts, slicing down a Spawn that lunges for him.

    Hail and I push forward, his icy blade carving through the creatures while my fists, wrapped in Madium, smash through anything that gets too close. My legs ache with every step, but I force myself to keep moving. I can''t stop now.

    "Almost there!" Hail yells.

    The portal''s glow intensifies as we near it, but the Spawn don''t let up. They''re endless, pouring out like a living tide, determined to block our path.

    "Cover them!" Claire orders, throwing up a barrier of golden light to hold the Spawn back for just a moment longer.

    The opening is there-a narrow path leading straight to the portal. Hail doesn''t hesitate, grabbing my arm and dragging me through as the team fights to keep the horde at bay.

    I look back just once, catching a glimpse of Alyse and Kylen standing side by side, their powers tearing through the Spawn as they fight to protect us. Keegan is a shadow in the chaos, while Claire holds her ground, a pillar of light against the dark. Kat breaks into multiple versions of herself, drawing as much attention as possible. The team I created, all standing together at the end.

    "Go!" Alyse screams, her voice cutting through the noise.

    And then we''re through.

    The portal''s energy wraps around us, pulling us into a swirling void of light and shadow. My stomach lurches, and for a moment, I feel like I''m falling.

    But when my feet touch solid ground again, I know there''s no turning back.

    Hail tightens his grip on his sword, his expression grim. "Let''s finish this."

    I nod, my fists clenching. "For Dylan."

    The air is heavy, oppressive, as my breath catches in my throat. An endless expanse of grass stretches out before us, bathed in an eerie purple glow. Above, the sky churns-a swirling mass of dark violet clouds with streaks of fiery orange-red light cutting through. My eyes lock on the castle in the distance, its jagged spires carved in a grotesque likeness of Vermidia. It''s as if the whole dimension was built to reflect her nightmare.

    Then I see him.

    Dylan.

    He floats in the air, his body writhing as a blinding orange-red light descends from the heavens and envelops him. The light burns around him, chaining down into a monstrous machine on the ground below, its gears and conduits glowing with unnatural energy. Dylan''s screams pierce the silence, his eyes glowing a vivid, unnatural purple.

    "By the gods," I mutter, my voice barely audible over the chaos. My heart sinks at the sight. Dylan-one of my best friends-reduced to this.

    "They''re using him as a conduit for the machine." Hail''s voice is low and filled with fury. "Red, we have to stop this."

    I clench my fists, my Madium armor tightening around me as if it shares my rage. "Agreed."

    We take a step forward, but then he turns.

    Dreadwind.

    Domnik.

    He stands between us and the machine, his back straight and his head high, as if he''s proud of the horror unfolding before him. Slowly, he turns to face us, his face calm and calculating, the faintest hint of a smirk playing at his lips.

    "I knew you two would be showing up sooner or later," he says, his voice smooth, almost amused. "Come to finish this, I assume?"

    Hail steps forward, his ice blade gleaming in the dim light. "Red," he says, his voice steady and grim, "we have one shot at this. Let''s make every blow count."

    I nod, my muscles tensing. "Yeah." But even as I speak, doubt creeps into my mind. Can I do it? Can I really bring myself to end Domnik?

    Because no matter what he''s done, no matter how far he''s fallen... he was my best friend. This isn''t even him in control, it''s his psychotic mother.

    Domnik''s smirk widens as he watches us, the Darkblade resting casually in his hand. "Come then," he says, gesturing for us to approach. "Show me the strength you think you have left."

    Hail glances at me, his eyes blazing with determination. "Stay focused, Red."

    I nod again, trying to shake the hesitation. Because this isn''t about Domnik anymore. It''s about Dylan. And I''ll do whatever it takes to save him.

    Even if it means facing the one person I never wanted to fight.

 Chapter 13

    "Would you look at that. Right on cue," Vermidia''s voice echoes, serpentine and sharp, as she steps from the shadows. Her form is sleek and menacing, her dark void blade glinting with an unnatural sheen as she twirls it casually in her hands. That grin-crooked, chilling-spreads across her face like a predator sizing up its prey. "Red Smith. Of course, I expected you. I had my doubts about Domnik-whether he had the guts to truly finish you off, even under my control. But Hail... Magnus," she purrs, her tone shifting to mocking awe. "To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"

    Hail tightens his grip on his icy blade, his knuckles whitening. His voice is low and venomous. "I''ve spent the last six years hunting you. Six years dreaming of this moment. You''re going to pay-for Mia, for my father, for Eluna, for Zen."

    Vermidia laughs, a rich and venomous sound. "Such wasted effort. And yet, here you are-the boy I spared." Her grin widens, her voice dripping with derision. "I showed you mercy that day, Hail. Mercy. How dare you squander my gift. Poor Mia... she truly died for nothing, didn''t she?"

    Hail freezes for half a heartbeat, and I feel the temperature around us plummet. "Hail, don''t let her get to you," I urge, stepping forward. "We have to stay focused. We need to shut down that machine and get Dylan the hell out of here-"

    But my words fall on deaf ears. Hail explodes, his rage boiling over. "You keep her name out of your fucking mouth!" he roars, charging Vermidia with his blade raised.

    Vermidia vanishes into the void with a flicker, and I hear the sharp clash of Hail''s ice blade meeting Domnik''s Darkblade.

    "Round three, then," Domnik says, his voice cold and deliberate. I don''t know what he means, but the weight in his tone unsettles me.

    "Hail, keep them busy!" I shout, though I know he can''t hear me over his fury. "I''ll handle the machine."

