Amidst the rush of wind against her wings, Gaia's thoughts drifted back to the moment before she activated Akashic-Key on the floating rock, a sudden idea sparking within her mind.
The possibility of exchanging information to seal a transcendent object into a Heretic's Rune, specifically one capable of stopping the immortal, was tantalizing.
Yet, fear gnawed at her – the risk of sacrificing her sanity for an uncertainty. Not only did she doubt her ability to pay the potential price demanded by the Akashic Records, but her team's dependence on her weighed heavily. With a sigh, she resigned herself to the reality of their mission. Their survival depended on it.
As they approached Elysium, the Riders' instruments began picking up their target's StreamBreath Pulsation. "He's still perched atop the pyramid," CodeForger's voice crackled through the Mind-Lace, their primary means of communication until they were within closer proximity. The tension was palpable, even through the impersonal medium.
"I know," Gaia replied, her voice tight with the knowledge that he awaited them. Standard VoidBubble tactics – predictable and puerile. It was almost insulting, as if they were mere pawns in a game he had already won. "Though I'm only detecting two life signs nearby," CodeForger added, concern tingling her voice. A tremor of unease ran through Gaia.
She was already suspecting the worst.
She hoped, though, that the ShadowWeave,r disguised as some inconspicuous creature, was evading Codex-7's scanners. Selhob was resourceful, and his shapeshifting abilities were unparalleled.
"Daed!" Igniss's voice boomed, cutting through the tense silence. Daed, supporting Igniss's flight, adjusted his course, veering south as Gaia and CodeForger surged ahead. They had to be ready for whatever awaited them.
Activating her Kin Rune, Gaia conjured a gray orb, leaving it behind as she continued towards the Hall. The orb hovered, then released a swirling gray haze, summoning roaring thunder, screeching winds, and dense storm clouds that rapidly engulfed the planet's hemisphere. A dramatic entrance, she mused, but a necessary one.
Reaching the skies above the city's outskirts, Gaia and CodeForger deactivated the Mind-Lace and hovered over the forests, drawing StreamBreath from the Way-Shear. They observed Iskander floating above the giant pyramid, a solitary figure against the backdrop of the storm they had created. Then, in a blink, he vanished and reappeared a hundred feet away, silently descending towards the woods below. The two Riders followed, their wings beating in unison.
Upon landing, the immortal walked towards them, his gaze fixed on their faces, his expression unreadable. With a flicker, he reappeared dozens of feet away, a bloodstained object clutched in his hand. Gaia's spine tingled as she recognized a piece of flesh, still dripping crimson. "Whose Ul is it?!" she screamed, horror dawning upon her as Iskander smirked, his ice-cold silver eyes gleaming with a cruel amusement.
Gaia sensed his disdain, confirming the loss of one of their own. As a hazy guess formed in her mind, Iskander raised his hand, the Mind-Lace Rune appearing on his arm and simultaneously activating their own. The Mnemonic-Transfer Rune followed, forcibly triggered in the same manner.
He must have used an advanced application of the Abyssal Kin Rune, she realized, but how was it possible, especially with their Aegis-Veils active?
The immortal then relayed his experience – the thrill of the hunt, Selhob's racing heartbeat as he was discovered, the ShadowWeaver's final moments as Iskander's arm pierced his back and emerged through his chest, clutching his still-beating heart.
"A foolish boy," Iskander smirked, relishing their pain.
Rage burned within Gaia, threatening to consume her, but she clenched her fists, fighting for control. She knew he was attempting to cloud their judgment with anger, to make them reckless and predictable. CodeForger, mirroring her resolve, nodded in agreement. Their pre-established plan remained their priority, and they could not afford to let emotions dictate their actions.
With synchronized movements, they flanked Iskander, unleashing a torrent of arrows and bullets. The immortal vanished, reappearing behind CodeForger, poised to strike.
But before he could, a silver spear pierced his back, pinning him to the ground. Sena, attacking from above, had arrived just in time, her spear flashing like a beacon of hope.
As Iskander struggled against the spear, Gaia and CodeForger bombarded him with their attacks, determined to keep him subdued. Soon, Daed's figures materialized around them, followed by hundreds of his holographic projections, further disorienting the immortal. CodeForger and Gaia joined the illusion, generating a dome of impenetrable darkness, cloaking their movements and adding to the chaos.
