Both crimson eyes stared intensely at each other.
Draven muttered through a clenched jaw, "Damn fucking bastard."
His lip curled in rage, and then he snapped, "Fuck!"
He spun around and took off.
Ivan just stood there, watching him go, eyes cold.
---
Draven was a blur, sprinting down the hallway like a shadow—body low, moving fast.
He turned the corner at full speed, not losing an inch of momentum: smooth, silent, balanced, precise, with no wasted motion.
He continued moving low and fast, then suddenly stopped.
He had already arrived at the door to his room.
---
His hand shot out, instantly slammed the door open, and he stepped inside fast, eyes scanning the room sharply.
Shit, where did I put it?
He dashed forward and appeared beside his bed, his hand moving to open the drawers on the bedside chest—nothing.
---
His gaze snapped to the other chest on the opposite side of the bed.
He moved instantly, leaping over the bed.
His hands quickly opened all the drawers—again, nothing.
He bent down, looking under the bed—still nothing.
---
"God fucking dammit!"
He moved again, appearing before the door of a large built-in wardrobe placed along the side of the room opposite the bed.
He instantly swung the doors open as he moved, scattering his entire wardrobe.
He pulled out drawers, eyes scanning shelves.
Doesn't look like it's in here.
It had been so fucking long that he forgot he even had something like that.
Only got a few seconds. If I don't find it... looks like that bastard might—
---
His thought was cut off as his eyes widened slightly and his head snapped upwards.
Now I remember!
---
He took a step back, then suddenly leapt up, placing his dagger on the edge of the top of his wardrobe.
His eyes scanned the dusty top as his gaze landed upon the Spirit Egg—a black, round egg-shaped object just the size of a chicken egg.
Seeing it, his other hand snapped forward, grabbing it.
---
"Got it. I just tossed it up here back then."
He let go of the wardrobe and fell gently to the floor, turning to look at the Spirit Egg.
---
Suddenly, his eyes picked up something as he felt the castle shift and crumble slightly.
Huh? What was that? Are they already here? he thought, jaw clenched.
He moved instantly, sprung out of the room, quickly charging down the hallway at full speed.
Don't have any time to waste, he thought, gaze fixed ahead.
Reaching the corner without slowing down, he charged forward, twisting fluidly and easily turning the corner without losing speed.
He continued onwards.
---
The Deployment
Outside, on the bridge of the Lux Invicta, the deck lights flickered as mana surged through the ship's veins.
Officers scrambled to manage power cycling and targeting sequences.
---
Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out across the command deck, cutting through the noise.
"Your Majesty, visual confirmation. Ser Alric Vael, the Hammer of the Faith of the Order of Luminous, has engaged the target."
---
Theron turned his head slightly but said nothing.
His gaze sharpened.
---
The reporting officer—young, pale—stood rigid at his station, swallowing hard.
He continued, "He's in melee range. Just passed the outer altitude marker. He's with the target now."
---
Theron's hands tightened behind his back, gaze fixed on the storm.
---
Another officer spoke from the weapons station.
"Our cannons are seconds from full recharge, and soldiers from below are advancing within the strike zone. Should we hold fire?"
---
Theron's jaw moved once.
For a breath, he said nothing.
Then his voice came out cold and precise:
"Hold fire."
---
The air on the bridge shifted.
No one questioned him.
They didn't have to.
---
He spoke again, each word sharp and deliberate, his voice low and clinical.
"Drop the hatches. Release all Knights."
---
Hands executed the command before he finished.
Mechanical locks unlatched with a metallic song.
The ships slowly began flying lower.
---
Along the backs of all three airships, titanic clamps released with a thunderous clack.
Then, with a deafening hydraulic roar, the rear bay doors slammed open, hinging down like steel jaws unhinging—forming wide, sloped ramps into the open sky.