Naelys' final words still echoed in Kael's mind. He had this strange sensation of walking a tightrope stretched over a bottomless pit. One wrong move… and it would all be over.
Kael, Declan, Selia, Lyo, and Korven now stood at the southern gate of the ruined castle, hidden behind a collapsed wall. The wind howled, carrying with it the sickening stench of dried blood and rotting flesh. The morning light pierced the clouds, pale and cold.
Kael gripped his spear so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"It's time," murmured Korven, his single eye scanning the horizon. "The path is still open… but not for long."
Selia checked a small interface device strapped to her belt. "As soon as I reach the transport, it'll take me at least a minute to trigger the emergency beacon."
"Then run like your life depends on it," muttered Lyo. "Because it does."
Declan said nothing. His gaze was fixed and calculating, watching every movement in the fog. A quiet tension brewed in his eyes. He slowly turned to Kael.
"When we move… don't think. Just run."
Kael nodded.
Suddenly, a guttural screech echoed nearby. A Vorm leapt from a ruined tower, its glowing violet eyes burning in the mist like embers of hell. Within seconds, others appeared, crawling on the walls, gripping stone with monstrous agility.
Too late.
"They've seen us," Korven growled.
But then—an explosion of noise erupted from the far side of the castle.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM.
Thunderous impacts. Screams. Gunfire. Clashing steel. Then Naelys' voice, sharp and defiant.
"OVER HERE, YOU MONSTERS! COME GET ME!"
The diversion had begun.
The Vorms froze, then turned, drawn to the chaos. Some hesitated, but most rushed toward the noise, snarling.
"Now!" Kael shouted.
The group burst from cover, sprinting across the ruins. Debris shifted beneath their boots. Every second mattered.
Selia led, guided by memory. Kael and Declan guarded the flanks, senses on high alert. Korven took the rear, sword drawn, ready to defend.
Behind them, hell erupted. Screeches, gunfire, and fury lit the air like a funeral pyre.
Kael glanced back. Naelys stood atop a broken column, one arm bleeding, shouting and waving to lure the creatures. The twins danced around her in deadly sync, while Serial fired from above with relentless precision.
"You better hurry," she muttered between shots. "Or we all die here."
Kael slipped—Declan caught him in one sharp motion.
"Focus!"
"I'm good…" Kael gasped, pushing forward.
A monstrous roar erupted to their right. A massive Vorm with a black carapace emerged from the rubble.
"A Devourer!" Korven shouted. "Go! I'll hold it off!"
He turned and charged the beast, blade raised.
"KORVEN!" Selia screamed.
"GO!" he yelled, never looking back. "MAKE THIS COUNT!"
Kael faltered, but Declan shoved him forward.
"He chose this. Don't waste his sacrifice."
Through the trees—they saw it.
The crashed transport. They were almost there.
Selia ran to the cockpit and began typing frantically into the emergency panel. Lights flickered.
"Come on… come on… ID code S042-NYX… Activate…"
A buzz. A red light. Then green. The signal had been sent.
"We did it…" she whispered. "We actually have a chance."
Kael dropped to his knees, gasping for breath. Declan stood, eyes on the forest.
"They're coming back."
Kael stood, eyes burning.
"Then let's go help them."