The roar of the explosion filled the car, a monstrous, hungry sound that devoured everything else. Ruban’s ears pounded, his vision blurring from the shockwave. It was a testament to the driver’s skill – and some sheer, dumb luck – that the vehicle hadn’t flipped over from the force of the blast.

Instinct, honed by years on the field, kicked in before conscious thought. His hand flew to the comforting weight of the sifblade at his hip.

One of Dhriti’s security guards threw open the back door of the SUV. Ruban and Simani leaped out, weapons drawn and eyes scanning for the source of the attack.

It was only then that Ruban’s eyes landed on the mangled heap of smoking metal that used to be an SUV identical to theirs. It was the vehicle traveling ahead of them. It had been obliterated beyond recognition – to the point that there could be no hope of survivors.

The surrounding traffic had screeched to a halt. All around, people were fleeing in terror, their panicked shouts filling the muggy afternoon air.

Ruban looked up to see two Aeriels hovering above. Their majestic, crimson-tipped wings were spread wide, eclipsing the sun. His breath caught. Two X-class Aeriels together? That wasn’t normal. X-classes rarely worked in pairs, in Ruban’s experience.

He shot a glance at Simani. Her expression told him she shared both his confusion and consternation.

One of the two X-class Aeriels raised a hand, a tiny energy-shell crackling into existence inches from its palm. It was aimed directly at the car Ruban and Simani had just exited. The one that still held Dhriti and her aides.

The two of them flew into action.

Simani flung a sifkren at the attacking Aeriel. The small, sif-lined disc whizzed past its outstretched hand, forcing the Aeriel to retreat with a couple of rapid wing flaps.

The other X-class swooped down towards the two Hunters, a predatory glint in its silver eyes. Ruban assumed this was the one that had obliterated the lead SUV moments ago.

He calculated that destroying the SUV would have drained its energy reserves, leaving it unable to unleash another shell immediately. He dug his heels into the ground and held position, fingers tightening around the hilt of his sifblade.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

As the Aeriel drew closer, Ruban sprang into the air. His sifblade flashed in the afternoon sun as he swung it in a wide arc, the razor-sharp edge barely grazing the Aeriel’s flank.

The X-class shrieked in outrage, light spilling from the shallow wound. Raising one hand, it struck out blindly at Ruban.

Even without their shells, even injured and drained of energy, Aeriels possessed an otherworldly strength that was not to be underestimated. The Aeriel’s hand connected with Ruban’s abdomen, sending him flying into an empty minivan abandoned haphazardly in the middle of the road.

His body slammed into the side of the minivan with a sickening crunch, the impact denting the vehicle and shattering its windows. The metal groaned in protest. The jagged edges of the broken glass scraped his skin like a thousand tiny knives, drawing blood.

White-hot pain engulfed Ruban, radiating out from the point of impact across his entire back. He lay there, momentarily stunned and gasping for breath.

A few seconds passed before a massive, winged shadow fell over him. Ruban blinked, still supine, straining to focus despite the spots that swirled in his vision.

The Aeriel that had just hurled him into the minivan hovered above, one hand extended. Energy crackled around its outstretched palm.

Ruban’s heart raced, mind desperately searching for a way to escape his predicament. Panic bubbled in his gut as a tiny shell flickered into existence. It didn’t look like much, but a direct hit would be sufficient to kill him in his current state.

Just then, a blazing ball of energy shot into his field of vision, striking the Aeriel squarely in the chest. With a shocked, hair-raising shriek, the creature was hurled backward. It went tumbling through the air, its massive, crimson-tipped wings flailing uselessly.

A moment later, it hit the ground with a heavy thud. And didn’t move again.

Silence descended, broken only by Ruban's ragged gasps for breath. The X-class was dead.

Pushing through the agony, Ruban heaved himself upright on unsteady legs. His muscles protested, fingers tightening around the sifblade he still clasped in his hand. He was relieved to find that no broken bones hindered his movements.

He glanced skyward, eyes seeking his unexpected savior.

Squinting through the haze of pain and disbelief, Ruban caught sight of Ashwin descending through the air. The distinctive, dual crimson markings on his argent wings were unmistakable against the clear, sunlit sky.

Ruban cursed under his breath. Of all the times to play the big damn hero—

Another explosion echoed a few feet away. Ruban whirled, all thoughts of Ashwin fleeing his mind.

Finally, he caught a glimpse of Simani and the other X-class, which was still very much alive. Aeriel and Hunter faced each other from opposite sides of the road. A small crater had formed in the middle of the concrete road, the smoldering aftermath of an energy-shell.

Simani stood a few feet from the crater, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. As if she’d just leapt out of the shell’s path, at the last possible second. Her uniform was ripped in several places, and blood trickled from a massive gash on her forehead.