The Watcher moved like lightning—phasing through walls, its glowing eyes locked on Kael and Lira. The Ridge shook with every step it took. Rocks tumbled. Crystals shattered.
Kael clutched both cores tightly as they ran through the twisting tunnels.
"Left!" Lira shouted.
They darted into a narrow path, but the Watcher came through the wall ahead, blocking the exit.
"We're trapped!" Kael yelled, spinning around.
The Watcher raised its arm. Energy gathered in its palm. One strike and the whole tunnel would collapse.
Then—the blue Skycore in Kael's hand began to glow brighter than ever. The light shot out and wrapped around his arm like a sleeve of power.
Kael felt warmth rush through him—his vision sharpened, his legs steadied.
Without thinking, he raised his hand.
A blast of blue light exploded from the core—slamming into the Watcher and sending it crashing into the rocks.
The tunnel behind the Watcher began to cave in.
"Now!" Kael shouted.
He and Lira sprinted past as the ceiling collapsed behind them. Dust and stone rained down, but they made it out—bursting into the sunlight on the cliff's edge.
Kael dropped to his knees, panting. The blue core hovered beside him, now dim again.
Lira looked at him, wide-eyed. "You just blasted a Watcher. With a core."
Kael stood slowly. "I didn't even know I could do that."
She grinned. "Then what else can they do?"
They walked back to The Emberwing, battered but alive—two cores in hand, one mystery deeper, and a new question rising.
If these cores had powers…
What would happen when all four came together?