Starfania burst from behind the support beam, sprinting toward the rocket chamber entrance the moment the flames cleared. The vial remained clenched tightly in her hand while Cosmry glimmered beneath the eclipse light in the other. Almost there. She just needed one opening.
One chance. But the Golden Hunter moved before she could even reach the doorway. Silent. Effortless. Terrifyingly fast. His blade slammed against Cosmry with enough force to send sparks exploding across the platform. Starfania stumbled backward immediately. Blocked again. She circled him carefully, searching desperately for a weakness. Every time she thought she spotted an opening—he shut it down instantly. Like he already knew what she would do before she did it. The worst part wasn't his skills. It was the silence. Most enemies taunted. Threatened. Mocked. But not him.
The Golden Hunter hadn't spoken a single word since appearing. Not one. And somehow…that terrified Starfania far more. Because this wasn't anger. This wasn't personal hatred. He was studying her. Testing her. Playing with her like a predator cornering its prey. And worst of all—he seemed to enjoy watching her struggle. The realization sent ice down her spine. Above the compound, the eclipse moved steadily into position. Darkness consumed more of the sky with every passing second. The mechanical voice echoed relentlessly throughout the fortress.
" T-MINUS FIVE MINUTES."
" FINAL PRESSURIZATION COMPLETE."
Steam hissed violently from the rocket systems nearby. The launch chamber trembled under the growing pressure. Time was running out. Elsewhere in the fortress corridors, Lyam and Aeron continued fighting desperately against wave after wave of VulcanFire guards. The battle had become exhausting. Every time they knocked soldiers down—more replaced them immediately. Aeron swung his sword hard enough to send one guard crashing into the wall before stumbling backward breathlessly.
" They just keep coming!" he shouted, frustrated. Lyam blocked another strike before driving his elbow into a soldier's chest hard enough to drop him instantly. Even he looks exhausted now. Yet neither of them stopped fighting. Because Starfania was still out there alone.
Then, suddenly—a deafening roar echoed through the fortress. Both Lyam and Aeron froze for half a second. Another roar followed immediately after. Familiar. Powerful. Hope surged across Aeron's face instantly. " Drogo!"
The ceiling above shattered violently as two massive dragons crashed through the upper levels of the fortress. Lutu descended first like a living storm, slamming directly into a cluster of guards hard enough to scatter them across the corridor. Drogo followed immediately after, barreling through soldiers with reckless enthusiasm while letting out triumphant growls.
Guards screamed in panic as the dragon tore through their formation. Aeron burst into laughter despite the chaos. " About time you guys showed up!"
Drogo proudly bumped Aeron hard enough to nearly knock him over before turning and tail-whipping another guard into the wall. Even Lyam allowed himself a brief smile as Lutu positioned protectively beside him. Their dragons had found them. Back near the rocket chamber, Starfania continued weaving desperately between steel crates and support beams while the Golden Hunter's dragon relentlessly unleashed streams of emerald fire across the platform.
Flames exploded around her constantly. Heat scorched the air. Metal melted. Smoke choked her lungs beneath the helmet. Yet every path toward the rocket remained blocked. The Golden Hunter never rushed her. Never overextended. Never lose control. He simply kept forcing her backward again…and again. Like he already knew she couldn't win this fight. The dragon opened its jaws once more. Emerald flames erupted toward Starfania like a tidal wave. She barely had time to react. Then suddenly — BOOOOM! Brilliant blue flames collided violently against the emerald fire midair.
The explosion shook the entire platform. Fire scattered across the sky in blazing waves of blue and green. The Golden Hunter finally paused. So did his dragon. A powerful gust of wind slammed across the platform immediately after. Then a streak of black and white tore down from the eclipse sky above like a falling star. Massive wings spread wide. Sapphire eyes glowing brilliantly through the darkness. Atlas crashed onto the platform between Starfania and the Golden Hunter with enough force to crack the steel beneath him. His blue flames curled protectively around Starfania as he lowered himself defensively in front of her.
Starfania's eyes widened instantly before relief exploded across her face. The biggest smile she'd worn all night appeared beneath the cracked visor of her helmet. " Atlas!"
Atlas immediately let out a fierce roar toward the Golden Hunter and his dragon—as if daring them to come closer now.