The battlefield still burned from the last clash, heat and static hanging heavy in the air.

The hybrid's chest heaved, its eyes glowing with stormfire rage, arcs dancing over its body as the ground cracked beneath its weight.

Arden planted his shield, eyes narrowing, sweat trickling down his temple.

"Stay with me," he said, voice steady despite the storm. His tone carried command, but there was something else behind it, reassurance.

Nyra lifted her staff, her voice rough. "Just tell us where to hit."

Rael grinned through his ragged breath. "Yeah. No way we're backing out now."

Zephyra only growled low, wings beating once, embers trailing from her scales.

The hybrid stomped forward, the ground shattering with a BOOM.

Its aura flared, both fire and lightning twining into a violent storm. The fight was far from finished.

Nyra drew in a sharp breath, her sleeves glowing bright again as she spread her arms. "Glacial Tempest!" Wind screamed, pulling the hybrid inward, blades of ice spiraling and lashing across its body.

The hybrid roared, trying to push against the pull, but Arden had already vanished. His figure blurred, Steptrace Mirage sliding past its wild swings.

He reappeared inside the tempest, slamming his fist down.

"Ignition Tremor Chain!"

CRACK– BOOM! The ground split, shockwaves bursting up in fiery ash, driving the hybrid fully into Nyra's tempest. Its scales hissed as the ice bit deep.

Rael charged in, fists glowing with a crimson-blue current.

"Lotus Conduction!" He smashed his fists into the hybrid's chest, lightning and frost sparking violently on impact. The hybrid staggered back, coughing fire as the blow dented its chestplate.

Zephyra dove from the side, claws glowing bright. WHOOMPH! Crimson Bloom Strike exploded on its ribs, petals of flame scattering in cerulean bursts.

The beast reeled, but it was far from finished.

Its tail lashed out with a crack of thunder, BANG! Zephyra screeched as the impact sent her crashing through rubble.

"Zeph!" Arden shouted, fury flickering in his tone.

Bleeding and shaking, the hybrid shrieked to the sky.

Fire and lightning twisted together, merging violently. The air warped, winds pulling upward into a tornado.

"Flame-Thunder Cyclone!"

The storm erupted, a column of blazing arcs tearing through stalls and stone.

Guards screamed, scrambling as the ground tore apart.

Nyra pulled her affinities to a barrier, A dome of crimson ice petals burst around the square, straining to contain the cyclone. Cracks spread fast. "I can't… hold it long!"

Rael stepped forward, frost rushing from his arms, crimson chill spilling over the cyclone. "Then I'll slow it!" His veins burned as ice crawled across the tornado, locking chunks of flame in place.

Arden's body blurred again, Aetherstride Ascension. He shot upward, boots cracking the air, then flared bright above the storm. His voice echoed as his veins burned with light.

"Lumen Vein Detonation!"

A blinding flare burst outward, SHHHHHK!

White light seared the air, disrupting the cyclone's rhythm, forcing its pull to falter.

The hybrid shrieked as flames sputtered, its body flickering unstable.

Arden's eyes narrowed. He could see it now, its hybridized core, unstable and shaking.

"Now! Hit its core!"

Nyra channelled the aether within her, pushing her self as she formed the skill.

Cryowind Shift swirled tight, Boreal Tempest freezing over the hybrid's legs, locking them in place with snapping ice.

Rael charged again, blades bursting with lightning and frost. "Frostbound Arcs!" He hooked its claws, chains of ice-lightning locking down its arms.

Zephyra emerged from rubble, battered, one wing dragging.

But she roared, igniting her chest with pure cerulean flame. With one last lunge, she struck, BOOM! Cerulean Lotusflame Burst seared across the hybrid's chest, burning deep into its core.

Arden fell from above, his shield flaring with lotus symbols. "Lotusflare Constructs, bind it!" Chains of spectral flame snapped into place around the hybrid's core, anchoring it.

The beast screamed as Arden twisted his shield, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"Ignis Core Ascendant, Lotusfang Reversal!"

The hybrid's stormfire surged—but turned against it.

Flames and lightning collapsed inward, bursting back into its chest in a violent implosion.

KRRR-BOOM!

The ground shook as fire and thunder detonated, smoke and ash swallowing the square.

Arden dropped his shield just in time to block the backlash, but blood sprayed from his lips as the impact hammered him into the dirt.

Silence fell. The hybrid was gone, nothing left but charred rubble.

The battlefield smoldered.

Nyra was pale but upright, while Rael coughed sparks, clutching his ribs.

Zephyra limped from rubble, singed but alive, growling as she looked at Arden.

Arden steadied his breath, his senses still open.

The hybrid's life energy was gone, but something else lingered. Traces… not natural, but engineered.

They weren't just creating monsters by accident anymore.

The organization was getting better at it.

He frowned, when suddenly, his circuits flared. His eyes shot up.

Amid the elders, hidden among the crowd, he felt it. A wave of killing intent.

His gaze locked instantly on the source.

A man in ceremonial robes, standing calm but eyes dark.

Arden felt the intent clearly, sharp and focused on him.

The man flinched when their eyes met.

The Lord of Greyhold noticed. His brows drew tight. "…the guild leader?"

It was him. The same one who had authorized their payment before the escort mission.

Arden clenched his jaw, Nyra had felt it all along.

His aura spiked, flaring deadlier than before. His party looked up in shock as his body blurred.

"Arden!" Rael shouted.

But he was already gone.

BOOM! He appeared behind the guild leader, blade crackling with flame.

The elder turned instantly, wind exploding from his palms to block the strike. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, voice sharp, like he was the victim.

Arden's teeth grit. "Save it. My guts doesn't lie."

Their clash rang out, flame against wind, sparks scattering. The guild leader pushed hard, his strength clear, but Arden pressed harder, fury burning.

From the rooftop, the Lord staggered, torn between disbelief and what his instincts told him.

His eyes darted to Nyra, who only stared at him with fire in her gaze. No words, just the silent plea: trust him.

And that was enough.

Below, Arden roared as his blade carved through the wind barrier, his shield flaring brighter.

The guild leader's face twisted, mask dropping as he snarled.

"You dare accuse me? I'll kill you myself!"

Arden spat blood, but his grin was cold. "Good. Makes it easier to prove I was right."

Their clash erupted again, the square shaking as fire and wind tore against each other.

The battle wasn't over.

Not yet.

A/N:

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