Theron spoke.
His cold voice cut through the command deck like a blade.
> "Record their positions. Mark the survivors. I want eyes on the ground. Now."
He stepped forward—calm, unshaken.
> "Raise the shields."
The bridge crew scrambled to obey, reinforcing the mana barriers around the Lux Invicta.
Theron said nothing for a long moment. His gaze remained locked on the flaming wreckage tumbling through the clouds.
Half the fleet. Gone, just like that.
His jaw tightened—but his face remained cold, unreadable.
> "We hold until the last. There is no retreat."
A deep, terrible silence rippled through the deck. Then he continued:
> "Hold formation. Prepare the cannons. Keep moving forward."
The sky shimmered as the remaining three warships surged ahead, flying in tight, flawless formation.
---
The Battered Landing
The scene shifted.
The three airships—still cocooned in the golden barriers conjured by Elira—descended into the forest. Trees shattered beneath them. Branches cracked like bones.
Inside the Virex, wind-aspected mages worked furiously, channeling powerful currents around the hull. Their staffs glowed with mana as they wove gusts to slow the descent—fighting gravity, fighting death.
The impact came hard.
Forest flattened. Soil tore.
But the barriers held.
Elira's golden shield blazed as it absorbed the brunt of the crash, stabilizing all three vessels.
The landings were brutal—but not fatal. The ships had survived.
---
Inside the Vigilant Dawn, Saintess Elira leaned on her staff, sweat dripping down her face. Mana still flickered along her robes, her breathing heavy as the ship finally ground to a halt.
Smoke curled through the corridors.
Amid the chaos, Commander Kaela stood motionless. Calm. Breath steady.
While others staggered, she was already moving—shoulders squared, steps precise.
> "Status," she demanded.
An officer snapped to attention.
> "Structural integrity holding. Engines and shields are gone. Minor fires in sections two and five. Casualties reported, but minimal."
> "Triage teams, move. Priests—get to the wounded. Prioritize the critical.
Water Mages: healing and suppression. Wind Mages: clear the smoke, stabilize the hull.
Keep us standing."
Suddenly, a voice crackled through the comm-crystal:
> "This is Virex. We're down but stable. Casualties manageable."
"Reach here. Shields held. We're upright and active."
Kaela allowed herself a breath. All three ships intact. Good.
She turned to her comms officer.
> "Open a direct channel to Lux Invicta. Secure line. I'll speak to the King myself."
The crystal pulsed gold. She lifted it to her lips.
> "Your Majesty, this is Commander Kaela. All three ships—Virex, Reach, and Virellian—have survived the descent. Minimal losses.
We are on the ground, consolidating and securing our position.
The castle at bearing 273 is within range. We're preparing to move out—containment perimeter forming now. No one escapes."
A moment passed.
Then came Theron's voice, sharp and resolute:
> "Good. You know what you're there to do. Make sure nothing gets out.
Move out now. No delay."
Kaela lowered the crystal and turned.
> "Open a link to Reach and Virex. Command frequency only."
The officer tuned the device. A soft hum filled the air.
Kaela's voice cut through the static—calm, direct, commanding.
> "This is Commander Kaela. His Majesty has given the order. We move now.
Form perimeter teams and link with mine at the central treeline.
No delays. Containment begins immediately. Confirm when ready to move."
Crackling responses followed:
> "Reach copies. Perimeter forming now."
"Virex ready. Linking scouts to your lead units."
Kaela gave a sharp nod and turned back to her crew.
> "You heard them. We move as one."
The hull groaned as the hatches opened.
Smoke rolled out into the trees. Soldiers emerged, weapons drawn, forming ranks.
Kaela stepped out into the forest—eyes scanning.
Behind her, Elira followed, staff in hand, golden light still glowing dimly beneath her fingertips.
---
The Final Volley
Far above, the Lux Invicta took point.
Its magic cannons whirred to life, charging with radiant energy. Glowing rings spun, locking into place—each one feeding into the forward batteries.
A command officer glanced up, pale.
> "All guns are charged. Standing by to fire. Forward batteries ready. Awaiting your command."
---
Below, deep within the forest…
Kaelen hovered silently above the castle.
For a brief moment, he looked down at the smoldering crash sites—nothing but smoke and wreckage and stubborn survival.
Then his gaze shifted upward.
He raised a hand.
The air trembled.
A tide of crimson mana pulsed outward from his body—boiling the very sky.
Blood-forged spears erupted around him. Not hundreds.
Thousands.
They screamed as they rose—twisting, writhing, jagged, hungry.
---
Inside the Lux Invicta, Theron had just finished speaking with Kaela.
He turned to the viewport.
He saw them.
A storm of blood-spears, blotting out the clouds.
No fear. No hesitation.
> "Fire."
---
The sky screamed.
Cannons ignited.
A volley of radiant mana roared out from all three ships—golden-white beams lancing through the air to meet the oncoming storm.