The Skybreaker captain's charge was like an avalanche bearing down on them.
His massive sword hummed, each step of his sending tremors through the ground. Kael and Lira barely had time to brace themselves before he was upon them.
Kael parried the first strike, the force of the blow reverberating through his arms. Kael staggered back, his boots skidding against the stones.
"Kael, move!" Lira's shout cut through the ringing in his ears.
He ducked just in time as Lira ran past him, her daggers swinging toward the captain.
She aimed for the gaps in his armor, but the captain's reflexes were unnaturally sharp. He spun his massive blade with shocking speed, deflecting her strike and forcing her to move back.
The other Skybreakers closed in, their glowing weapons illuminating the narrow ravine.
"We're boxed in!" Lira shouted, her voice edged with frustration.
Kael's mind raced, searching for options. They couldn't win a prolonged fight against this many opponents, especially not with the captain leading the charge.
They needed to create an opening—something, anything to give them a chance.
"Buy me time!" Kael yelled.
"For what?" Lira demanded, but she didn't wait for an answer.
She leapt onto a nearby boulder, drawing the attention of two Skybreakers. They followed her, their movements slower as they navigated the weird terrain.
Kael's fragment flared again, guiding him as he sidestepped a thrust from a Skybreaker's spear. He countered with a slash of his own, his blade scraping against the man's armor but failing to find a weak point.
"Damn it," Kael muttered, frustrated.
The Skybreaker captain barked a command, his voice booming. "Press them! Do not let them escape!"
Meanwhile, Lira moved like a blur. She used the rocky terrain to her advantage, leaping from one place to another.
The Skybreakers struggled to keep up, their heavier armor and weapons slowing them down.
But even Lira's agility had its limits. One of the Skybreakers anticipated her next move, striking out with a glowing chain that wrapped around her ankle mid-jump.
"Lira!" Kael shouted, his heart wanting to pop out as she crashed to the ground with a cry of pain.
The Skybreaker yanked the chain, dragging her closer. Lira slashed at it with her dagger, sparks flying as the fragment-infused metal resisted her blade.
Kael charged toward her. He slammed into the Skybreaker holding the chain, his blade aiming for a weak point in the man's shoulder joint and for the first time in his life, he stab someone.
The Skybreaker roared in pain, releasing Lira as he staggered back.
"Get up!" Kael urged, pulling her to her feet.
"I'm fine," Lira said through gritted teeth, though her limp told a different story.
The Skybreaker captain advanced again, his blade slicing through the space where Kael and Lira stood.
The siblings scrambled to dodge, their movements growing more desperate as the battle dragged on.
Kael's mind raced, piecing together a plan. The ravine's narrow layout gave the Skybreakers an advantage in numbers, but it also limited their mobility. If he could exploit that, they might have a chance.
"We need to close them in," Kael said.
"Close them where?" Lira shot back, ducking under a swinging halberd.
Kael's eyes darted to a crumbling area of rocks hanging above the ravine. "There," he said, his tone resolute.
Lira followed his gaze, her eyes widening. "Are you insane? You'll bring half the mountain down!"
"Exactly," Kael replied grimly.
They retreated toward the area, their movements frantic. Kael's fragment pulsed in warning as another Skybreaker closed in, his twin axes gleaming with energy.
Kael raised his blade to block, the impact jolting his arms. He twisted, using the Skybreaker's momentum against him, and slammed his elbow into the man's side.
The Skybreaker stumbled, and Kael delivered a swift kick to the back of his knee, forcing him down.
Lira fought beside him. She disarmed one opponent with a flick of her wrist, sending his weapon clattering to the ground.
Another Skybreaker lunged at her, but she sidestepped and slashed at his exposed neck, the back of the dagger knocking them unconscious.
The captain roared, his voice filled with fury. "Enough of this! End them now!"
Kael and Lira exchanged a glance, their unspoken understanding clear. They couldn't hold out much longer.
"Get to that area," Kael said, his voice firm.
Lira hesitated. "Kael..."
"Go!" he barked, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Lira nodded, her jaw set. She turned and sprinted toward the area, her limp barely slowing her down.
Kael stayed behind, fending off the advancing Skybreakers with a desperate ferocity.
The captain moved closer, his massive sword gleaming in the dark of night.
Kael parried a blow that nearly knocked him off his feet, his arms trembling with the effort.
"You fight well for a fool," the captain said, his voice cold and mocking. "But you cannot win."
Kael gritted his teeth. "Maybe not," he said, his voice steady despite the fear eating at his chest. "But I can still ruin your day."
Lira reached her destination, her heart pounding as she assessed its state. She could see what Kael had in mind. If they could bring it down, it would block the ravine and trap the Skybreakers on the other side.
"Kael!" she called. "It's ready!"
Kael glanced back, his eyes meeting hers. The plan was their only chance, but it came with a risks he had not mentioned.
If they brought down the area, there was no guarantee they'd make it out in time.
The captain advanced again, his blade cutting through the air. Kael dodged and parried, each movement growing more labored and tiring.
"Lira," he said, his voice low but firm. "You need to run."
"What?" she shouted, disbelief and anger flashing across her face.
"If this doesn't work, you need to survive," Kael said, his eyes fierce. "Go. Now."
"Kael..."
"GO!" he roared, his fragment flaring with a pulse so strong it made the air around him shine.
Tears filled Lira's eyes, she didn't know what overtook her but at that moment, without thinking, she turned and ran, her figure disappearing into the shadows.
Kael turned back to face the captain, his grip on his blade tightening. The Skybreakers advanced, their weapons glowing with deadly intent.
He took a deep breath. "Let's finish this," he muttered, charging forward to meet them head on.