Cher sprinted through the broken halls, sparks flying and smoke rising from the aftermath of the recent attacks. Covering her mouth, she skillfully weaved past falling rubble until she reached the main block, warriors rushed past her from the inner chamber, fleeing the explosion.
"Where's Captain Garm?" she called out in desperation.
None answered, too focused on escaping, until a Veylan paused, turned to her, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Cher, thank the stars you're alive, Garm is still inside, please, go to him, we'll secure the escape route."
Her face etched with worry, but she nodded. "Thank you," with that, she dashed in the opposite direction.
Inside the massive hangar, smoke billowed thickly, shrouding almost every corner, Garm leaned against a steel pillar, struggling with his body that hasn't fully recovered, the blue Veyrith rampaged violently, its body remained unscathed even after the devastating explosion, Garm used every ounce of his wit to stay alive, slipping through the smoke, striking when he could, and drawing the monster's attention to buy his people more time.
But his efforts couldn't last forever.
The Veyrith suddenly shifted back to its original form, arms stretching unnaturally wide before spinning into a violent vortex, siphoning the smoke away, Garm's eyes widened as the haze cleared, leaving him exposed.
Across the room, the blue Veyrith's twisted grin stretched ear to ear.
"Found you… little rat."
Garm scurried away just as the steel pillar behind him was wrenched free by a massive arm and hurled in his direction, the platform above took the brunt of the impact, sparing him, if only for a moment. The blue Veyrith slithered low across the floor, its body twisting unnaturally before coiling around him, in a heartbeat, Garm was ensnared from waist down. He struggled, gasping as the pressure gets tighter and his wounds tearing open again.
"Let… him… go!"
A massive generator whistled through the air, crashing against the Veyrith and forcing it to loosen its grip, irritation flashed across the monster's face just as Cher came hurtling into the fray. Her limbs had transformed into reptilian and leapt with unrelenting fury slamming into the Veyrith square in the face with a bone-cracking dropkick.
Landing on its chest, she used it as leverage, hooking her arms under her father's shoulders and yanking him free from the creature's grasp. With a final push, she leapt away with Garm in her arms, dragging him back toward safety.
Coughing, Garm summoned the last of his strength to warn his daughter.
"He… he is… indestructible… run!"
Cher glanced back at the monster, its grin hadn't changed, wide, sinister, unshaken. With a violent roar, it slammed its arm toward them, Cher reacted instantly, yanking her father aside and narrowly dodging the crushing blow, then the Veyrith's body convulsed, its skin ripple before sprouting another set of arms, its physique developed into an even more monstrous form, it flexed its legs and hurtled forward.
A massive bluish shield suddenly intercepted, absorbing the impact, Gil's body trembling under the sheer force, being shoved back alongside him, barked in frustration. "You trying to push me or comfort me?" he shouted, gritting his teeth as Eric shifted his stance, trying to balance the overwhelming power pressing down on them.
Mana dashed to Cher's side, helping her lift Garm to safety. But the Veyrith, grinning wider than ever, extended its arms, twisting its body in a full rotation, with a massive force, it swept Gil and Eric aside in a single devastating motion, clearing its path toward Cher.
Before it could close the distance though, Mana stood firm, planting her feet, she raised her hand and chanted, "Heed my wishes… Lith Shaever!"
The monster suddenly froze mid-charge, its body crushed beneath a weight greater than stone, greater than steel. It felt like a mountain itself had pressed against its skin, in the next instant, a colossal blast erupted, hurling the Veyrith backward. The explosion carved a cone-shaped crater into the ground, tearing a massive hole through the hangar wall.
"Let's go!" Mana shouted.
Cher called out and together they flee as the blue Veyrith rose again from the rubble as it touches his broken chin and re-adjusting it before smiling, inside the inner chamber they went pass four corridors which was a secret passage as they try figure out where to go, Garm pointed the way, Mana glancing at one specific corridor with a marking on the door L-12 which leads to the laboratory where she was kept for years, then an explosion occurred to where they come from, the blue Veyrith relentlessly going towards them with renewed tenacity.
"There!" Garm pointed as they stumbled into the L-19 gate, where a crowd had gathered on the other side. A massive ship loomed ahead, its hull battered, engineers frantically working to repair the engines damaged by falling debris.
Cher laid her father down gently and called out for medical personnel. From beneath the ship, where a makeshift ward had been set up for the wounded, Asha and Leticia rushed over with supplies, leaving behind the rows of patients they had been tending.
"Your stitches are reopening, we have to stop the bleeding first," Leticia said urgently, already opening her case as two medics hurried to prepare a bed for Garm's operation.
Cher, worried, gripped her father's hand, behind them, the steel gate shuddered violently under the relentless strikes of the blue Veyrith, each punch leaving deep handprints in the reinforced metal.
"Father… stay here. I must go," Cher whispered.
Garm met her eyes, seeing the fierce determination burning, he sighed, then slowly released her hand, giving her a single nod.
Gil and Eric exchanged quick smiles with him, before turning to follow Cher and Mana back toward the battle.
