The Null Order's black-armored enforcers dropped from the rooftops, surrounding the trio.
A tall commander with glowing red eyes approached.
"Unregistered anomaly. Surrender for deletion."
Riley backed up. "Look, I don't even know where I am!"
"You are a threat. Errors corrupt worlds."
Aeris stepped in front of him. "He's under my protection!"
The commander raised his weapon.
"You are a princess in exile. Your protection is invalid."
Princess?
Riley stared at Aeris.
"You're a princess?!"
"Not now!" she hissed.
Lyria flicked her wrist, summoning bright pink sigils. "I'm not letting you delete someone I just went viral with!"
Combat ignited.
Aeris bent the ground into walls.
Lyria fired beams of influence magic.
Riley tried to activate his ability.
Nothing.
Then—
Everything.
Static burst outward, disarming half the Null Order squad.
A new notification appeared:
ABILITY UNLOCKED: ERROR BURST
COOLDOWN: UNKNOWN
The commander glared.
"Take him alive."
Riley panicked as the soldiers closed in.
Then a blade of blue lightning cut through the street.
A girl with short black hair and a crackling sword stepped between them.
"Name's Kaela Thorn," she said. "Heard you needed help."
Riley blinked.
"Do I know you?"
"No. But your glitch is making you famous. And fame attracts enemies."
She pointed her sword at the commander.
"Back off. He's with us."