    I sprint past the chaos, hand clutching my chest as the ache grows worse with each step. The machine looms before me, an unholy tangle of gears and glowing conduits. Dylan floats above it, his body twisting in agony as the chains of solar light tighten around him, feeding energy into the monstrous contraption below.

    "I''m going to get you out of this," I whisper, though I''m not sure if I''m speaking to Dylan or to myself.

    My eyes dart over the machine''s components until they land on it-the DragonsBreath. Its fiery hilt gleams at the machine''s core, its blade piercing through the Amerei Crux, a sphere of Madium that glows faintly with an unnatural pulse. At the center of the Crux is a small, beating heart.

    Without hesitation, I grab the hilt of the DragonsBreath and yank it free. The machine groans as the blade slides out, and in that instant, Dylan falls to the ground, gasping for air as the chains of solar light dissolve around him.

    "Dylan!" I shout, running to him.

    His head snaps up, his face pale and streaked with pain. "Red?" His voice is hoarse, but his lips curl into a faint smirk. "You''re alive? You''re fucking Pope, I swear."

    Despite everything, I can''t help but smile as I extend a hand to pull him up. "Come on, Dylan. How do we stop this thing?"

    His expression darkens. "You don''t," he says, shaking his head. "You''ve already tried everything. Nothing works."

    I blink at him in confusion. "What the hell are you talking about?"

    He taps his temple. "Future sight, remember? I''ve seen it. You can''t stop it-not like this."

    "Then what do we do?"

    "You have to kill Vermidia," he says, his voice grim. "Her power''s the key. You''ve got about twenty minutes before it''s too late. If you fail, Iridian comes back, and we all get sent straight back to the lobby."

    I stare at him, baffled. "What does that even-"

    He cuts me off with a weak laugh. "Trust me, Red. Whatever Vermidia says, don''t fight Hail. Fight with him. That''s the only way we win this."

    I hesitate. "What do you mean-"

    "Trust me!" Dylan shouts, his voice cracking with urgency.

    Before I can respond, his eyes widen. "Look out!"

    I spin around just as Vermidia materializes from the void, her blade slashing toward me. I raise the DragonsBreath, and its flames roar to life, meeting her strike with a fiery clash.

    "Dylan, get the hell out of here!" I yell. "The team''s waiting on the other side of the portal!"

    He hesitates for a moment, then nods and takes off, his steps uneven but determined.

    Vermidia watches him go with a sneer. "Saving your friend. How noble. If only you could have saved Domnik, too."

    Her words slice through me, but I grit my teeth and hold my ground. "Shut up and fight me."

    Her grin widens. "With pleasure."

    And then the duel begins.

    Vermidia lunges, her dark void blade slicing through the air with a haunting whistle. I parry with the DragonsBreath, its fiery edge roaring to life as our swords clash. Sparks fly, and the force of her strike nearly knocks me off balance, but I hold firm, digging my heels into the ground.

    "Not bad, little Smith," she sneers, twisting her blade to lock mine in place. "But fire burns out faster than you think."

    I push back, breaking the lock and spinning away, using the momentum to unleash a wave of fire from my blade. The flames rush toward her in a blazing arc, but Vermidia merely smirks. With a flick of her wrist, she summons a shadowy tendril from the ground, which rises and absorbs the flames, extinguishing them like a candle in the wind.

    "You''ll have to do better than that," she taunts, stepping through the dissipating embers.

    She strikes again, her void blade cutting a dark streak through the air. I sidestep, narrowly avoiding the blow, and counter with a fiery thrust. Vermidia parries effortlessly, spinning her blade around mine and forcing me back.

    Then she raises her free hand, and the ground beneath me trembles. Shadowy tendrils burst from the earth, writhing and lashing out like living whips. I leap backward, slashing at them with the DragonsBreath, its flames carving through the dark appendages with ease.

    "Not bad yourself," I say, trying to keep my breathing steady. "But shadows fade in the light."

    Vermidia laughs, low and mocking. "Is that what you think?"

    Before I can reply, she disappears into the void, her form dissolving into swirling darkness. My eyes dart around the battlefield, searching for any sign of her. The air feels heavier, charged with malevolent energy.

    "Behind you," her voice whispers, echoing from all directions.

    I spin around just in time to block her blade as she materializes, her attack coming down with bone-shattering force. The impact sends a shockwave rippling through the air, and I stagger back, my arms trembling from the effort of holding her off.

    I don''t give her a chance to press the advantage. Summoning all the fire I can muster, I slam the DragonsBreath into the ground, sending a wave of flames outward in a fiery explosion. Vermidia shields herself with a wall of shadow, but the sheer heat forces her to retreat a step.

    "Getting tired?" I ask, forcing a grin despite the pounding in my chest.

    She narrows her eyes, her grin fading. "Hardly."

    She charges again, faster this time, her movements a blur. I barely manage to block her first strike, and the second comes at my side, forcing me to twist and counter. Her void blade crackles with dark energy, and every clash sends jolts up my arm.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    I see an opening and take it, slashing low with the DragonsBreath. Flames streak from the blade, catching the edge of her cloak and burning it away. Vermidia hisses in annoyance, retreating for a moment before raising both hands.

    The ground beneath me shifts again, this time erupting with dozens of tendrils. They wrap around my legs and arms, pulling me down. I struggle, flames flickering around me as I slash at them, but more rise to take their place.

    Vermidia steps closer, her blade poised to strike. "You should have stayed dead, Red."

    Summoning every ounce of strength, I let out a roar, channeling fire through my entire body. The tendrils burst into flames, disintegrating in an instant. I rise to my feet, DragonsBreath blazing brighter than ever.

    "Funny," I say, panting. "I was just about to say the same to you."

