The battlefield had changed completely the moment Atlas arrived. No longer was Starfania cornered and hunted through shadows. Now both sides stood with their dragons beside them. Equal ground. Atlas lowered himself slightly, blue fire curling between his fangs as his sapphire eyes remained locked onto the Golden Hunter's dragon.
Across from them, the false-gold beast spread its wings wide beneath the eclipse sky, emerald flames dripping from its jaw like venom. Neither dragon blinked. Neither looked away. Predators measuring one another. Starfania tightened her grip around Cosmry. Her breathing steadied. Then Atlas glanced toward the rocket. He understood the mission. So did she. The Golden Hunter attacked first. Without warning, he lunged forward with terrifying speed. Metal screamed against metal as his blade collided against Cosmry again. But this time—Starfania moved differently.
She flowed with the strike instead of resisting it. Like water. Like her father taught her. The sword is just another extension of your body…Your body needs to flow like a river. Starfania twisted sideways gracefully, redirecting the force instead of taking it head-on. Simultaneously, Atlas surged forward beneath her command with no need for words. Blue flames erupted across the platform, forcing the Golden Hunter's dragon backward long enough to open a path toward the rocket. Starfania sprinted instantly. Atlas followed beside her like a storm unleashed. In another part of the room, Aeron, Lyam, Drogo, and Lutu fought relentlessly to keep the guards from getting to Starfania.
Drogo barreled through soldiers recklessly, tail whipping guards off platforms while roaring triumphantly every few seconds. Lutu fought with terrifying precision. Golden light crackled around his wings every time he moved. Aeron slashed through another soldier before shouting breathlessly, " Starfania! Hurry!"
Lyam blocked two incoming strikes before kicking a guard down the stairs hard enough to send several more tumbling with him. " We're running out of time!"
Far away in Primara, the atmosphere had become frantic. Bells echoed across the Nation. Dragons were being guided into protected sanctuaries deep within the mountains.
Riders hurried through the streets, helping secure gates and quarantine zones exactly as Starfania had ordered days before. Fear lingered everywhere. But so did hope. Violet stood near one of the sanctuary entrances beside Maxmillian's daughter, carefully helping calm a frightened young dragon hatchling trembling against her.
" It's okay," Violet whispered softly while stroking its scales. " You're safe here."
Yet every few moments…her eyes drifted upward toward the eclipse sky. Toward the distant horizon where Aeron, Starfania, Atlas, and Drogo were fighting. Worry filled her face no matter how hard she tried hiding it. Katherine eventually noticed. The blacksmith gently rested a hand on Violet's shoulder.
" They'll come back," she whispered. Violet nodded…but her small hands still trembled slightly.
Back at the fortress, the sky darkened completely. The Eternal Sun was nearing totality. Twilight swallowed the world whole. A deep, unnatural chill swept across the battlefield. Even the flames looked wrong beneath the eclipse light. Then the mechanical voice echoed across the compound one last time.
" TEN."
Every soldier froze.
" NINE."
Atlas snarled loudly.
" EIGHT."
Steam exploded from the rocket's vents.
" SEVEN."
Lyam's eyes widened slightly.
" SIX."
Aeron tightened his grip on his sword.
" FIVE."
The entire structure began trembling violently.
" FOUR."
Starfania finally reached the platform leading toward the rocket chamber.
" THREE."
The Golden Hunter suddenly appeared directly in front of her again. Blocking the last path.
" TWO."
His dragon roared triumphantly.
" ONE."
A deafening hum erupted beneath the fortress. Then the rocket ignited. Violet energy exploded downward in violent waves. The entire facility shook. Metal screamed. Fire erupted from the launch chamber beneath the rocket as it slowly began rising upward toward the eclipse sky. Starfania froze completely. Her eyes widened behind the cracked visor of her helmet. Atlas stopped beside her, staring upward in horror. The vial still remained clenched tightly in her hand. But now the rocket was already ascending. Already leaving them behind. The Golden Hunter finally made a sound. No words. Laughter. Low. Disoriented beneath the helmet. Like he had enjoyed every second of delaying her. Like this outcome had been inevitable from the start.
The sound echoed through the eclipse darkness like a nightmare. Starfania stared helplessly at the ascending rocket. Her voice barely came out a whisper. " We're too late…"
Across the battlefield, Lyam felt the tremors beneath his feet and slowly looked upward in dread. Aeron's face pale instantly. Back in Primara…Violet stopped moving entirely. Her eyes lifted toward the eclipse sky. Silently praying, Starfania had made it in time.