The tower was quiet, save for the hum of the machines Kael had carefully built to keep them hidden. But that silence shattered the moment Kael stepped into the war room.
"The Council knows," he said flatly, throwing the stolen files onto the table.
Zephyra, sitting against the far wall, narrowed her eyes. "Already?"
Elyra flipped through the documents, her face darkening. "They don't just know, they're tracking us."
Kael clenched his fists. "So it's a matter of time before they send more than just soldiers. They'll send everything."
Zephyra stood, her movements swift. "How long do we have?"
"Minutes," Kael replied, his voice low. "Maybe hours."
The sound of engines rumbled in the distance.
---
Outside the Tower
The sky darkened, and blackened clouds churned overhead. They had known the attack was coming—but not this fast.
"Drones," Kael muttered, running to the balcony. "They've got flying assault drones targeting us."
"Dammit," Zephyra hissed. "We can't outrun them."
Kael turned to her, his mind racing. "If we don't stop them before they reach the city, the entire region will be on high alert. We need to hit them before they hit us."
Zephyra drew her sword. "Then let's get to work."
---
The Battle Begins
The first wave of drones appeared over the horizon—a swarm of mechanical wasps, their red eyes glowing with intent. They moved in perfect formation, like a sentient hive.
Kael raced to his command center, firing up the tower's defenses. The automated turrets sprang to life, launching volleys of null-energy missiles into the air.
But there were too many. The drones dodged and weaved, their targeting systems too advanced.
Zephyra leaped from the balcony, activating her wind magic just in time to land softly on the ground below. She immediately ran toward the base of the tower, daggers in hand, ready for whatever came next.
Kael watched her go, his eyes narrowed. Then he turned back to his work. He wasn't just going to let them take everything he had fought for.
The first wave of drones closed in.
---
In the Streets
Zephyra slashed through the first few drones, her daggers flashing in the moonlight. Each strike cut through metal, but they kept coming. She didn't hesitate. She couldn't afford to.
A loud screech echoed through the night air as a large drone swooped in from above. It fired a blast of energy—straight at Zephyra's chest.
With a quick spin, she used the wind around her to deflect the attack, sending it spiraling off course. She vaulted into the air, her blades outstretched.
The drone's cockpit opened, revealing a human pilot—a soldier in full combat armor.
"You're mine," Zephyra muttered under her breath.
With a flick of her wrist, she sent a concentrated wind burst straight at the pilot, knocking him unconscious and sending the drone plummeting into the street.
---
Back at the Tower
Kael watched the chaos unfolding below through his surveillance system. He knew he couldn't stay up here forever. The drones would be a distraction—for now.
His eyes flicked to the encrypted files. The truth of his exile was buried in there. If he could get those answers, maybe he could stop this before it destroyed everything he cared about.
The hum of a jet engine sliced through the air. Another wave was coming. This time, it wasn't just drones.
Kael looked out at the incoming threat.
The Princess-General.
The very person who had trained Zephyra. The one who had destroyed everything Kael once thought was safe.
And now, she was coming for them.
---
The Sky Shattered
From the sky, a massive aircraft descended, its hull black as night and etched with golden sigils—the symbol of the Royal Guard. It hovered above the tower, opening its hatch.
The Princess-General emerged, her armor gleaming, a glowing sword at her side. Her gaze locked onto Kael, standing at the balcony.
"Kael Arion," she called out, her voice commanding and cold. "You've cost us enough."
Kael gritted his teeth. "And you've lost enough."
She smiled, a cruel, twisted expression. "We're not done, genius. Not by a long shot."
She raised her sword, and the drones around her activated, forming a circle of deadly precision.
Kael's hand twitched. He could feel the pressure building—the weight of the world pressing down on him. The Princess-General was strong, trained, and ruthless.
But so was he.
"Zephyra!" Kael yelled. "We need to finish this now!"
---
The Final Clash
Zephyra sprinted back toward the tower just as Kael launched a barrage of electrical missiles at the drones. They exploded in bursts of sparks, but the Princess-General's personal guard closed in on them.
"I won't let you take him," Zephyra said, voice cold.
The Princess-General's laugh echoed across the battlefield. "He's already ours."
With a snap of her fingers, the drones swarmed Zephyra.
She cut through them with ease, but there were too many. Each strike left her breathless, each movement more desperate than the last.
Kael, working quickly, fired another series of missiles, but his energy was running low. The drones were relentless.
Then, the Princess-General leaped from her ship, her sword crackling with destructive energy.
Zephyra raised her blades just in time to block the first blow. Sparks flew, and the force of the impact sent her skidding back.
"Zephyra, no!" Kael shouted, racing toward her.
The Princess-General swung again, but Zephyra ducked, her daggers slashing out and grazing the General's armored form.
"I'm not letting you destroy everything we've fought for," Zephyra hissed, pushing herself to her feet.
Kael arrived just in time, drawing his own weapon—a newly crafted energy blade. "We're not done yet."
Together, Kael and Zephyra charged.
The Princess-General's sword met theirs with a resounding clash.
The battle wasn't over. It had only just begun.