One of Alen's allies had perished, killed in an instant.
For a fleeting moment, the military squad had believed they were holding their own against the Cerebus Guild. Their spells were strong, their coordination tight. They fought as a single unit, fire and lightning working in rhythm. It hadn't felt hopeless.
But now, seeing one of their comrades obliterated without warning, without even leaving a body behind, they finally understood the truth.
They hadn't even managed to land a mark on any of the five golden-winged mages. The difference in strength wasn't a gap. It was an abyss.
And yet, despite the despair clawing at them, the soldiers of Alterian didn't give up. They were military. They had stood against worse odds before.