Outside the Southern passage, the gorge lay silent after the battle, Markus struggled to force his body upright, blood pooling beneath him, but all he managed was to collapse onto his back to slow the bleeding, his gaze drifted upward to the sky, where, for a fleeting moment, peace seemed certain.
Then, before him, the armored Veyrith general twitched a finger.
A yellow aura erupted, engulfing his body as the armor stretched and warped. Plates split apart seamlessly, peeling back to reveal the true form sealed within, with a chorus of cracking bones, like a sick joke, the general rose again, transformed into a towering beast. Its massive, bear-like frame bristled with muscle, claws as long as blades, a snarling snout, and eyes burning crimson.
Bruised and battered, Markus could only stare as the creature raised a claw for a sweeping strike, resigned, he shut his eyes and accepted his death.
But in that instant, an escaped Veylan darted in, seizing Markus and dragging him away from the fatal blow. Sprinting toward the gate's entrance, the Veylan carried him to safety as the beast roared and forced its way into the base, its colossal frame tearing through walls and ripping apart steel gates with terrifying strength.
Through the hallowed halls they ran, lights behind them shattered one by one as the monster pursued, its claws raking across the walls, grinding metal and stone like paper.
The Veylan abruptly skidded to a halt, spotting an opening, his rune flared to life across his chest, "Morph, Vael Kuld" and the hallway itself responded, sprouting jagged spears that shot forward and impaled the creature, blood sprayed across the corridor that stopped the beasts' advance.
But then its eyes blazed brighter, with a guttural snarl, the beast tore itself free and charged, even more enraged than before.
Cursing under his breath, the Veylan sprinted again, they burst into the L-15 gate and stumbled into an elevator, slamming the controls, as the doors sealed, claws raked across the steel with a shriek, leaving deep gouges before the lift finally descended.
A heavy thud shook the car, lights flickered, and the Veylan's face twisted in disbelief.
"You've got to be kidding me!" he tore as the ceiling above them screeched and peeled away, the beast had reached its massive claws inside like grabbing snacks.
The two lurched aside as the beast's claws ripped through the roof, narrowly missing them. One massive swipe almost caught the Veylan square, and in the chaos her cloak was torn away, her long hair spilled over her shoulders.
Markus's eyes widened, "Euphie Morlo… Twelfth Albiz Phiria Division."
The woman met his gaze and, despite the danger, offered a quick smile.
"Your memory's as sharp as ever, but this is no time for a reunion."
The beast snarled again, slamming its claws deep into the elevator's wires. Sparks rained down like falling stars, the steel shrieks in protest until the cables snapped, one after another, both Markus and Euphie realized instantly what it meant.
Without hesitation, Euphie seized Markus and leapt upward just as the car began its deadly plunge, with flexibility akin to a gymnast, she twisted midair, narrowly dodging the beast's snapping jaws, her rune flared, bending the steel above them into a jagged spear, and she latched onto it, dangling high above the dark shaft.
Suspended in the air, Euphie clutched Markus close, his breath brushed her ear as she glanced at his battered face, her cheeks flushed red.
Euphie muttered, "Will you get away from me?", Markus blinked, caught off guard, "Ha? And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"
Below them, the guttural roar of the beast echoed up the shaft as it plummeted with the falling elevator until the darkness swallowed it whole.
Cher unleashed her full reptilian form, scales glistening under the burning light as she tore into the blue Veyrith with feral strength. But just like before, her claws and strikes sank into its body without effect. The monster only grinned, unfazed, as if mocking every effort.
Eric darted in, nunchaku spinning wildly, he attacked recklessly, each strike bounce against the Veyrith's body. Yet the beast barely twitched, disinterested, allowing his blows to land as though they were nothing.
"Move, idiot!" Gil intercepted the counter, the Veyrith's massive fist came crashing down, but Gil caught it on his shield, the impact reverberating through his arm. He shoved Eric back, cursing under his breath. "You airhead! You'll get yourself killed!"
Eric stumbled, but as he steadied himself, he makes a discovery. "My weapon… it felt like hitting nothing, just a mass."
Gil froze at his words, his gut clenched as a theory surfaced, "What if this thing isn't real at all? What if what we're fighting is just a figment… controlled from far away?"
Cher launched a devastating kick to the creature's face. For a heartbeat, the strike seemed to land true then the Veyrith simply smiled, its massive claw seized her leg midair.
"Cher!" Gil shouted.
With terrifying ease, the monster swung her like a ragdoll and hurled her across the battlefield, her body crashed into the steel wreckage with a deafening clang.
Mana rushed to Cher's side, brushing the rubble from her as she staggered to her feet. Cher reverted back to her human form, bruised and breathing heavily, Mana's eyes lit up, seething with anger, her second rune flared to life.
The battlefield fell into stillness, a chilling aura swept across the chamber.
Her voice rang out like steel through the silence, "Pierce the sky, Erbeaum!"
In an instant, a pillar of blinding light erupted, swallowing the blue Veyrith whole. The beam tore straight through the roof, ripping open the steel enclosure as shards of steel rained down. When the light finally faded, the monster stood frozen beneath layers of permafrost, encased in crystalline ice.