    This time, I''m the one who charges. I slash at her with a flurry of fiery strikes, pushing her back with each blow. Vermidia blocks and counters with a precision that''s almost inhuman, her void blade meeting mine in a deadly dance.

    She ducks under one of my swings and counters with a slash aimed at my side. I twist away, but not fast enough-her blade grazes me, leaving a searing cold that bites into my skin. I grit my teeth, ignoring the pain, and retaliate with a blast of fire straight at her chest.

    The flames connect, and Vermidia stumbles, her cloak smoldering. But she doesn''t fall. Instead, she snarls and plunges her blade into the ground. Shadows explode outward, forcing me to shield myself with the DragonsBreath.

    "You''re resilient, I''ll give you that," she says, her voice dripping with venom. "But this ends now."

    She raises her hand, and a massive tendril erupts from the ground, heading straight for me. I dodge, rolling to the side, and hurl a fireball at her in response. She deflects it with her blade, the flames scattering harmlessly.

    Our blades meet again, the clash echoing across the endless plain. She''s faster, stronger, but I refuse to back down. I can feel the heat of the DragonsBreath pulsing through me, urging me forward.

    I let out a battle cry, swinging with all my might. Vermidia blocks, but the force of the blow drives her back. Her grin falters for the first time.

    "Not bad," she admits, her voice low. "But not enough."

    We circle each other, both breathing heavily, both refusing to give an inch. This fight isn''t over-not yet.

    The battlefield vanishes in a swirl of shadows, the world around me dissolving into black nothingness. My stomach lurches as the ground disappears beneath my feet, and I fall, tumbling through a void of twisting, writhing shadows.

    "What the-" I begin, but my words are swallowed by the oppressive silence.

    Then, with a sickening jolt, I land on solid ground. I stagger to my feet, DragonsBreath still in my hand, its fire flickering weakly in the suffocating darkness.

    "Welcome, Red," Vermidia''s voice echoes, her tone cold and serpentine. "To my domain." She whispers in my ear, her breath on my neck.

    The shadows shift, peeling back like curtains to reveal a warped version of my past. I''m standing in my childhood home, but it''s wrong. The walls are cracked and scorched, the air heavy with the acrid smell of smoke. The furniture is overturned, and the faint sound of crying echoes in the distance.

    "What is this?" I demand, turning in place.

    Vermidia steps out of the shadows, her void blade gone, replaced by an air of smug control. "Your mind, twisted and laid bare. Fear is such a wonderful tool, isn''t it? Let''s see what makes you tick, little Smith."

    The scene shifts violently. I''m no longer in my childhood home-I''m in the aftermath of a battle. The air is thick with ash, the ground littered with bodies. My friends-Hail, Alyse, Kylen, Claire, Kat, Keegan and Dylan-they''re all here, broken and lifeless. Their eyes stare up at me, empty and accusing.

    "No," I whisper, my knees threatening to buckle. "This isn''t real."

    "But it could be," Vermidia whispers, appearing beside me. Her voice is soft, almost kind, but her words cut like glass. "This is what happens when you fail. When your fire burns out. When you let them down."

    "I won''t let that happen," I snap, gripping the DragonsBreath tighter.

    Vermidia chuckles, a low, hollow sound. "Won''t you? You couldn''t save your parents. And what about Domnik? You''re always just a step too late, Red. Always."

    The shadows twist again, and I''m back in the pocket dimension, watching as Dylan floats above the machine. He screams in agony, the solar chains pulling tighter around him. I try to move, to help him, but my legs won''t respond.

    "Stop it!" I shout, my voice cracking.

    Vermidia steps in front of me, her grin widening. "This is who you are. Weak. Powerless. A child playing with fire, always getting burned."

    Her words sting, but I force myself to focus. This isn''t real. This is her mindscape. Her tricks. I close my eyes, gripping the DragonsBreath so hard that my knuckles ache.

    "You think you can scare me?" I say, my voice trembling but resolute. "You don''t know me."

    "Oh, but I do," Vermidia purrs, her voice wrapping around me like a vice. "I know your fear of failure. Your guilt. Your shame. And I know your biggest fear of all."

    The scene shifts one last time. I''m standing in front of a mirror, but the reflection staring back isn''t me. It''s Domnik, his face twisted in rage and grief. His eyes bore into mine, and when he speaks, it''s my voice that comes out.

    "You let me die, Red," the reflection says. "You let Vermidia take me. And now you''re going to do it again."

    "No," I whisper, shaking my head. "I didn''t-"

    "You''re a failure," the reflection hisses. "You failed me. You failed everyone."

    The fire of the DragonsBreath flickers, almost extinguished. Vermidia watches from the shadows, her laughter cold and triumphant.

    But then I hear another voice, faint but clear. Dylan''s voice.

    "Trust me, Red. Fight with him."

    I close my eyes, grounding myself in those words. I think of Hail, fighting for Mia and the others. I think of Alyse, Kylen, Claire, Keegan, Kat-all of them risking everything. And I think of Dylan, who believed in me even now, even after everything.

    The fire in my chest reignites, blazing brighter than ever.

    I open my eyes, the DragonsBreath roaring to life. "This is your fear, Vermidia. Not mine."

    The shadows around me recoil, and Vermidia''s grin falters.

    "You don''t get to define me," I say, stepping forward. The twisted scene around me shatters like glass, and I lunge, slashing at Vermidia with the DragonsBreath.

    The flames connect, and she screams, her form dissolving into shadow. The void collapses, and I feel myself pulled back into the real world.

