"That's our captain for you," Irene murmured in awe, her voice barely above a whisper as she watched the scene unfold.
Ezra couldn't tear his eyes away.
Eli moved like a phantom—fluid, untouchable, every step calculated.
Then, with a smooth twist of his wrist, he hurled one of his swords through the air.
Ezra held his breath, expecting a clean throw.
But something changed.
A glowing band of energy—soft and radiant, like molten thread—wrapped around the sword mid-flight, coiling along the hilt and blade as if alive.
The moment the energy ignited, the sword accelerated unnaturally.
The air cracked as it shot forward, a streak of silver and gold, cleaving through the creature's wing in a single, devastating cut.
A distorted, echoing wail tore through the battlefield.
The beast crashed to the ground, one wing severed and useless. It convulsed violently, spirals of bone erupting from its body like twisted roots. The shifting bones curled inward, encasing it in a thick, jagged cocoon of armor, as if it were instinctively preparing for another transformation.
Eli noticed immediately. So did Dane.
And this—this was Dane's moment.
"Not a chance."
Dane stepped forward, dust swirling around his boots as if the earth itself bowed to him. He lifted a hand, fingers spread, and the air shifted.
The battlefield responded.
Loose debris, shattered stone, even the broken remains of vehicles lifted off the ground, hanging weightlessly in a gravitational hold. The world around them trembled as gravity bent to Dane's will.
Ezra watched in awe as pebbles rose like stars, orbiting Dane in a lazy, effortless spiral.
Then, with a smirk, Dane flicked his wrist.
"Heads up, Cap."
Gravity inverted beneath Eli.
With barely any effort, Dane launched him skyward—straight toward the cocooning creature.
But Dane wasn't done.
In the same breath, he grabbed the heavy cannon slung over his shoulder. Twisting his body with perfect control, he channeled the gravitational field still humming in his palm, enhancing his throw.
The cannon cut through the air like a missile.
Eli snatched the weapon mid-flight, his other hand already igniting it with that same molten energy. The intricate runes lining the barrel pulsed, flaring to life as his grip tightened around the trigger.
Time slowed.
Eli exhaled.
He leveled the gun.
Took aim.
And fired.
A blinding explosion of light and force detonated upon impact.
The entire battlefield shook.