Mana collapsed, both runes on her body dimmed, exhausted, her breaths shallow and strained. Cher caught her, slipping an arm under her, Mana, though pale, managed a faint smile.
"I am glad… you're safe…" she whispered before her eyes fluttered shut.
Cher hugged her tightly for a heartbeat, then hoisted Mana onto her back.
Gil's voice cut through the heavy silence, "We have to move now!"
The others followed without hesitation, retreating toward the airship. Behind them, the frozen monster stood silent and unmoving, until a faint crack split the permafrost, spreading slowly across its surface.
Back at the nineteenth level, chaos reigned, more wounded poured into the hangar, while engineers scrambled to patch the battered airship, women and children were herded aboard, their cries drowned by the clang of tools, it was the last vessel left and it could barely carry nine hundred souls.
Garm lay unconscious on a makeshift bed, Cher gently lowered Mana beside him, Asha hurried over with supplies, checking her pulse, Cher then asked about her father's condition, "His condition is stable, you needn't worry."
Cher nodded in relief as tears welled in her eyes, she allowed herself a small smile.
Moments later, Euphie appeared, carrying Markus, his body was battered, medics swarmed him at once, Cher rushed to his side, calling his name, but he was already unconscious.
Euphie lingered, her gaze shifting from Markus to Cher, something flickered in her eyes, recognition. Her lips parted as she's about to speak, but Cher lowered her head, cutting her off with quiet gratitude, "Thank you… for saving him."
Euphie blinked, then gave the faintest smile, the words she had meant to say swallowed by the moment.
Then, a commanding voice echoed through the hangar, "Attention! The ship is ready for departure! All passengers, board immediately, we leave in minutes!"
The bustle resumed at once, families clutched one another, soldiers supported the wounded, engineers scrambled to their posts as the airship's engines roared to life. Cher stood, her eyes swept across the crowded hangar, searching but Hendrick and Commander Briggs were nowhere to be found.
Her steps carried her to the announcer, and with a hushed voice she asked. He only shook his head, before turning back to his duties.
Outside, flares ignited, alerting everyone outside, "Alert, Alert, all passengers must board immediately".
Cher bolted for the exit, but a hand seized her arm—Euphie's. With a firm shake of her head, the older Veylan silently urged her not to go.
"Let me go!" Cher snapped, brushing her aside. But Euphie's skill far outmatched hers; in an instant, she twisted Cher into submission.
Frustrated and burning with the need to act, Cher's rune flickered. Her arm shifted into its reptilian form, and with a sudden surge she swatted Euphie across the cheek. The strike landed harder than she meant, and guilt flashed in her eyes—she opened her mouth to apologize.
But Euphie's composure broke for the first time. Driven by her own emotions, she swung back, her fist cracking across Cher's face.
The tension snapped.
The two Veylans companions nearby rushed to separate them, while Gil and Eric sprinted over. In the chaos, Eric stepped into hia untied lace, his flailing elbow catching one of the Veylans in the ribs, the warrior reeled back, mistaking it for a deliberate blow.
Before anyone could explain, a swift kick slammed into Eric's side.
"Oi! What the heck?!" Gil barked, lashing out, and just like that, the hangar devolved into a sudden skirmish, soldiers got involved trying to control the situation.
Euphie held Cher in a firm stand-down, then with a low and heavy tone, "Commander's orders" she paused, seeing the desperation in Cher's eyes, "Commander will not be coming with us."
She closed her eyes bitterly, Cher's face twisted in disbelief warring within her, before Euphie could say more, the skies above the glass ceiling blazed white.
Flames poured down like a violent rainstorm, streaking the heavens.
One of the personnel leaned close to the announcer. "We have an emergency… I repeat, we have an emergency. Everyone, board the ship immediately before collateral fire falls upon us!" The loudspeakers echoed across the hangar as fear rippled through the crowd.
Cher's eyes widened, she shoved Euphie aside and sprinted toward the doors, only to freeze as the radio crackled to life.
Bzzzt.
The voice was hoarse but unmistakable, Commander Briggs.
Through the static, he spoke, outside sitting among corpses, wounds riddling his body. "…Everyone… I'm sorry if I disappoint you. We have lived through fear all these years, yet we rose against all odds… and it brought us here, together. You have all been a family to me. We built this haven with our own hands, and now the Veyrith threaten to tear it from us once more."
A cough, then a strained laugh.
"…My only wish… is for you all to live... Remember this day... Hone your skills, broaden your minds, and one day reclaim our world from these invaders."
His voice cracked but steadied again.
"Live, be free, someday. I will not be there… but remember how we fought together. I will never forget you… my sons and daughters."
A pause, his breathing slowed.
"This… is my final message. And this… is an order."
"Bzzzt" The transmission cut out. Cher's legs gave out, she collapsed to her knees, sobs wracking her body, her cries echoed through the hangar as Gil and Eric pulled her up, dragging her toward the waiting airship while the engines roared, leaving the place they once called home, Cher tries to struggle but his message rendered her weak.