Under the cover of their deception, the three Riders retreated just as Daed's StreamBreath-made clones descended upon Iskander, exploding in a devastating inferno that consumed half the city. The ground trembled, and the air was filled with the roar of the flames and the screams of the dying city.
Regrouping in the sky, they surveyed the destruction, the smoke and ash obscuring the once majestic cityscape. "Where are the others?!" Sena shouted, her voice laced with urgency and a hint of despair.
"It's just us," Gaia yelled back, the weight of their losses settling heavily upon her.
"He's inside the pyramid!" CodeForger warned, his voice tense.
The three Riders entered the hall, finding Daed facing the rifts while ShadowOne confronted Iskander near Cael. The air crackled with anticipation, the silence broken only by the crackling of flames and the groaning of the collapsing structure. Gaia fired an arrow, but Iskander caught it with his bare hand, the projectile dissolving instantly. Switching positions, she continued her assault, her movements a blur of determination.
CodeForger and Sena joined the fray, their bullets and Shatter projectiles meeting a dome of light that evaporated them upon contact. Their attacks were futile against his defenses, and frustration mounted with each passing moment.
Drawing on her KinRight, Gaia increased the oxygen levels within the pyramid and, using Convert, created a storm of blue flames that melted the thick walls and statues. The ceiling crumbled, raining debris upon them, but their Aegis-Veils protected them from the inferno. The once magnificent hall was now a scene of utter devastation, a testament to the destructive power they wielded.
As the hall disintegrated around them, Iskander vanished, taking Cael with him. Gaia, following Daed, tapped his shoulder – their silent signal to retreat. They had to regroup, to reassess their strategy. They soared through the smoke-filled sky, seeking distance from their elusive target.
"Why did he block our attacks?" CodeForger's voice echoed through the reactivated Mind-Lace. The question hung in the air, a puzzle they needed to solve.
Blinded by the heat of battle, Gaia had not considered the anomaly. "Could he be vulnerable?" CodeForger pondered, a glimmer of hope in his voice.
"Highly probable," Codex-7 responded. "However, without sufficient data on the target's powers, we cannot draw definitive conclusions." The uncertainty was unnerving.
"A plausible theory," ShadowOne chimed in, "though not the reason." His voice was heavy with the weight of his experience.
Intrigued, Gaia triggered Mnemonic-Transfer, followed by the others. Daed's thoughts flowed first – his diversionary tactic with the explosive clones, his infiltration of the hall to access the rifts. He had embedded a silver bead and the Lock code into the Nexus-Key, dissolving it upon contact with the cross of rifts. Their plan was in motion, but would it be enough?
ShadowOne's relay continued. Iskander had shielded the boy out of concern for his safety. ShadowOne revealed his realization – the immortal was playing with them, buying time to process the stolen memories. He had underestimated their foe's cunning, his ability to exploit their compassion without remorse. A chill ran down Gaia's spine as she grasped the depth of their enemy's depravity.
"We can use the boy," ShadowOne declared, his conviction unwavering. His words were a lifeline, a glimmer of hope in the face of despair.
"To what end?" Daed questioned, his voice laced with skepticism.
"Victory," ShadowOne replied. "The boy is his anchor, the reason he lingers." He recounted Iskander's actions during Aethel's attack – his deliberate shielding of the hall to protect Cael. "We can leverage this to our advantage." The plan was risky, but it was their only chance.
Iskander materialized with the unconscious Cael, a transparent barrier encompassing them. He stood on the ground, defiant and in control, as if daring them to challenge him.
Gaia understood now why the immortal had saved the boy from the flames. Cael was more than just a pawn; he was a key to something Iskander desired, something that held him to this realm. "We stick to the plan," Daed insisted through the Mind-Lace. "No deviations." His voice was firm, brooking no argument.
"He's right," Gaia agreed, despite the nagging doubt that gnawed at her. "We need to buy time." Time to figure out what Iskander truly wanted, time to find a way to turn the tables on him.
"What plan?!" Sena demanded, frustrated by the secrecy. Her voice was sharp with grief and anger, the loss of her friends still raw.
"Trust us," Gaia pleaded, her gaze conveying both determination and sorrow. She wished she could tell Sena everything, but the risk was too great.
Sena nodded, understanding the necessity of their silence. She had always trusted them, and now, more than ever, she needed to hold onto that trust.
