"The skiffs won't launch!" Valeria cried, pointing to the docking bays. "The docking clamps are locked! The System is offline!"
"Manual override," Alvian said. "Cut them loose."
"We can't! The defense turrets... they've reactivated!"
"BOOM! BOOM!"
Explosions rocked the docking bay. The Academy's own automated defenses, sleek mana-cannons designed to repel dragons, had swiveled inward. They were firing on the evacuation ships.
"Syndicate failsafe," Alvian realized. "Scorched earth protocol. If they can't have the island, no one leaves."
[Target Identified: Hacked Defense Grid.]
[Objective: Protect the Evacuation.]
Alvian cracked his neck. He checked his mana. It was regenerating, thanks to the [Tear of the Infinite], but he was still only at 40%.
"Enough for a warm-up," Alvian said.
He equipped the [Lance of the Void Winter]. The black metal hummed, hungry for violence.
