The fire sprites erupted into a blazing swarm, their tiny forms streaking through the air like living fireworks.
The chamber transformed into an inferno of chaos.
Guards scattered, shouting contradictory orders as superheated air seared their lungs.
"Containment breach!"
"Get the suppressors!"
"Where the hell did he go?"
Overhead sprinklers hissed to life, sending torrents of water cascading down.
Steam billowed as droplets met sprite fire, filling the chamber with choking clouds.
Kane pressed himself against the wall, using the smoke as cover. The baton felt slick in his sweaty grip, the keycard's edge cutting into his palm.
Behind the chaos, he caught glimpses of freed spirits fleeing—the deer spirit vaulting over fallen guards, the owl spirit's wings beating frantically toward an air vent.
But others weren't so lucky. The wounded rabbit spirit stumbled into a guard's arms, crying out as containment cuffs snapped around his wrists.
