The commander's sword struck—
And Aldric caught it again between both blood gauntlets.
But instead of trading blows—
He shoved the blade aside violently.
Then twisted his body midair.
Blood exploded outward from him like a violent tide.
Hundreds of chains, spears, and blades erupted in every direction at once.
Not aimed to kill.
But to **delay**.
To **block**.
To **flood the sky**.
The commander cut through the first wave instantly—
But the second and third waves forced him to slow.
Aldric had already turned away.
The blood chains binding the cultist tightened as he dragged her behind him.
His wings flared wide.
"Playtime's over," he muttered.
Then he **shot downward toward the town** like a falling meteor.
Behind him—
The sixth-star commander blasted through the storm of blood constructs.
But Aldric was already gone.
Descending straight toward the battlefield where Draven and Seraphine were still tearing the streets apart.
And Aldric was laughing the entire way down.
---
Aldric dove through the sky like a falling blade, dragging the bound cultist behind him as blood chains kept her locked in place.
Wind roared past them.
Above—
The sixth-star commander **did not stop**.
His figure cut through the air with terrifying speed, sword ready, eyes locked on Aldric's back.
The distance between them was shrinking fast.
Then—
**THWANG**
A red mana arrow shot across the sky.
Straight toward the commander's head.
The knight's eyes shifted instantly.
His blade flashed.
**SHING**
He **deflected** the arrow at the last second.
The crimson projectile spun away before exploding in the distance.
But the brief interruption was enough.
Aldric's eyes followed the direction the arrow had come from.
Below—
He saw him.
Draven was moving across the shattered rooftops, cloak snapping behind him as he ran at full speed.
And right behind him—
Seraphine.
She was closing the distance fast, wind and sound exploding beneath every step.
Aldric grinned.
"Well there he is."
Seraphine raised her arm—
Wind gathered for another devastating strike.
Before she could release it—
Aldric's hand snapped forward.
Blood erupted from the air beside him, instantly shaping into massive **crimson spears**.
"Hey."
The constructs launched downward like artillery.
Seraphine's eyes snapped upward just as the blood weapons came crashing toward her.
She twisted mid-charge—
**BOOM**
The spears slammed into the ground around her, exploding the street apart and forcing her backward through the debris.
The sudden assault broke her pursuit.
Draven did not slow down.
A moment later—
Aldric landed beside him with a heavy impact, the cultist still chained behind him.
Broken stone cracked beneath their feet.
Draven stopped as well.
For a brief second—
The three of them stood together in the ruined street.
Draven lowered his bow slightly.
Aldric glanced sideways at him.
"Took you long enough."
Draven did not look impressed.
Behind them—
Seraphine stepped out of the dust cloud, wind roaring violently around her once more.
Her eyes moved from Draven…
To Aldric…
To the chained cultist.
Her expression hardened.
Above them—
The sixth-star commander descended from the sky, sword glowing with gathered mana.
He landed behind Seraphine without a sound.
Now the battlefield had shifted again.
Two on one side.
Two on the other.
Aldric rolled his shoulders, blood gauntlets reforming around his arms.
"Well…"
His grin widened.
"…this just got interesting again."
Draven did not even glance back at Seraphine.
His eyes flicked once to the sky… to the barrier… to the airships circling above.
Then to Aldric.
"We should get the hell out of here."
He said it calmly.
Flat.
Because the situation had already crossed the point where fighting longer made sense.
Aldric smirked.
"Finally thinking clearly—"
But he did not finish.
Because at that exact moment—
**Both of them moved.**
Seraphine's foot slammed into the ground.
**BOOOOM**
The street cracked open as wind and sound detonated beneath her, launching her forward like a cannon shot.
At the same instant—
The sixth-star commander vanished from where he stood.
A silver flash appeared beside Aldric.
Sword already mid-swing.
Draven reacted first.
His hand snapped forward, grabbing the cultist by the collar and **yanking her behind him** as he stepped aside.
The commander's blade carved through the space where Draven's neck had been a fraction earlier.
The strike continued downward—
**CRASH**
The street split apart.
Stone erupted in every direction.
At the same time Seraphine reached them.
Her fist screamed through the air straight toward Draven's head.
Draven ducked beneath it.
The punch tore over him and **obliterated a building** behind them.
Aldric laughed.
"Oh come on—"
His blood gauntlet slammed forward.
**CLANG**
It collided with the commander's sword as the knight launched a second strike.
Shockwaves exploded around them.
Seraphine twisted, her leg whipping around toward Draven's ribs.
Draven slid backward, barely avoiding the kick as the ground beside him **exploded again**.
"See?" Aldric said while blocking another sword strike.
"They don't want us leaving."
Draven did not reply.
He moved.
Fast.
His bow appeared in his hand again as he spun past Seraphine's next punch.
At point-blank range—
He fired.
**THWANG**
The crimson arrow shot toward the commander.
The knight twisted instantly—
**SHING**
The blade cut the arrow apart mid-flight.
The explosion blasted dust through the street.
Seraphine lunged through the smoke, both arms swinging toward Draven for another devastating clap.
Draven stepped inside her reach again.
His fist drove toward her throat—
She twisted—
The punch grazed her shoulder instead.
But the force still blasted her backward several meters.
The commander broke away from Aldric for half a step, sword turning toward Draven.
Aldric immediately moved again.
Blood chains exploded outward, forcing the knight to turn back and cut through them.
Draven slid beside Aldric again.
Their backs almost touching for a moment.
Draven spoke quietly.
"Three seconds."
Aldric grinned.
"For what?"
Draven's eyes shifted upward.
Toward the barrier.
"Just stall them."
Seraphine wiped blood from her mouth and launched forward again.
The commander cut through the last chain and stepped in beside her.
Both of them attacking together.
And the street erupted into chaos once more.