The storm broke over Khar'Sol Bridge like the sky had been ripped open. Rain slammed down in cold sheets, and lightning flashed across the jagged cliffs below. Aeron wiped water from his eyes, his palms still shaking from the aftermath of Cinder-Eyed's attack.
Kaelis walked beside him, soaked but steady.
"You're quiet," she said. "That's unusual. Aren't you the guy who always makes sarcastic comments when life gets awful?"
Aeron managed a weak smirk. "My sarcasm drowned five miles back."
Kaelis snorted. "Good. It was getting annoying."
Their joke died quickly as the team approached the center of the long stone bridge. Waiting in the rain were seven armored figures, each wearing jagged iron masks and shoulder plates shaped like hammerheads.
The Iron Reavers.
Tegan froze. "No way… Reaver Enforcers never leave the Capital."
"They do," Sylas muttered, "when someone embarrasses a Forgeborn Elder."
A tall Reaver stepped forward, massive arms crossed.
His voice was cold metal:
"By decree of Elder Tregar Voss, the traitors who exposed the Solforge tampering will be executed."
Rovan groaned. "Wow. He really took that personal. Can't imagine why."
"Maybe," Kaelis whispered, "because we told the entire world that he's a corrupt monster?"
The Reavers lifted their weapons: black-iron spears charged with crimson lightning.
Aeron swallowed. "Okay… everyone be careful. Don't slip. Don't die. And please don't fall off the bridge—it's a long drop."
Rovan cracked his knuckles. "Relax. I only fall off cliffs on Wednesdays."
"It is Wednesday," Tegan reminded him.
Rovan blinked. "Oh."
The Battle Erupts
The Reavers charged.
A spear flashed toward Aeron, the crimson lightning exploding on impact. Kaelis shoved him aside and blocked the strike with a spinning sweep of her wind blade. The air screamed as pressure ripped a fissure along the bridge floor.
Sylas blink-stepped behind a Reaver, blade flicking for a kill—only to hit reinforced plating.
"These guys are walking vault doors!" he snapped.
Tegan fired ice arrows, each one cracking armor but not breaking it.
"Great. They're built like angry refrigerators!"
Rovan absorbed a spear hit, his rock-armored skin cracking as he punched the Reaver so hard the man skidded twenty feet.
Aeron sparked lightning into his hands. "Cover me! I'm going for a—
A spear slammed into his chest, sending him rolling across the bridge.
Kaelis screamed, slicing the air with a wind burst so sharp it tore three Reavers backward.
Aeron coughed but rose shakily. His eyes flickered unnaturally—lightning pulsing in strange patterns.
A Reaver pointed at him.
"That one. Kill him first."
Aeron's breath hitched. Why me?
Then he remembered Cinder-Eyed whispering: "You are not stable."
But before fear swallowed him, Kaelis stepped between him and the Reavers.
"No one touches him," she said, voice low and dangerous.
The team regrouped.
Rovan cracked his neck. "All right, who's ready to break some armor?"
Sylas grinned. "Thought you'd never ask."
They charged again—this time unified and furious.