"If time is your objective, the boy is our best bet to hold him here," ShadowOne urged, his voice filled with a quiet intensity.
Gaia, CodeForger, and Daed paused, considering the risk. Using Cael as bait was a dangerous gamble, but they were out of options.
"He may trap us here if he gets what he wants," ShadowOne warned, voicing the fear that haunted them all.
Gaia knew he was right. They had to prevent Iskander from approaching the rifts and discovering their Lock. "We target the boy," she declared, her voice resolute. "Distract our mark, stall for time, and keep him away from the rifts." It was a desperate plan, but it was all they had left.
Using Mnemonic-Transfer, she shared Iskander's cruel act with Sena, igniting her fury. The pain of loss mingled with a burning desire for vengeance, fueling her determination.
"He must have deceived the Unawakened, faking his respect for their minds," ShadowOne lamented, regret heavy in his voice. "We were fools to think we could decipher his thoughts. His knowledge and experience are far deadlier than his powers. We should have been more cautious." His words were a stark reminder of their enemy's cunning and the mistakes they had made.
"It doesn't matter now," Gaia said, correcting her course as the others followed. "Mind-Lace off!" The time for mourning and regrets was over; they had a mission to complete.
They soared through the dark sky, and the panicked movements of animals below proved the world was in chaos.
Nearing the ruins of Elysium, they found Iskander still standing, encased within a translucent sphere alongside Cael, who dangled limply from his grasp. The sight was chilling.
As Cael regained consciousness, his eyes widened in terror, instinctively clinging to Iskander's arm. He was a helpless child caught in the clutches of a monster. "I am merely taking what you have," the immortal stated calmly, his voice devoid of any emotion.
CodeForger fired upon the sphere, but the bullets ricocheted harmlessly. "It's like a shield," Daed observed, "similar to our expanded Aegis-Veils, yet even a Soul-Sever can't penetrate it." They were trapped, unable to reach Cael or harm Iskander.
"Let him proceed," Gaia ordered, recognizing the opportunity to buy time without direct intervention. It was a gamble, but they had to trust that Cael's unique abilities would somehow give them an edge.
A white haze flowed from Cael's eyes into Iskander's arm. "He's taking what he wanted all along," ShadowOne muttered, his voice filled with a mix of awe and apprehension.
"Sena, would you assist me to the ground?" ShadowOne requested. "I'll only hinder you here." He knew he was no longer able to contribute to the fight, and he did not want to be a burden.
Sena nodded and carried him down, then rejoined her comrades above. She was a warrior, and she would fight to the end, no matter the cost.
As Cael's eyes flickered between blue and green, Iskander began to tremble, the spherical shield flickering erratically. His grip loosened, surprise etched across his face. He was being drained of StreamBreath, his power waning before their eyes. Hope flickered in their hearts.
But the surprise was short-lived, replaced by a murderous glint in his eyes. He would not allow this to continue. Yet, as Cael's gaze locked with his, his left eye remaining blue while his right turned a fiery red, a cold sweat formed on Iskander's brow. Something was happening, something beyond their comprehension.
In that instant, Cael's body seemed to disintegrate, his form becoming spectral, slipping through Iskander's grasp. Leaving the shield behind, he shot himself towards the buried cross of rifts, passing through the flames and rubble like a ghost. He was free, and they were left to deal with the consequences.
The Riders, along with Iskander, watched in astonishment. What they had witnessed was beyond anything they could have imagined.
Disengaging the barrier, the immortal slowly marched, his eyes fixated on the debris, his posture one of eerie confusion. He was oblivious to the opportunity he presented, consumed by his failure to capture Cael.
"Now!" Gaia cried, seizing the moment.
Daed lunged forward, slashing open Iskander's chest. CodeForger followed, his arm plunging into the wound and extracting the immortal's heart. But before he could retract his arm, Iskander vanished, reappearing behind the Riders, his wounds healed. "I'm no longer in the mood for games," he declared resolutely, his voice cold and devoid of any amusement. "Move aside and I will spare your lives." His patience had run out, and his true nature was revealed.
"Never," Gaia retorted, her voice ringing with defiance. "We will protect the boy!" She would never give up, not while there was still a chance to stop him.
A flicker of anger crossed Iskander's face before his eyes turned cold and emotionless. "So be it," he grinned, a chilling thrill evident in his smile. He was a predator, and they were his prey.