Liam emerged from the warehouse, walking slowly into the night with Yaela gently cradled in his arms.
A translucent notification screen flickered briefly into view
[Nega-Fusion Active —> Soul Absorption Complete]
The message dissolved into the darkness as quickly as it had appeared. Beside him, the bloodied axe floated with its golden patterns now stained crimson, the weapon that had delivered Ray's final moments.
The memory flashed unbidden through Liam's mind: the clean arc of the blade and the separation of Ray's head from his neck. Yaela stirred in his arms, her eyes fluttering open to meet his gaze. But despite everything, Liam managed a reassuring smile. "Sit tight, Yae," he murmured softly. "We're going home."
BOOM!
The ground erupted in a thunderous crash as a figure plummeted from the sky like a living missile, striking the earth mere meters ahead of them. Dust and debris billowed outward in all directions, obscuring Liam's view.
