The first blade came faster than thought. Kaelen twisted, barely avoiding the Syndicate enforcer's strike as his own sword cleaved through the air. The clang of steel against steel rang out, followed by the sizzle of magic as Seraphina unleashed a fiery arc that engulfed three attackers.
Dorian, dual daggers flashing, moved like a shadow among the chaos, slashing tendons and throats with ruthless precision.
Rael Vance stood atop a broken column, watching with a smirk. "Come on, Kaelen. You can do better than that."
Kaelen narrowed his eyes. His Crimson Power pulsed, demanding release, but he knew better than to give in completely. Instead, he let a fraction of it slip through his veins. His next strike shattered an enforcer's weapon, sending the man reeling.
The ruins of Myrrh became a storm of fire, steel, and death.
Seraphina spun toward Kaelen. "We can't hold this position forever! We need to break through!"
Kaelen gritted his teeth. She was right. They had come here for the artifact hidden within Myrrh, not to get tangled in a drawn-out fight.
His gaze flicked to the central ruins a half-buried temple lined with ancient carvings. If the artifact was anywhere, it was there.
"Cover me," he ordered.
Then he moved.
Kaelen's body blurred with speed, his blade slicing through the Syndicate ranks as he cut a direct path toward the temple. Dorian and Seraphina followed, covering his flanks with deadly precision.
But Rael was already there.
The Syndicate lieutenant stepped in front of the temple entrance, twirling his black dagger lazily. "Not so fast."
Kaelen's grip tightened on his sword. He had fought Rael once before and it had nearly cost him his life.
This time, he wouldn't hold back.
Rael's smirk turned sharp. "Let's see what that Crimson Power of yours is really made of."
With that, he lunged, his dagger coated in a venomous black aura.
Kaelen met him head-on.
To Be Continued…