Saeldir and Vael were fighting for their lives. The halls of Skyreach Tower echoed with the metallic clanking of enemies closing in from all sides. Dozens of humanoid machines with glowing red eyes going after them with relentless and unyielding will of a machine.
After destroying the power source on this floor, they hadn't stopped and immediately pushing forward and searching for more. Every generator they destroyed weakened Laston's power to some extent but it wasn't enough.
So far, they had managed to take down three power source. They wanted to cripple his forces even further but exhaustion was catching up to them.
Saeldir, despite his vast reserves of Magic energy as an Archmage, felt the strain in his body. He had been casting nonstop, unleashing spell after spell, and his energy was running dangerously low.
Vael wasn't faring much better, his arrows were dwindling and the weight of battle was pressing down on him.
They couldn't keep this up. They had to retreat.
With no other choice, they turned and ran, their only goal now to regroup with Aerchon, Arlyn, and Sylra outside.
Their boots pounded against the cold metal floor as they sprinted through the corridors, their breaths ragged, their bodies aching.
Then, ahead of them, more enemies appeared. A wave of Laston's metal soldiers surged forward, blocking their path.
Vael didn't hesitate. He reached for his bow, nocking an arrow in one fluid motion.
The moment he released it, the arrow whistled through the air and detonated upon impact.
A fiery explosion engulfed the front lines of the enemy, sending shattered metal flying in all directions.
But more were coming.
Saeldir clenched his jaw. If they wanted to escape, they had to break through and fast.
They keep sprinted forward, dodging through the lingering smoke.
More soldiers were pouring in from side passages and cutting off their route.
Saeldir raised his arms and chanted under his breath, summoning a wall of ice to block one of the corridors.
The frost spread rapidly, sealing off their pursuers behind thick and jagged spikes of ice.
But their path ahead was still filled with enemies. Vael exhaled sharply and pulled another arrow.
"I don't have many left," he admitted.
Saeldir's grip tightened on his sides. His Magic reserves were even dangerously low. If they fought here for too long, they would be overwhelmed. They also don't have time to drink a potion.
"We need to break through this line of enemies first," he said.
Without waiting for a response, he lifted a wand from his Magical pouch then summoning the power kept in that wand.
A burst of wind Magic surged forward, knocking the first wave of enemies who just appeared off their feet.
Vael followed up instantly, firing a pair of explosive arrows into the staggered enemies, reducing them to burning wreckage.
They didn't slow down.
Dodging past the smoldering remains, they pushed forward, sprinting down the corridor toward their exit.
They had to reach Aerchon, Arlyn, and Sylra. If they could regroup, they stood a chance of escaping Skyreach Tower alive.
The sharp crash of shattering glass pierced the night air as shards rained down from the tower. From one of the mid-level floors of Skyreach Tower, Aerchon, Sylra, and Arlyn finally broke through to the outside.
They had fought through the last wave of guards that tried to stop them, cutting them down with precise strikes and sheer determination.
Now, with no other choice, they had leaped through the nearest window and letting gravity take them.
The wind howled around them as they descended, their bodies twisting in midair. Then, with honed reflexes they landed on the ground below with ease before swiftly regaining their footing.
But there was no time to rest.
The moment they looked up, they saw more of Laston's soldiers waiting for them. Rows of armed guards already in formation, surrounding them with glowing weapons at the ready.
Sylra tensed and spinning her daggers in her hands. Arlyn exhaled sharply, gripping his twin swords tighter. Aerchon barely had a second to steady himself before his instincts screamed at him, this wasn't over yet before they truly escape.
From above, Laston still lingered at the broken window, watching them with a calculated expression.
He didn't move to chase them, didn't call out or attack. He only stood there. With his cybernetic eye glowing faintly in the dark.
Aerchon narrowed his gaze. He wasn't sure why Laston hesitated but he had a feeling it had something to do with the tremors still rattling the tower from below. Saeldir's Magic was still at work.
"What about Saeldir and Vael?" Sylra's voice broke through his thoughts. She turned to him, her usually sharp eyes clouded with concern.
Aerchon clenched his jaw. He wanted to say they were fine and they were right behind them or the possibility that they had already escaped.
But they weren't here.
He hated how his silence dragged on for too long.
Finally, he forced out his answer and saying, "They'll be alright."
But his expression he himself wasn't convinced.
The soldiers made their move. A sharp mechanical hum filled the air as rows of glowing barrels lit up in unison. Then a barrage of bright red energy blasts rained down on them.
Reacting instantly, all three of them raised their hands and summoned their defenses. Translucent Magical barriers flickered into existence, shimmering against the darkness.
The first wave of laser fire slammed into them but immediately dispersing across the protective layers of Magic. The force sent ripples through the barriers but they held firm.
"Move!" Aerchon ordered.
Sylra and Arlyn needed no further prompting. With blinding speed, they dashed forward.
Sylra reached the nearest enemy in an instant. She twisted her body mid-air flipping over the soldier's head, and as she landed behind him, her daggers flashed.
The machine jerked as its neck was severed cleanly, sparks bursting from the exposed wires. Before the body could even collapse she had already disappeared and targeting the next one.
Arlyn followed just as fast. With a single move he cut down two soldiers at once, his twin swords slicing through their metal bodies like paper.
Sparks erupted from their wounds and their lifeless forms crumpled to the ground.
He moved like a shadow but also deadly. Every strike found its mark and reducing Laston's forces one by one.
Aerchon, though slightly slower, was no less lethal. He advanced methodically, dodging incoming fire while cutting down enemies with precise sword strikes.
A soldier aimed its weapon at him but before it could fire, he twisted his wrist and sending his blade straight into its chest.
The machine sputtered before going still and collapsing in a heap.
Another one lunged at him from the side. Aerchon swiftly ducked under its attack then drove his sword upward, piercing through its core. The soldier shuddered violently before exploding into a shower of sparks.
They were cutting through the enemy lines fast, but more reinforcements were already approaching.
Sylra landed beside Arlyn, her gaze moved to Aerchon.
"We can't keep this up forever," she said.
Aerchon gritted his teeth. He knew she was right. Even if they were cutting down dozens, the enemy's numbers weren't thinning fast enough.
They needed to find a way out and they still had no sign of Saeldir and Vael.
But then, another glass window was broken from above.