    I land on solid ground again, the pocket dimension rushing back into focus. Vermidia stumbles back, clutching her arm where the DragonsBreath struck. Her expression is no longer smug-it''s furious.

    "Nice try," I say, raising the DragonsBreath. "But you''re going to have to do better than that."

    ---Hail---

    The world narrows to just the two of us. Domnik and me, locked in this deadly dance. His dark armor gleams under the purple haze of the sky, his Darkblade dripping with an ominous black aura. I grip my ice-forged sword tightly, feeling the cold radiate from it and seep into my veins. The frost keeps me calm, focused, even as my heart pounds like a war drum.

    Domnik takes the first step, his boots crunching against the hard ground of this twisted dimension. He''s taller than me, broader too, and his stance radiates an unshakable confidence.

    "Hail," he says, his voice low and guttural, but carrying an edge of something deeper. Regret? Hatred? I can''t tell anymore. "You don''t have to do this. Walk away now, and I''ll make it quick when this is all over."

    "I''m not the one walking away," I say, raising my blade. The frost along its edge glimmers, a promise of the storm I''m about to unleash. "Not until I get through you. And not until Vermidia pays for what she''s done."

    Domnik smirks, his hand tightening on the hilt of the Darkblade. "Then let''s see if you''ve gotten any better since last time."

    He moves first, the Darkblade whistling through the air as he brings it down in a vicious arc. I sidestep and parry, frost exploding from my sword as it collides with his. The clash sends a shockwave rippling through the air, but Domnik''s not done. He twists, the Darkblade spinning toward my side.

    I barely block in time, ice spreading across my arm from the impact. I counter with a frost blast, a jagged wave of ice erupting from the ground and surging toward him. He leaps back, avoiding the worst of it, but frost clings to his boots, slowing his movements.

    "Still playing with ice, I see," he taunts, shaking the frost off with a sneer. "Let me show you how it''s really done."

    Before I can respond, he slams his fist against the ground, and the Darkblade hums with energy. A sound blast erupts from him, a concussive wave that hits me square in the chest. The force sends me skidding back, my boots carving lines into the ground.

    Pain lances through me, but I grit my teeth and stand tall. "That all you''ve got, Domnik? Sound and fury?"

    He laughs, low and dark. "You''re out of your depth, Magnus."

    I don''t answer. Instead, I plunge my blade into the ground, summoning a wall of ice between us. He smirks, his eyes flicking toward the Darkblade as it begins to vibrate. With a sharp swing, he sends a sonic wave straight at the ice wall, shattering it into a thousand glittering shards.

    But I''m already moving.

    As the shards fall, I dart to the side, circling him. I swing my blade in a wide arc, sending a flurry of razor-sharp icicles toward him. He bats most of them away with the Darkblade, but one catches him on the shoulder, tearing through his armor.

    He growls, his smirk replaced by a snarl. "You''ll pay for that."

    He lunges, faster than I expect, the Darkblade singing through the air. I block, but the force of his strike sends me stumbling. He presses the attack, his blows relentless, each one accompanied by a pulse of sound that rattles my bones.

    I can feel myself slowing, my frost barely keeping up with his onslaught. But I won''t give up. Not now.

    I summon all the cold within me, letting it explode outward. A storm of frost and snow engulfs us, the temperature plummeting in an instant. Domnik stumbles, his movements faltering as ice forms on his armor and blade.

    "This ends now!" I shout, my voice echoing through the storm.

    I drive forward, my blade crashing against his. Ice spreads from the point of contact, creeping up his weapon and toward his hands. He grits his teeth, pushing back with a burst of sound that fractures the ice and sends me reeling.

    But I see the strain in his eyes, the way his chest heaves with every breath. He''s weakening, just like me.

    He raises the Darkblade for one final strike, the black energy around it crackling like a storm. I match him, summoning all my strength into my blade. Frost swirls around me, condensing into a sharp, glimmering edge of pure ice.

    We charge at each other, our blades colliding in a clash that shakes the ground. Frost and darkness explode outward, the force throwing us both back. I land hard, my vision swimming, but I force myself to my feet.

    Domnik does the same, his armor cracked and his breathing ragged. He looks at me, and for a moment, I see something in his eyes-recognition, maybe even regret.

    But then it''s gone, replaced by cold resolve.

    "This isn''t over," he growls, raising the Darkblade again.

    I steady my grip on my sword, the frost burning against my palm. "It will be."

    And we charge again.

 Chapter 14

    ˇŞˇŞˇŞAlyseˇŞˇŞˇŞ

    The air in the Bridge Lab is suffocating, thick with the acrid stench of smoke and blood. The endless screeching of the Spawn echoes off the steel walls, drowning out the sound of my own ragged breathing. My palms crackle with electricity, sparks dancing between my fingers as I send bolt after bolt into the writhing horde. No matter how many we destroy, more pour through the breach, a seemingly endless tide of claws and teeth.

    "Keep them off me!" Kat shouts from somewhere to my left, her voice cutting through the chaos. She''s perched on top of a control panel, firing arrow after arrow with deadly precision. Each shot lands true, but even her speed can''t keep up with the sheer number of them.

    "I''m trying!" Kylen bellows, slamming a shimmering plasma shield into a cluster of Spawn. The creatures screech as his ward slices through them, but their twisted forms don''t slow.

    Claire is at my back, her fists ablaze with poison as she tears through the horde with raw fury. "These things just don''t quit!" she growls.

    Keegan darts through the chaos like a shadow, his movements almost too fast to track. One moment he''s slamming a dagger into a Spawn''s chest, the next he''s flipping backward into the void to avoid a swipe of its claws. "We''ve got to find a way to close that breach!" he yells, landing beside me. His batons twirl in his hands, leaving trails of black energy as he dives back into the fray.

