---
Nai and Margaret fought back-to-back, the air thick with grunts, screams, and the sickening sound of bodies colliding. Nai's breath came out ragged; her arms trembled violently, heat flickering weakly around her palms.
"Margaret… I don't think I can hold on much longer.." she gasped, pain burning through her limbs as her power faltered.
Margaret shot her a worried glance. "Just a little longer. The reinforcements should already be on their way, the alarm would've reached them by now."
She lifted one hand, signaling sharply toward Liam's vantage point.
Meanwhile, inside the palace, Lucius sprinted through the corridor, desperate to reach them. He turned a corner , only for someone to land in front of him with silent precision.
"Liam?!" Lucius skidded to a stop.
"Keep your voice down," Liam hissed, adjusting his sniper. "And don't be shocked. My Force Form is enhanced scent—like a moth following heat trails."
Lucius frowned, frustration burning in his chest. "Then why are you stopping me? Nai and Margaret need help."
"Lady Margaret ordered you to stay hidden," Liam replied firmly. "Reinforcements will arrive any minute. And with her out there, the officials won't hesitate to drag all of us into court."
He paused, eyes narrowing. "Besides… from what we've observed, you don't have a Force Form. You're not a wielder, Lucius. You'd only be putting yourself in danger and getting in their way."
Lucius's eyes hardened. "But I can't leave them again. They'll- "
"They'll be fine," Liam cut in sharply. "Margaret is one of the highest-ranking force wielders in the Moving City ,Lady Margaret. She knows how to handle situations like this. But because of our alliance with the neighbouring city, and the fact she isn't originally from here, we cannot afford to drag General Yasha into this."
Lucius froze at the name. General Yasha. Something about it stirred a strange, unsettling familiarity in his chest. His brows twitched as he looked away, jaw clenched in frustration. "Then what do we do…?"
Meanwhile, beneath the city, Yu Xuan and Harriet burst out of the engine sector, both panting heavily from their sprint.
"Finally… fresh air," Yu Xuan exhaled, letting the cold wind wash over him.
"We can't relax," Harriet warned, already scanning their surroundings. "We need to find the others. And once the chaos dies down, they'll realize we're gone."
"Yeah, yeah I know." Yu Xuan pushed off the wall, straightening. "Let's move."
Together, they headed toward the massive force shield encasing the palace grounds, its glow lighting the sky where infection and reinforcements collided. At the same time, military units raced toward the same destination from another route.
To be continued.