Elena sprinted across the battlefield, her armor cracked and her blade dripping. Her eyes locked on the mana core inside the warp gate. If she destroyed it, reinforcements would never arrive.
But when she reached it, she froze.
Ezra was already there. His sword was buried deep in the glowing core. The light shuddered, then died. The gate collapsed.
Elena smiled faintly, then her body gave out. She fell.
"—Elena!"
Ezra caught her before she hit the ground. He checked her pulse. Weak, but alive. Her body was covered in wounds, each breath shallow. He pulled out the signal gun and fired.
A red fog spread across the sky. The signal of completion.
Ezra looked at Mirella's corpse in the distance, then back at Elena. "Good grief… killing above your stage. What kind of monster are you?"
