Chapter 20: Ember and Shadow
The scent of ash tainted the wind.
From the eastern hills, Lucas crouched low behind the broken stone of an old watchtower, eyes fixed on the chaos below. Smoke spiraled from the scorched trenches outside Greystone's walls, rising like black ribbons against the blood-red dawn. The battle had escalated—and the enemy had answered.
Across the battlefield, Inferna roared.
Her body burned with unnatural fire, every motion leaving trails of searing heat in the air. Her molten claws tore through Greystone's defensive lines, scattering fire and fear alike. Elira danced through the flames on Luna's back, arrows of pure wind streaking across the inferno, only to be devoured mid-flight.
Their duel painted the battlefield violently—ice and wind versus molten rage.
Kaela, farther west, tore into the second wave of apes with her saber-cat, Thunderfang. Electricity crackled around her form, each strike echoing with thunder, yet she too was kept at bay by the enemy's reinforcements.
Lucas clenched his fists. Umbra crouched beside him, tail flicking with tension, and Zephyra hovered overhead, her wings humming.
DING!
[System Alert: Mission Objective Update]
Main Objective: Survive and Repel the TideSub-Objective: Defeat the Three Generals
Lucas exhaled slowly. "It's time."