Chapter 14: Fire and earth?
Max's fingers tapped across his device, the screen's glow dancing in his eyes. Lines of code shifted. Numbers updated. Still, his expression didn't change.
Ash stood beside him, arms folded, watching the battlefield. Heat shimmered in front of them. Flames curled around Jov's fingers, twisting with each movement.
That sight stuck in Ash's mind. Something felt wrong.
'Weren't all other fire veinflow users wiped out?'
Max didn't look up.
"The Burns family was supposed to be all dead, leaving Dad's as the only survivor. Did Apex mess with something?"
Ash didn't answer. He didn't need to. The ground made the next move.
A low crack split the silence.
The earth tore open beneath Kael.
Stone burst upward, jagged and sharp. It wrapped around Kael's arms and legs, locking in place like shackles.
Kael's flames surged. Heat poured from his hands—but the rock didn't budge. He strained against it. Nothing. His breath hitched.