Without hesitation, Zed lunged forward, his shield raised like a battering ram. The ground beneath him cracked as he launched himself straight at the figure before him.
"Where is Floris?" he asked, calm yet cold, each word laced with unshakable resolve.
Floris narrowed her eyes. Shadows writhed across her body like living armor, and in one fluid motion, she threw her weight forward. A shockwave of dark energy surged from her body, hurling Zed backward into the air.
"Why must you all get in our way?" she muttered, her voice dark with irritation.
Spiraling through the air, Zed twisted his body mid-flight. In a flash, his shield shifted its edges morphing into a sleek a sword. As he fell, he dug the sword's edge into the ground and dragged it hard to slow his fall.
Dust swirled around him as he landed on one knee.
He rose slowly, eyes locked onto hers.
"If I have to cut you open to get Floris back…" Zed said, tightening his grip, "…then I'll gladly cut you down."
Elsewhere, on the back of the writhing worm, Banid strained to hold the creature still, muscles aching from the effort.
"Monster boy… a little help?" he grunted, glancing at Felt.
"Yeah, no," Felt replied flatly, not even looking at him.
"No?" Banid snapped. "Look I know you've got beef with us, but this thing is aiming for your frie-"
He was cut off.
The worm had stopped moving. Its many eyes turned slowly toward Felt, now clearly recognizing him as its new target.
Felt blinked. "Well, that's not good."
The worm's massive body shuddered. With a sudden jolt, it bucked beneath them. Felt staggered, nearly losing his footing.
"I'd move if I were you," Felt muttered.
Banid didn't wait. He leaped just in time as a massive bolt of lightning exploded from Felt's hand, crashing down onto the worm in a blinding flash.
Smoke billowed upward, covering the battlefield.
They waited.
Then… the smoke cleared.
The worm remained. Unscathed.
Banid stared in disbelief. "What happened?! Why is it unharmed?!"
Felt sighed, a touch of mock humor in his voice, but even he looked unsettled. "Well, good news it's no longer aiming for whatever it was before."
He took a step back, eyes narrowing.
"Bad news… My powers don't work on it."
Atop a crumbling rooftop overlooking the chaos below, Grayslake stood silently. His coat flapped in the wind, his gaze fixed on the battlefield.
He spotted it Zed's sword, half-buried in the debris below. With measured steps, he walked to it and picked it up.
Holding it for a moment, he tilted his head toward the distant fight, his eyes unreadable.
"It appears I shall join this battle," he said quietly.