    "I know!" I shout, unleashing another bolt of lightning that arcs through a line of Spawn, reducing them to smoldering husks. My heart is pounding. Red and Hail are goneˇŞthrough the portal and into whatever nightmare realm Vermidia was hiding in. And now we''re stuck here, holding off this swarm.

    A scream pierces the air, and I whip around just in time to see one of the Spawn lunge at Kat. She tumbles off the control panel, hitting the ground hard, but before the creature can strike, Claire''s poison fist slams into its face, sending it flying.

    "Get up!" Claire snaps, hauling Kat to her feet.

    "We can''t keep this up much longer!" Kat shouts, her bow glowing as she looses an arrow into the crowd.

    She''s right. My arms feel like lead, my power draining with every blast. We''re slowing down, and the Spawn are relentless.

    Then the portal crackles behind us. A burst of shimmering blue light floods the room, and my heart skips a beat. For a split second, I think it''s Red or Hail.

    But it''s not.

    It''s Dylan.

    His dark blue aura flares as he steps through the portal, gravity rippling around him like a storm. His hands glow with astral light, and with a sweeping motion, he sends a shockwave crashing into the nearest cluster of Spawn. The creatures are flung backward, slamming into the walls with bone-crushing force.

    "Miss me?" Dylan''s voice is calm, but there''s a fire in his eyes as he strides toward us, his power crackling around him.

    "Dylan!" I scream, relief and adrenaline surging through me.

    "Guess I showed up just in time," he says, throwing a blast of dark blue energy into the crowd, sending Spawn flying.

    "We thought you were still with Vermidia!" Kylen shouts, stepping in beside Dylan to shield him with his ward as more Spawn rush forward.

    "Red saved me. Got here as fast as I could," Dylan replies, his voice grim. "Looks like you needed the help."

    The energy in the room shifts. With Dylan here, we fight harder, faster. His powers tilt the battlefield in our favor, gravity bending to his will as he crushes entire waves of Spawn with a single motion. Kat''s arrows rain down like falling stars, Claire''s poison severing through group after group, and Keegan becomes a whirlwind of strikes and void-born shadows. Kylen holds the line, his plasma wards slicing through the horde like a blade.

    Beside me, Dylan fights with a calm intensity, his movements precise and deliberate. Together, we push back the endless swarm, each blow bringing us closer to victory.

    And then, finally, it''s over.

    The last Spawn collapses under a barrage of arrows and lightning. The room falls silent, save for the sound of our labored breathing.

    For a moment, none of us move. Then I drop to my knees, the exhaustion finally catching up with me. Dylan is at my side in an instant, his hands on my shoulders.

    "Alyse," he says softly, his voice trembling just slightly.

    I look up at him, and the relief in his eyes makes my chest ache. "You came back," I whisper.

    "Of course I did," he says, pulling me into his arms. "I''d never leave you."

    I bury my face in his shoulder, the tension and fear of the battle melting away. "I thought I lost you," I admit, my voice breaking.

    "You''ll never lose me," Dylan promises, his arms tightening around me. "Not now, not ever."

    The others gather around us, their faces weary but triumphant. Claire leans heavily against Kylen, who offers her a tired smile. Kat gives a small nod, her bow lowered for the first time in what feels like hours. Keegan twirls one of his daggers before sliding it back into its sheath, his usual smirk returning.

    "We did it," Claire says, her voice quiet but resolute.

    "Yeah," Keegan replies, glancing around at the destroyed lab. "Barely."

    The relief is short-lived. The portal behind us still hums faintly, a reminder that Red and Hail are still out there, fighting their own battle. But for now, we''ve survived.

    For now, we''ve won.

    ˇŞˇŞˇŞHailˇŞˇŞˇŞ

    Domnik crashes to the ground, his armor dented, his breathing ragged. I stand over him, the icy blade in my hand glowing faintly, mist curling around my feet as frost creeps outward. This is it. I raise my sword, ready to end it allˇŞready to avenge Zenot, Zen, Mia, Eluna, my father.

    But then I hear her voice.

    It''s a whisper at first, soft and slithering, like a breeze sneaking through a crack in the door. "Hail, you''ve carried this weight for so long... Let me ease your burden."

    I freeze, my blade hovering above Domnik. The world tilts, my vision blurs, and suddenly her presence is everywhere. Vermidia.

    My hands tremble, and I fight to shake her off, but it''s no use. Her laughter echoes in my mind, and then the visions begin.

    Flashes of ZenotˇŞbeautiful, serene, alive. Then the ice. My ice. It spreads like a plague, freezing rivers, choking forests, collapsing entire cities. I see the people screaming, running, their breath freezing in the air before they collapse into lifeless statues.

    "No!" I roar, gripping my head as the frost explodes outward, a ring of ice spreading around me and cracking the ground beneath my feet.

    "Do you remember, Hail?" Vermidia''s voice oozes into my thoughts. "How your powers turned Zenot into a wasteland? How you failed them all?"

    I clutch my head, my vision blurring as the ground shifts beneath me. My feet leave the earth as I begin to hover, my body radiating an uncontrollable frost.

    "Hail!" I hear Red''s voice cut through the haze, sharp and desperate. "Stay with me!"

    But Vermidia''s whisper returns, this time like a dagger to the heart. "It would be such a shame if Earth suffered the same fate, wouldn''t it? If your ice destroyed another world?" She turns to Red. "Give me the DragonsBreath, Red, and I''ll let him go."The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    "Don''t do it, Red!" I manage to shout, my voice breaking with the strain of keeping her out. "We''ll find another way!"

