The journey to the Azure Mountains was unforgiving. Snow-capped peaks clawed at the heavens, their jagged forms seeming to taunt Kael as he trudged through the dense forest below. The map's glowing markers guided his path, though the trail grew steeper and more treacherous with every step.
The Iron Order was persistent. He'd encountered two more ambush teams in the last twenty-four hours, each more aggressive than the last. Yet they still underestimated him, thinking numbers and technology could match raw, unrelenting strength.
Kael paused in a clearing, his breath visible in the icy air. His gaze swept the tree line, every sense alert. The forest was unnaturally quiet, and that silence set his teeth on edge.
"Show yourselves," he barked, his voice echoing through the stillness.
A flicker of movement caught his eye. He turned just as a figure emerged from the shadows—a woman clad in dark leather armor, her face obscured by a hood. Her weapons were unusual: twin daggers glowing faintly with blue energy.
"You're quick to spot an ambush," she said, her voice calm and measured. "I expected no less from the infamous Kael Draven."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "If you're with the Iron Order, you've got about three seconds to get out of my way."
The woman chuckled, lowering her hood to reveal a striking face framed by short black hair. Her piercing green eyes locked onto his.
"I'm not with them," she said. "In fact, I've been hunting them just as long as you have."
Kael remained motionless, his massive blade still resting on his shoulder. "Then why are you here?"
"I'm here to warn you," she replied. "You're walking into a trap. The artifact you're chasing—it's not what you think it is."
Kael's jaw tightened. "What do you know about the artifact?"
"More than you," the woman said, stepping closer. "Its power is unstable. Dangerous. If you activate it, you could end up doing the Iron Order's work for them—whether you want to or not."
Kael studied her for a long moment, weighing her words. She didn't look like one of the Order's mercenaries, and her presence felt… different. Calculated, but not hostile.
"And why should I trust you?" he asked.
The woman smirked. "You shouldn't. But you're going to need me if you want to survive what's ahead."
Before Kael could respond, the ground trembled violently beneath their feet. A deafening roar tore through the forest, and the trees around them exploded outward as a massive mechanical beast burst into the clearing.
The construct towered above them, its body a grotesque amalgamation of steel and flesh. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Kael, and its claws ripped through the ground as it charged.
"Perfect timing," the woman muttered, drawing her daggers.
Kael didn't hesitate. He moved with inhuman speed, meeting the beast head-on. His blade crashed against its metal hide, sparks flying as the impact sent shockwaves through the clearing. The beast retaliated, its claws swiping at Kael with blinding speed.
The woman darted in and out of the chaos, her daggers striking weak points in the creature's armor. Together, they fought like a well-oiled machine—Kael's raw power complementing her precision and agility.
The battle was brutal and unrelenting, but Kael's strength was unmatched. With a final, earth-shaking blow, he drove his blade through the beast's core, ripping it apart in a shower of fire and molten metal.
As the dust settled, Kael turned to the woman, who stood with her hands on her knees, catching her breath.
"Nice work," she said, straightening. "I didn't think you'd need help, but I had to be sure."
Kael wiped soot from his face and gave her a hard look. "You've got five seconds to tell me who you are and why you're following me."
She sheathed her daggers and extended a hand. "My name's Mira. I'm part of a group trying to stop the Iron Order from using that artifact to destroy what's left of this world. We know you're the only one strong enough to stop them. But you can't do it alone."
Kael didn't take her hand. Instead, he grabbed his blade and slung it onto his back.
"I don't need help," he said, turning toward the mountains.
"Maybe not," Mira called after him. "But if you don't stop and listen, you're going to die before you even get close."
Kael hesitated, then glanced back at her.
"Fine," he said. "You've got ten minutes. Make it count."