Arshya reacted without thought.
The instant Jeremiah's silver spear tore through the air, Arshya seized both daughters and hurled himself backward, barely evading the blade as it cleaved past where their bodies had stood. Instinct overrode confusion. Fury crushed hesitation. The shock of Jeremiah's sudden appearance vanished beneath a surge of wrath so intense it sharpened Arshya's senses to a killing edge.
"Kill him!" Arshya roared, voice echoing through the crystal chamber. "Bring down that Netzaleh bastard!"
Flames answered his command.
All around Jeremiah, Qaissaran adherents ignited simultaneously. Green and violet fire burst from crystal-laced flesh, filling the space with shrieking heat. The air screamed as energy surged outward, converging upon the intruder.
Yet Jeremiah Azaria did not retreat.
Behind him, silver-clad warriors moved in perfect discipline. Without hesitation, they launched their silver javelins in coordinated volleys. The weapons streaked through the inferno, punching through burning figures and knocking them from their feet. Crystal bodies shattered against the floor, collapsing in smoking heaps.
Jeremiah surged forward.
His spear radiated blinding brilliance before reshaping itself mid-motion, the shaft splitting and reforming into a massive silver axe. He swung with brutal force, the blade cleaving toward Arshya's head.
Arshya twisted aside, the axe slicing empty space.
Behind Jeremiah, Zaden Azaria charged in with hundreds of Kral soldiers. Shields rose. Boots thundered. The formation smashed into Arshya's crystal warriors like a living battering ram. Fire washed across silver defenses, burning hot yet failing to penetrate. Steel met crystal in savage rhythm.
Zaden led from the front.
His blade flashed repeatedly as soldiers hacked into Arshya's constructs. Purple flame sputtered, then died. One by one, crystal bodies fell apart beneath relentless strikes.
Arshya staggered as Elisse shoved him backward.
"Lichsbosch, Abimalech!" Elisse screamed.
Violet lines erupted across her form, crawling like living veins. Heat roared outward as she unleashed a storm of burning orbs toward Jeremiah. The air shrieked under their passage.
Jeremiah answered by conjuring a silver barrier across his left arm. He forced himself forward, bracing against the barrage. Purple fire slammed into his shield, melting portions of his armor, heat piercing deep enough to scorch flesh beneath metal. Still, he advanced.
Across the chamber, Querijn sprinted wide.
Her gaze locked onto Zaden as he angled toward Arshya's exposed flank. Fear dissolved into resolve.
"Lichsbosch, Abimalech!"
Violet energy surged across her limbs. Strength flooded her veins. She tore a slab from the crystal floor and hurled it effortlessly.
Zaden ducked just in time. The slab smashed against a distant pillar.
Before he could recover, Querijn appeared beside him, motion blurring. Her leg lashed out, wrapped in burning violet force. Zaden blocked instinctively, yet the impact hurled him across the chamber. He skidded violently before slamming into crystal stone.
"Elisse! Fall back!" Arshya shouted.
Elisse hesitated, eyes locked on Jeremiah's half-melted armor. Her fire had scorched him deeply, yet the Netzaleh king continued advancing.
Too late.
Jeremiah's axe dissolved into a gleaming chain mid-swing. The silver links lashed outward, coiling around Elisse's right leg. With a brutal yank, Jeremiah wrenched her from her feet. She slammed into the far crystal wall, the impact rattling the chamber.
Cold surged.
Arshya exhaled sharply.
Frost exploded from his breath. Moisture crystallized instantly, forming dozens of ice lances hovering around his hand. He hurled them with murderous force.
The spears punched through Jeremiah's right arm. Bone cracked. Blood splattered. The chain fell loose.
Elisse tore free, gasping.
Arshya surged forward, both fists wreathed in roaring violet flame—only to halt as Netzaleh soldiers flooded between them. More silver armor. More disciplined ranks.
Arshya did not hesitate.
Two massive spheres of purple fire launched from his hands. They detonated amid the advancing troops, flinging bodies through the air. Flames clung to armor and flesh alike. Screams echoed as soldiers collapsed, writhing.
Arshya sprinted toward Elisse with Querijn at his side, moving like a storm.
They did not notice the trap closing behind them.
Zaden rallied survivors swiftly. Within moments, he and dozens of soldiers had repositioned, sealing escape routes roughly thirty feet back.
"Netzaleh…" Elisse hissed, pain thick in her voice. "How is this possible?"
"Stand down, Sadrakh," Zaden shouted. "Surrender the crystal tower. This ends now."
"Spare me your hollow demands!" Arshya bellowed. "The Abimalech Tower belongs to Qaissara by the Sky's decree! You invaders deserve nothing here!"
"So the Sky wants you preserved like corpses?" Zaden mocked, gesturing toward shattered crystal beings nearby. Their bodies lay torn apart, mouths agape, wounds gaping—yet bloodless. "Madness suits you."
Arshya leaned close to Querijn. "Help Elisse move. Watch for Jeremiah. This wretched boy is mine."
Querijn nodded and supported her sister, retreating fast.
Zaden opened his mouth to command pursuit—
The floor shattered.
Arshya slammed his foot down. The chamber convulsed. Cracks raced outward, widening violently. Several soldiers lost balance and plunged into splitting fissures.
"Fall back!" Zaden ordered.
Jeremiah regrouped at the chamber's center.
Wind screamed.
Zaden raised his shield just in time. Ice blades slammed into it, driving him backward. He rolled aside as the floor beneath him flared orange, erupting with violet fire.
Heat tore into his armor.
Zaden ripped off his helmet as molten silver scorched his skin. Pain screamed through him as he staggered upright, dodging another eruption.
Querijn and Elisse saw him flee advancing flames.
Parts of his armor glowed orange, warped by heat.
They moved together.
Elisse slammed both palms down. The floor ahead of Zaden rose violently, forming a jagged barrier. At the same moment, Querijn charged directly toward him.
Zaden halted.
His sword dissolved into silver light, reforming into a shield.
Querijn ignored the transformation.
Violet fire roared from her fists, slamming into the barrier. Metal melted. Yet Zaden kept advancing.
Panic surged through her.
When she attempted retreat, Zaden hurled the molten shield aside and lunged. He seized her shoulder. Both tumbled across the crystal floor.
Querijn's vision spun.
Elisse's scream reached her too late.
Zaden locked her arm from behind, steel pressing against her throat. A silver blade hovered at her neck.
Arshya froze.
Purple fire flickered, then died.
Silence fell—broken only by Querijn's unsteady breath.