    But Red hesitates. I see it in his eyes, the flicker of doubt Vermidia is feeding.

    Then her voice changes direction, slithering into Red''s mind. His body stiffens, and his eyes flicker purple.

    "You know the truth, don''t you, Red? The real reason Domnik never followed you through the portal?"

    "What are you talking about?" Red demands, his grip tightening on the DragonsBreath.

    "He killed him," Vermidia hisses, her words dripping with malice.

    "What?" Red''s voice cracks, his eyes narrowing as they glow brighter, the dark purple deepening.

    "Hail, tell him," Vermidia croons.

    I shake my head, fighting her control. "Red, it''s not what you think!"

    "You killed Domnik?" Red''s voice is low and dangerous now, his eyes a solid purpleˇŞthe same shade Domnik''s had when he was under Vermidia''s control.

    Then, without warning, Red lunges at me.

    Our blades collide, the DragonsBreath sparking against my ice-forged sword. "Red! Stop! She''s in your head!" I shout, but he doesn''t hear me.

    I block his strikes, but he''s relentless, the DragonsBreath burning hotter with every swing. I counter with a blast of frost, forcing him back, but his fire scorches through the ice.

    Suddenly, the ground beneath us shifts. The pocket dimension ripples as the machine powering Vermidia''s madness surges into its final stages. The plains around us dissolve into the rocky peak of a mountain, the air thin and cold. I stumble as the ground crumbles beneath my feet, but Red presses the attack.

    "Red, listen to me!" I shout, parrying a vicious swing.

    "You lied to me!" he roars, his voice carrying the heat of his fire. "You betrayed me!"

    Before I can respond, the terrain shifts again. We plummet from the mountain into an endless ocean, the waves crashing around us. Red''s fire dims, and I freeze the water beneath me to keep from sinking. I lash out with my blade, ice shards spraying toward him, but he cuts through them with ease.

    The battlefield changes again, returning us to the grassy plains. Domnik joins the fray, his Darkblade humming with deadly energy.

    "Round four," Domnik says with a smirk, swinging his blade at me.

    The three of us fight in a chaotic, shifting dance. Red''s fire, my frost, and Domnik''s sound blasts collide, the pocket dimension warping with every strike. Domnik summons demons from the ground, their shrieks filling the air as they swarm me.

    I freeze the nearest ones, shattering them with a swing of my blade, but Red takes advantage of the distraction. His blade slices across my side, the heat searing my flesh. I grit my teeth, summoning a blast of ice that sends him sprawling.

    "Red! Snap out of it!" I shout as he stumbles to his feet.

    Domnik grins, slamming the ground with his Darkblade. The demons swarm again, but I summon a storm of frost, freezing the hellhole they emerged from and sealing it shut. The remaining demons vanish in a wail of agony.

    Red lunges at me again and this time, I don''t hold back. He has to be stopped. I send a blast of ice at him that knocks him to the ground, freezing him in place. His head slams into the ground and he''s knocked out, cold.

    I''m sorry Red, but I can''t let you get yourself killed.

    With a final roar, I turn to Domnik. "Guess it''s just us now."

    Domnik chuckles, raising his blade. "Let''s finish this."

    We clash again, but he shatters my ice-forged sword with a devastating blow. The shards scatter around me, leaving me defenseless as he drives the Darkblade into my stomach.

    Pain explodes through me, but I grit my teeth, gripping his arm. Frost gathers around my hand, and I summon the last of my strength to reform the ice blade inside his chest.

    Domnik''s eyes widen as the icy blade pierces his heart. "Touch¨¦," he says with a weak grin before collapsing to the ground.

    I pull the Darkblade from my stomach, blood pouring from the wound. My vision dims, and I fall to my knees.

    Mia''s voice echoes in my mind. "You''re not giving up, are you?"

    "I''m dying, Mia," I whisper. "What more can I do?"

    "You end this," she says, her voice firm. "For all of us."

    Images of my father, Zen, Eluna, and Mia flash through my mind, each face giving me strength. I press my hand to my wound, freezing it shut, and stagger to my feet.

    The machine hums louder, the air rippling with its power. Vermidia stands ahead, her grin as sinister as ever.

    "Seems you get a second chance, Hail," she says. "Don''t waste it."

    I grip the icy hilt of my broken blade. "I won''t."

    The moment stretches like ice cracking underfoot. Vermidia stands before me, her form shifting and twisting, cloaked in shadows that seem to dance with a life of their own. Her dark eyes glint with malice, her smile sharp and knowing.

    "You can''t kill me without the DragonsBreath," she sneers, her voice like a knife carving through the frigid air.

    I tighten my grip on my ice-forged blade, frost creeping down its length. "Watch me," I growl.

    Our blades clash in a blinding arc, hers humming with dark energy, mine radiating frost. Each strike sends shockwaves through the pocket dimension, the ground beneath us shattering and reforming like glass. She''s fastˇŞfaster than I expected. Every time I swing, she twists and shifts, her form dissolving into shadows only to reappear behind me.

    She leans close, her breath cold against my ear. "Do you feel it, Hail? The weight of your failure? How many more worlds will you destroy before you accept it?"

    I spin, swinging hard, but she''s already gone, laughing as she reappears a few feet away.

    My frustration builds, and with a roar, I slam my blade into the ground. Frost explodes outward, a shockwave of ice blasting the dark cloud that circles me. The tendrils scatter, hissing as they retreat, but Vermidia is unfazed.

    "You''re strong," she admits, her voice laced with mockery. "But not strong enough."

