The storm grew fiercer, its howling winds clawing at the fragmented platforms as the group pressed on. The next path was narrower, the gaps between the floating islands wider, with eddies of turbulent air swirling between them. Each step felt like a gamble, the platforms trembling underfoot as if on the verge of collapse.
“Remind me why we’re risking our necks again?” Aeris asked, glancing back at the others.
“To stabilize the ley lines,” Vera said, her tone clipped as she adjusted her shield. “Or did you miss that part of the mission briefing?”
“Right, right,” Aeris said, leaping effortlessly to the next platform. “Because saving the world is a job for three people and a glowing Frisbee enthusiast.”
“Four people,” Koina corrected softly, a hint of humor in her voice. “And they’re called chakrams.”
“Focus,” Vera said sharply, her eyes scanning the storm ahead. “The winds are changing. Something’s coming.”
The tension broke as a piercing shriek echoed through the air. Two constructs materialized from the storm, their glowing forms smaller but faster than the ones they had faced before. The constructs zipped through the wind, circling the group like predators.
“They’re learning,” Vera muttered, raising her shield.
“They’re annoying,” Aeris corrected, firing a bolt that clipped one of the constructs.
The other construct dived toward Koina, who deflected its strike with a spinning chakram. The glowing blade returned to her hand as she steadied herself against the storm’s force.
“We can’t stay here,” Koina said. “The platforms won’t hold under this much pressure.”
Calia stepped forward, her rapier glowing faintly with ley line energy. “The storm’s patterns are more erratic than before. It’s trying to herd us toward the next node. We use that to our advantage.”
“And what if it’s herding us into a trap?” Aeris asked, notching another bolt into her crossbow.
“Then we make it regret trying,” Vera replied, her voice resolute.
Before they could advance, a distant roar cut through the storm. The group froze, their eyes scanning the chaos for its source.
“That didn’t sound like the wind,” Koina said, her chakrams at the ready.
Another roar followed, closer this time. A shadowed figure emerged from the storm, leaping effortlessly between platforms. His broad shoulders and wild energy made him stand out even before the gleaming axes in his hands became visible.
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“Is that—” Aeris started, but the figure didn’t give her a chance to finish.
“Move!” Kael Drakos bellowed, swinging one of his axes in a wide arc. The weapon crackled with fiery energy as it tore through an advancing construct, reducing it to swirling debris.
“What in the ley lines is he doing here?” Vera demanded, stepping forward with her shield raised.
Kael grinned, his amber eyes glowing faintly. “Saving your hides, apparently.”
The group barely had time to process Kael’s arrival before the constructs regrouped, their movements growing more erratic. Kael charged ahead, his wild strikes tearing through the wind constructs with reckless abandon.
“Subtle,” Aeris said, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she fired another bolt.
“Subtle doesn’t win fights,” Kael replied, smashing through another construct. “Neither does standing around talking.”
“Neither does smashing everything without a plan,” Vera retorted, stepping beside him to deflect a gust with her shield.
“Plans are for people afraid to improvise,” Kael shot back, his grin widening.
Koina placed a hand on Vera’s arm before she could respond. “We need to work together. This isn’t the time to argue.”
Kael’s brute force cleared the immediate area, but the storm intensified around them, the platforms shifting unpredictably.
Calia stepped forward, her sharp gaze fixed on the swirling energy ahead. “The storm’s currents are converging,” she said, pointing to a distant platform glowing faintly through the chaos. “There are three distinct points drawing the ley line energy. Two more remain.”
“You’re sure about that?” Aeris asked, leaping to another platform.
Calia nodded. “The patterns don’t lie. If we take out the third, it should disrupt the core’s defenses completely.”
“Should,” Kael echoed, his grin returning. “Guess we’ll find out.”
When they reached the glowing platform, a larger construct awaited them, its form crackling with energy. Unlike the others, it moved with purpose, shielding the node with a barrier of rotating wind currents.
“This one’s different,” Koina observed.
“Looks like more fun to me,” Kael said, stepping forward.
“It’s not just brute strength,” Calia warned. “The barrier is synchronized with the storm’s rhythm. We need precision to disrupt it.”
“Precision’s your department,” Kael said, spinning his axes. “I’ll handle the ‘breaking stuff’ part.”
The group moved as one, combining their strengths to dismantle the barrier. Aeris darted around the construct, drawing its attacks while firing at weak points in the barrier. Kael’s fiery strikes destabilized the construct’s energy, while Vera shielded the group from the storm’s worst blasts.
Calia’s rapier glowed as she struck the barrier with pinpoint accuracy. “Now!” she shouted, driving her blade into a critical point.
Koina’s chakrams followed, creating a stabilizing field that collapsed the barrier. The construct faltered, its energy dissipating into the storm.
With the second node disabled, the group gathered on the platform, their exhaustion evident.
“Not bad,” Kael said, resting one axe on his shoulder. “You all might survive this after all.”
“Don’t get too comfortable,” Vera said, her tone firm. “There’s still one more node—and the storm is only getting stronger.”
“Great,” Aeris muttered. “Just what I wanted to hear.”
Koina’s gaze lingered on the storm’s edge, where the sense of being watched was stronger than ever. But once again, there was nothing to see.
“Let’s keep moving,” she said softly, leading the group toward the next challenge.
Above, the shadowed figure watched them disappear into the storm. A faint smile played on his lips before he vanished into the swirling chaos.