Skybound Odyssey – Chapter 16: Stormborn Shadows
The Stormchaser pierced the wall of clouds like a spear of golden fire, wind and lightning howling on all sides. Lyra gripped the controls tightly, sweat beading on her brow.
Ryo stood at the prow, lightning crackling around him as the crystal glowed brighter with every second.
Below, the city of Skyspire unfurled—towers of obsidian and glass suspended in a vortex of endless wind. Flying banners bore the sigil of the Skyborn Empire: a silver falcon over a sunburst.
And then the cannons turned.
"Multiple lock-ons," Juno barked from the rear. "We're lit up like a damn festival!"
"Don't dodge," Ryo said calmly. He stepped forward, lifting the core crystal high.
Just before the first cannon fired—
CRACK—KRAKOOM!
A wall of golden lightning erupted around the ship, deflecting the blasts and shorting out the nearest airships.
The Stormchaser dove into a narrow alleyway between towers, skimming across the windrails that fed Skyspire's floating districts.
Below them, civilians screamed and scattered. Sirens wailed.
And then—an explosion burst behind them.
Three dark airships gave chase.
"They've deployed Shadow Corsairs!" Lyra shouted. "Elite strike ships. Fast and deadly."
Ryo narrowed his eyes. "Time to shake them."
He leapt off the deck.
"What the hell?!" Juno screamed.
Ryo fell—straight down into the wind tunnels—and struck one of the Corsairs with a thunder-charged punch. The ship exploded in midair.
He bounced off the debris and landed on the second Corsair, blasting the engines with lightning.
Lyra swerved the Stormchaser in behind him. "He's absolutely insane," she muttered—but smiling now.
The third Corsair fled.
As Ryo leapt back aboard the ship, breathless, a voice crackled over the comms system.
"Ryo Stormheart… is that you?"
The voice was familiar—calm, low, tinged with sorrow.
Ryo froze. "I know that voice…"
A hologram flickered to life above the deck.
A woman with silver eyes and a long braid, wearing the insignia of the Empire… but with a scar across her face.
"Prototype Three," she said. "You made it."
Ryo blinked. "Sena…?"
Lyra looked between them. "Wait. She's one of you?"
Sena nodded. "I've been hiding in Skyspire. So have others. You're not alone, Ryo."
Her eyes hardened. "But you have to hurry. Selena Nightshade is here. And she's hunting every last one of us."