    We clash again, the rhythm of our fight relentless. Her strikes are precise, calculated, while mine are fueled by raw determination. She taunts me as we fight, her words digging into my mind, dredging up the memories of Zenot, the screams of those I couldn''t save.

    She thrusts forward, forcing me to block. The impact drives me to one knee. Her blade hovers near my throat.

    "Stay down," she whispers, pressing her advantage.

    I grit my teeth and swing upward with all my strength. My blade shatters against hers, the shards spraying out like icy daggers. Some hit their mark, slicing across her arm and cheek, but she only laughs, the wounds closing almost instantly.

    "You can''t win like this, Hail," she taunts. "You need the DragonsBreath. But you''re too weak to take it, aren''t you?"

    Her words burn, but I know she''s right. I can''t defeat her with ice alone. My eyes flicker to Red, lying unconscious nearby. The DragonsBreath glows faintly in his hand, its fiery blade dormant.

    Then I hear her voiceˇŞnot Vermidia''s, but Mia''s.

    "Use the blade, Hail."

    Her whisper is soft yet commanding, and it sends a surge of strength through me. I lunge toward Red''s body, dodging Vermidia''s strike as I grab the hilt of the DragonsBreath.

    The moment my hand closes around it, my body convulses. The power of the blade reverberates through me. I feel its strength coursing through my veins. Then, the weapon respondsˇŞnot with fire, but with ice. The blade ignites in a cold blue glow, frost spiraling along its edge. It hums with power, resonating with me in a way that feels... right.

    Vermidia pauses, her eyes narrowing. "Interesting," she murmurs, her confidence flickering. "But how?"

    I don''t give her time to react. I swing the DragonsBreath, the icy blade slicing through the dark tendrils that reach for me. Each strike sends ripples through the air, freezing and shattering her shadows.

    The machine looms in the background, its hum growing louder, the fabric of the dimension warping with its power. I glance at it, then back at Vermidia.

    "This ends now," I say, charging toward the machine.

    She screams, a sound that shakes the ground, and lunges to stop me, but I''m faster. With a single, powerful strike, I drive the DragonsBreath into the machine''s core. The icy blade slices through it like butter, the device shuddering violently before exploding in a cascade of blue light.

    The dimension stabilizes, the warped terrain settling back into place. I turn to face Vermidia, her form flickering, weakened but still defiant.

    "You think this is victory?" she sneers, clutching her side.

    I grip the DragonsBreath tighter. "I know it is."

    With a final roar, I swing the blade, slicing through her. She gasps, her body crumpling to the ground.

    "I bet you feel accomplished now..."

    "You could say that," I reply, my voice steady, though my heart pounds in my chest.

    Her laughter echoes faintly. "Well, don''t celebrate too soon, Hail. You''re too late. It''s done. Killing me was just the beginning. He... is back. None of you stand a chance now."

    I step closer, the DragonsBreath still glowing cold in my hand. "A problem for another day. You killed my father. As far as I''m concerned, the battle is won."

    "Maybe a battle," she whispers, her voice fading. "But not the war."

    Her form dissipates entirely, the shadows evaporating into the ether. I stand there for a moment, catching my breath, the weight of her words sinking in.

    The DragonsBreath dims in my hand, its icy glow fading. I glance at Red, still unconscious, and then at the remnants of the machine. For now, the fight is over.

    But her warning lingers.

    The war is far from over.

    The DragonsBreath drops from my fingers and meets the ground. It''s icy blade fading and it lies as a dormant hilt now.

    The weight of the battle crashes down on me, and my legs give out. I collapse to the frozen ground, the DragonsBreath slipping from my grasp. My breaths come shallow and ragged, every muscle in my body screaming in protest. The faint hum of the fractured realm grows louder, unstable, on the verge of breaking apart.

    I hear them before I see themˇŞAlyse''s voice sharp and commanding, cutting through the chaos.

    "Vermidia, she''s dead! We have to hurry, this realm is going to collapse into the abyss soon," she shouts, urgency thick in her tone. "We have to get them out of here. Claire, grab Red. Kylen, get Hail. Keegan, take Domnik."

    My head tilts slightly, my vision blurring as I make out their forms running through the fading field toward me. The sight fills me with relief, though my strength is nearly spent.

    "Domnik?" Keegan''s voice is hesitant, questioning.

    I hear Alyse''s footsteps pause, then her softer reply. "We should bury him. For Red."

    Keegan doesn''t answer right away. I imagine the hesitation on his face, the silent weight of everything we''ve endured pressing down on him too.

    The ground beneath me shakes slightly, the realm beginning to fracture in earnest now. My mind drifts, the adrenaline finally giving way to an overwhelming exhaustion. I feel Kylen''s steady hands lifting me, his voice low and reassuring, but the words blur together.

    My eyes flutter closed as the world around me fades. Safe now, I tell myself. I can rest. They''ve got me.

    For the first time in what feels like an eternity, I let go.

 Epilogue

    I wake with a sharp gasp, my body jolting upright. The room is unfamiliarˇŞclean and modern, with a strange warmth about it. Full glass windows stretch from floor to ceiling, offering a panoramic view of an endless ocean that glistens under the sun. The crash of waves fills my ears, soothing yet alien.

    I push myself out of the bed, feeling the ache in every muscle as I stumble to the window. The sight before me stirs a painful memory, a fleeting glimpse of homeˇŞZenotˇŞbefore it was lost. My throat tightens.

    "It''s over now," a voice says softly.

    I turn sharply to see Alyse leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. She''s trying to keep her calm, but I can see the faint shadow of concern in her eyes.

    "Vermidia is dead, Domnik is dead, and the Spawn all vanished into thin air. I assume they couldn''t exist without her." She adds.

