The sky turned crimson as the Black Regiment marched.
Kael stood on the outer wall of the tower, flanked by Elyra on the left, and Zephyra—now fully unshackled and battle-ready—on the right. His tech armor buzzed quietly, sensors syncing to the drones circling above.
"Activate all defense lines," Kael commanded. "No mercy."
"Thought you didn't believe in killing," Zephyra muttered.
Kael didn't look at her. "I don't. But I believe in surviving."
The first wave hit like a hammer.
Explosions lit up the cliffs as Kael's mines ripped into the vanguard. Automated turrets fired arcs of concentrated null energy, disrupting mage armor. Screams filled the air.
But then... the Iron Warden stepped forward.
He walked through the fire like it was mist. Bullets melted against his skin. His molten runes flared—and in a flash of red light, he was inside the outer perimeter.
"Scatter!" Kael shouted.
The Iron Warden slammed the ground. A shockwave of corrupted mana blasted outward, tearing stone apart. Kael was thrown off his feet, skidding through dust.
Zephyra caught herself mid-air with a burst of wind magic. Her eyes locked onto the Warden.
"Go for the core!" she shouted to Elyra. "Back plate, third segment!"
Elyra nodded and vanished into the smoke.
Zephyra turned to Kael, who was limping to reload a kinetic charge.
"I've got him!" she said.
"Zephyra, wait—!"
But she was already charging.
---
Mid-Battle
Zephyra moved like a storm. Wind coiled around her, blades of hardened air cutting through soldiers left and right.
She faced the Warden head-on.
Their weapons clashed—magic versus machine. Zephyra danced around his hammer-like fists, striking his armor with precision.
But he was fast. Too fast.
The Warden caught her mid-spin—and slammed her into the stone wall.
"Zephyra!" Kael screamed.
She fell hard, coughing blood, her leg at a wrong angle.
Kael's world narrowed.
Everything else—turrets, drones, soldiers—faded.
He ran.
Slid to her side.
Her breathing was shallow, lips trembling. "Stupid… genius…"
"Don't talk," Kael said. His voice shook. "I've got you."
"Thought… I was supposed to protect you…"
Kael tore open his satchel, pulling out a prototype stim-injector. "You still can."
He jabbed it into her neck.
Her eyes snapped open. She gasped—pain, but also power.
"I'll distract him," Kael said. "You aim for the gap I open."
Zephyra grabbed his hand. "You'll die."
Kael smiled. "Only if you miss."
She stared at him, something raw in her eyes.
Then—without thinking—she leaned forward and kissed him.
Just once.
Quick. Fierce. Real.
"I won't miss."
---
The End of the Warden
Kael sprinted toward the Warden, drawing every last charge into his gauntlet.
"Hey, tin can!" he shouted. "Bet your creators didn't plan for me!"
The Warden turned.
Kael fired all five charges in rapid succession—each one cracking the Warden's armor bit by bit.
Zephyra, rising behind him with fire in her eyes, raised her hand.
"Gale Fang!"
A blade of compressed air exploded from her palm—piercing the Warden's exposed core.
The giant stopped.
Shuddered.
Then collapsed.
Silence.
Smoke drifted across the battlefield.
The Iron Warden… was dead.
---
Aftermath
Kael sat beside Zephyra as the sun began to rise.
Elyra tended to the injured. The remaining enemy forces had fled.
"You kissed me," Kael said quietly.
Zephyra, leaning on his shoulder, smirked. "Don't let it go to your head."
"So… was that a one-time thing?"
She looked up at him.
"No," she said. "It was a promise."
Kael smiled.
And for the first time since his exile, the genius with no magic… felt like he had everything he needed.