Jax's heart raced as the jaws of an undead hound snapped dangerously close to his face, its red eyes glowing in the dark. Above the edge of the Freefolk slums hovered the Necromancer scout ship, its red runes casting a fearful glow on the dusty ground. Jax's Lightweave shield illuminated brightly, pushing the hound back, but seven more closed in, their growls rattling his bones. At his side, Jane stood firm, her stun gauntlet crackling with energy and determination blazing in her eyes. The red-gloved Necromancer facing them emanated a dark threat, whispering, "Give up the Construct, Thorne, or your friend's blood will stain the Vale."
The hologram of Kael—battered but alive—had just vanished, and guilt knotted in Jax's stomach; Kael had taken a hit for him, and he wasn't about to lose him now.
"Energy reserves: 55%," the Construct chimed in a cold voice amidst the chaos. "Neutralize hostiles to proceed with the rescue." The journal in Jax's pocket flared, the sister's warning echoing in his mind: "Protect the light, or lose it."
Jane fired her gauntlet, a blue bolt striking a hound, which howled and collapsed, but the others surged forward. "Jax, light 'em up!" she yelled, her voice filled with fire.
Jax grinned, her bravery infectious. The earlier bully fight had ignited a spark within him, and Kael's sacrifice turning it into a flame. He transformed his Lightweave shield into a glowing spear, piercing through one hound, reducing it to ash. "Reserves: 50%." "Take that, mutts!" he shouted, adrenaline surging.
The Necromancer raised their glowing red gloves, summoning four more hounds whose claws scratched the earth. "You're nothing," they sneered, dark energy crackling in the air. "The master owns you."
Jane scoffed, rummaging through her pack. "Yeah? Try this." She produced a fist-sized orb etched with runes and tossed it. The orb hummed, releasing a jolt that froze the hounds in their tracks, their runes flickering as if their magic was faltering.
"What the hell is that?" Jax exclaimed in surprise.
"Rune-disruptor," Jane replied, a smirk on her face. "Fresh from the workshop. Now hit 'em!"
Without hesitation, Jax yelled, "Flame Pulse!" Flames erupted, burning up three hounds into ashes. His nose burned and blood trickled, yet he laughed, riding the high of victory. "Reserves: 45%." Jane's new device was a game-changer—they could rescue Kael and find the shrine.
The Necromancer growled, unleashing a dark bolt. Jax quickly morphed his Lightweave spear back into a shield to block it, though the impact pushed him back a step. Jane lunged, blasting the Necromancer in the chest with her gauntlet. They staggered, their hood slipping to reveal a scarred jaw but an empty face. "Where's Kael?" Jane demanded, her tone steely.
The Necromancer's laugh was feeble and raspy. "Shadowed Vale… outpost… you'll die trying." Just as they raised a glove, Jax struck first. His Lightweave spear pierced their shoulder, shattering their runes. The hounds crumbled, and the Necromancer turned into ash, leaving behind a glowing rune-stone.
Jax snatched it up, feeling its warmth, coordinates etched into its surface. "Got him," he said, hope tightening his voice. Kael was out there, and they'd find him.
Jane's scanner beeped, locking onto the location. "Vale's warp zone," she said, her expression serious. "A Necromancer outpost, deep in the shadows. It's gonna be rough."
Jax nodded, tucking the rune-stone safely away. The journal glowed with new words: "The Vale's shadows hide the truth. Stay strong, marked one." His chest tingled where his blood mark—four circles like the sisters' runes—had begun glowing since the Spires. "We're ready," he said, locking eyes with Jane. Her nod reassured him.
A sharp whistle shattered the silence, and Jax spun, Lightweave flaring up. A figure emerged from the slums—not a Necromancer, but a woman, about 25, sporting braided hair and a worn leather jacket. Her crossbow hung loosely at her side, a crooked but warm grin on her face. "Nice show," she said, her voice rough as gravel. "Name's Lila. You're the Construct kid, Jax, right?"
Jane's gauntlet hummed, her demeanor sharp. "And you're sneaking up because…?"
Lila laughed, raising her hands in a gesture of peace. "Easy, tinker. I hunt Necromancers. Heard you're after one's outpost. I know the Vale—it's tricky. I can get you there."
Jax's intuition twisted, recalling the sister's warning about "traitors." Lila's scars and confident stance screamed Freefolk, but trust was precarious. "What's in it for you?" he asked, his spear still aglow.
"Necromancer gear," Lila retorted with a sly grin. "And a chance to take them down. Deal?"
Jane glanced at Jax, silently urging him to agree. "Fine," he conceded, lowering his spear. "But if you pull anything, you're ash."
Lila's laughter was bright, as if she welcomed the threat. "Fair enough. Let's move."
She led them to an unmaintained cart hidden behind a shack, stocked with supplies—bread, water, and a tattered Vale map. "The warp zone's nasty," Lila said, tossing Jax the map. "Illusions, undead, things that don't die easy. Stay sharp."
Jax examined the map, its jagged edges sending chills through him. He recalled Kael's grin and how he dove in to save him. "Kael's counting on us," he murmured. "We don't stop."
Jane nudged him lightly. "Never do. You good?"
He gave an uncertain nod, feeling his mark itch and recalling Kael's bloody hologram. "Yeah, just… hate that he's in this mess because of me."
"He chose it," Jane replied, her gaze steady. "Like I choose you. We'll bring him back."
Her words struck deep, warming his heart. Jane had always been his anchor. He squeezed her hand quickly before releasing it, embarrassed but feeling lighter. "Thanks," he muttered.
Lila smirked, climbing aboard the cart. "Cute. Let's roll before more deadheads show up."
The cart rattled away from the slums, the Wastes sprawling beneath a starry sky. Jax's energy held at "Reserves: 47%," but exhaustion weighed on his body. Jane fiddled with her disruptor, her focus soothing his nerves, while Lila hummed an upbeat Freefolk tune.
Suddenly, the Construct interrupted. "Hostile presence detected. Multiple signatures." Jane's scanner blared, and Lila yanked on the cart's reins, cursing. "Ambush!" she yelled, seizing her crossbow.
From the shadows emerged a dozen undead spiders, their dog-sized bodies bristling with sharp legs. A cloaked figure stood behind them, eyes glowing red and staff pulsing with dark energy. Not the Master—but another disciple, their voice a low growl. "Thorne, the master's will is law!"
Jax's Lightweave erupted into a spiked wall. Jane's disruptor hummed, while Lila's crossbow twanged, a bolt striking a spider's eye. The cart rocked as spiders swarmed, their claws scraping against the wood. The disciple raised their staff, unleashing a wave of dark energy that shattered Jax's wall.
Jane's fierce gaze met his. "We got this, Jax!"
Feeling the rush of adrenaline, Jax nodded, Kael's hologram spurring him forward. The spiders advanced, and the disciple's energy surged, aimed straight for the cart.