Kael and Elaria sifted through a cascade of information, her breathing technique linking them to the battlefield like omniscient observers. They had observed Torvynn, Varos, and Isara break from the main group, pushing towards the abomination leader in the distance. Now, their focus was on the triplets, showering them with information on gaps in the defensive line, pushing them from one side of the front to the other.
Elaria's calm voice reached out, guiding the triplets toward vulnerable points in the line. Despite the tumult, they moved with unmatched agility, leaping over allies and enemies alike to bolster weak points, rescue wounded fighters, and help lesser-ranked fatewalkers pull back and regroup. Their movements were almost poetic, slipping seamlessly into the chaos with powerful strikes and quick rescues.
Kael watched, his initial shock gradually fading into a surreal calm. The relentless surge of abominations, the cries of agony, and the metallic clangs as fatewalkers clashed with monsters—all these were filtered through the connection, like witnessing a distant dream. But the smell of blood and sweat reminded him of the true horror unfolding.
"I think… I need to see this outside," Kael muttered, almost to himself.
Elaria's gaze softened, and she nodded. Kael gently disconnected from the link, the world shrinking back to the Ironhauler's interior before he turned to step outside.
The moment he left the Ironhauler, Kael was hit by the full brunt of the battlefield's reality. The metallic scent of blood mixed with the sharp tang of smoke and sweat. All around him, fatewalkers were locked in combat with grotesque creatures, each with twisted limbs, gnashing jaws, and bodies covered in thick, dark fur. He could feel the earth shudder under the relentless tide of abominations slamming into their defensive lines.
The cries of both friend and foe filled the air, blending into an awful cacophony that gripped his gut and made him feel dizzy. As he edged further into the encampment, Kael saw the wounded being carried in on stretchers, their groans punctuating the chaotic scene. Lesser-beings among the merchant crew and support staff were frantically rushing around, dousing flames, binding wounds, and trying to create some semblance of order amid the madness.
Kael's trance-like state was broken when a frantic voice beside him barked,
"You! Yes, you! Hold pressure here!"
A medic thrust Kael's hand over a wound in a wounded fatewalker's side. Kael felt hot, sticky blood pooling beneath his fingers. The sensation jolted him out of his shock, the warm life seeping through his hands grounding him in the terrible reality of the moment.
"Press harder! Keep the blood from flowing!" the medic ordered as he busied himself with bandages.
Kael did as instructed, his hands trembling slightly. But despite their efforts, the fatewalker's breathing grew shallow, his face paler with each passing second. Finally, the rise and fall of his chest stilled. Kael could only kneel there, staring at the lifeless eyes, his hands slick with blood.
"Sigh… Move on, kid," the medic said, his tone exhausted but sharp. Seeing how Kael wasn't moving from his spot, he grabbed Kael's shoulder, snapping him out of his frozen state, shouting at him.
"Snap out of it! We have more lives to save."
Stunned, Kael let the medic drag him up, stumbling backward as the medic rushed off to the next patient. The brief reality of death settled over him like a heavy cloak, and he felt himself reel with a fresh wave of horror.
Just then, a distant roar echoed over the tumult. Kael looked up in alarm, realizing that a cluster of abominations had broken through the left flank of the defense. A small group of twisted, bone-covered Broodlings charged toward the encampment, eyes gleaming with hunger. Lesser-beings scrambled back, screams cutting through the noise as the creatures advanced.
Kael's hand reached instinctively for his Dullblade, summoning the weapon and gripping it tightly as he tried to steady his breathing. He knew he couldn't take on broodlings—these were monsters born to tear apart even seasoned fatewalkers. But as he looked toward the Ironhauler, where Elaria and Kunos were still stationed, an overwhelming sense of duty swelled within him.
He dashed forward, hoping to intercept the abominations before they reached the Ironhauler. His heart pounded, each beat hammering against his ribs as he sprinted through the chaos, his Dullblade ready.
Just as he neared his goal, one of the broodlings lunged from the side, its jagged maw snapping inches from his face. Kael's reflexes kicked in, and he swung his Dullblade to block the creature's bite. The force of the clash sent a shudder through his arms, and he stumbled as the blade cracked under the broodling's strength.
Kael's breath hitched, a cold sweat running down his spine. The broodling's fetid breath filled his nose as it pressed down harder, snarling viciously. His arms began to shake under the pressure, his resolve faltering as the Dullblade's edge splintered.
'Not… like… this!' Kael thought, fear clawing at him as he fought to hold the creature back. He was about to lose grip when, in a blur of movement, something heavy landed on the broodling's back with a thunderous impact.
The abomination let out a strangled cry as it was crushed into the ground, pinned by a figure looming over it. Kael looked up in astonishment to see Alden, one of the triplets, standing over the broodling with a smirk.
"You holding out okay, kid?" Alden asked, his voice laced with amusement as he removed his foot from the abomination's crushed spine.
Kael struggled to find words, his mouth hanging open in stunned silence as Alden gave him a reassuring grin.
"Guess I can take that as a 'yes'," Alden chuckled, pulling Kael to his feet. Kael still felt dazed, his mind reeling from the encounter. Alden shook his head, patting Kael on the back.
"You've got guts for running in like that."
"I… I thought I could help," Kael managed to stammer, trying to steady himself.
Alden raised an eyebrow,
"Yeah… maybe don't start trying to solo a Broodling next time, a'ight? But hey, at least you tried."
Before Kael could respond, another roar shattered the moment, and Alden's face shifted from amused to focused. His gaze locked onto a new wave of abominations surging toward the left flank.
"You'll want to get back to the Ironhauler, kid," Alden said, his tone more serious.
"Things are going south fast, and we can't afford to lose anyone on support."
Kael nodded, feeling a mix of relief and frustration as he stepped back toward the Ironhauler. Watching Alden and the other two triplets leap into the fray, he realized just how unprepared he was compared to them.
As he made his way back to the Ironhauler, Elaria's gaze met his, and he could see a flicker of relief in her eyes. She had continued directing the triplets with calm efficiency, guiding them to hot spots and warning them of any incoming threats, which was probably how he was spared from a gruesome death.
Kael returned to her side, still catching his breath.
"They're managing out there," he murmured, half to reassure himself.
Elaria nodded, her eyes focusing on something beyond the Ironhauler. "For now, but we're running out of time. If Torvynn, Varos and Isara don't finish off the leader soon, we won't hold the line."
She closed her eyes again, resuming her breathing technique as Kael sat beside her, clutching his Dullblade tightly. Even in this moment of quiet, the battlefield's sounds continued to echo around them, and he realized he was just beginning to understand the true reality of the Tower's unforgiving nature.