    "Is RedˇŞ?" I manage to ask, my voice hoarse.

    "Still asleep," she replies, stepping into the room. "He took a beating again. We found him covered in your ice. What the hell happened in there?"

    I hesitate, the memories of the battle flashing before me. Vermidia''s whispers. The icy wrath I unleashed. The chaos of that fractured realm. Red learning what I did to Domnik. "It''s... complicated," I say finally.

    Alyse raises an eyebrow but doesn''t press. "Well, I guess I''ll wait to hear his side of it then," she says, her tone light but probing.

    I nod slowly, glancing back at the ocean. "Where are we?"

    "A beach house in Florida," she says. "Kylen had it built a couple of years ago. Honestly, I forgot it even existed. Everyone''s in the living room down the hall. We''re celebrating the death of the Daem and our return to Naurus."

    Her words bring little comfort. The weight of everything Vermidia said and the truths I uncovered linger like a storm cloud. "About that..." I start.

    Alyse tenses, lifting a hand to silence me. "I don''t care," she says firmly. "I just want a victory for now. You can tell me the bad news later."

    I exhale, nodding. "Right. Well, you guys can party without me. I need to stop drinking anyway."

    She smirks, the tension easing slightly. "Yeah, right. I give you a week."

    "Try two hours," I joke, forcing a chuckle. "I''m working on it. I promise. And the DragonsBreath?"

    Her smirk fades, "Kylen locked the DragonsBreath in the vault downstairs. Why?"

    "Just making sure we recovered it," I say casually, though the truth churns in my chest. "Thanks."

    "Sure thing," she replies, giving me a nod before turning to leave.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    As she walks away, I linger for a moment, then head toward the living room. Laughter and conversation echo through the hall, a stark contrast to the battle we''ve just endured. I pass by without stopping, catching glimpses of familiar faces smiling and drinking. For them, Vermidia''s death is cause for celebration.

    For me? The war isn''t over. Iridian is back, and he''s out there somewhere. It''s only a matter of time.

    I make my way to the basement. The air grows cooler as I descend, each step heavier than the last. A sleek, reinforced vault door greets me at the bottom, scanning my face.

    "Welcome, Magnus," a mechanical voice chirps as the door hisses open.

    Inside, rows of empty glass tubes line the walls, remnants of battles past. At the end of the row stands the DragonsBreath, encased and dormant. Its weight calls to me as I step closer, my hand trembling slightly as I reach out.

    My fingers wrap around the hilt, and the blade springs to life, igniting in a blue, icy glow unlike the fiery blaze it takes in Red''s hands. Whispers and visions flood my mind, dragging me into a swirling, cloudy world.

    "Hail," a deep voice echoes, sending a shiver down my spine. "I was hoping you''d come poking around eventually."

    I whirl around to face the source of the voiceˇŞa towering figure with an aura of power and authority. His scales shimmer like molten gold, and his eyes burn with ancient knowledge.

    "Draco," I whisper. "Dragonfather."

    He regards me with a faint smirk. "It''s been a while."

    "Am I dead?" I ask, my voice unsteady. "Where am I?"

    "Hmph. No, boy. We''re inside the blade, of course."

    I glance around at the swirling mists, confusion knitting my brow. "Inside the blade? I don''t understand. I wielded it without the Madium Claw. How is that possible?"

    Draco''s smirk fades into something more serious. "The blade''s true nature has been hidden from you, but now that Vermidia is gone, it''s time you learned the truth."

    "Truth? What truth?"

    He scratches his chin. "The blade is, well it''s quite confusing really, I''m sure you''ll learn that in time. Though, one thing is certain, the blade can only be wielded by a child of Magnus without the Madium Claw."

    "So you''re saying..." Hail takes a step back. "Why am I just now being told this?"

    "Well everyone who knew was dead and telling you would have been a poor choice as your mind was compromised by Vermidia for some time. Now that she''s dead, and He approaches, you should all three know." He says.

    "Three?" My heart skips a beat.

    "Well if your brother is Red, who is his sister? The child that the Daem took interest in."

    "Alyse." I take a step back, all of the pieces to fall into place.

    "Mmm, I wish I could assist you more, but my time has run out. Wouldn''t want that damn Court getting involved now would we?" he says. "Tell Red I wish him well. Goodbye, Hail."

    The world around me snaps back into focus. I stand in the vault, the DragonsBreath still glowing faintly in my hand. My mind races with Draco''s words. Triplets. Magnus''s children. Everything I thought I knew is unraveling. Red and Alyse, my actual blood siblings? Red Magnus and Alyse Magnus.

    I return the blade to its tube, the weight of my choices pressing down on me. Now Red is going to want me dead for killing Domnik, not once but twice. What have I done?

    Leaving the vault, I walk to the shoreline, the sand warm beneath my feet. I sit and stare at the endless ocean, my mind a storm of guilt and questions.

    From the corner of my eye, I see herˇŞMia. She''s not really there, just a memory, but her smile is so vivid it feels real. She sits beside me, her presence calming.

    "Stop it, Hail," she says gently. "Stop worrying about the future. You did what you set out to do. You avenged me."

    "Then why does it feel like I''ve failed all over again?" I ask, my voice breaking.

    "You''re too hard on yourself," she says, her tone full of warmth. "Trust me."

    I nod, turning back to the horizon. I reach to my face and pull my mask off, leaving it in the sand. The time for mourning is over. If I am truly Magnus''s son, if I truly have fulfilled this prophecy. Then it''s time to embrace my role. It''s time to claim my father''s throne.

    And if Red wants a fight, I''ll give it to him.