He couldn’t put his finger on it, but the fight felt wrong. Defeating those guards was way easier than it should have been. His mouth dried. His inner savage rumbled in agitation, tightening his grip around Azazel’s chest. Ignoring the sensation, he pushed forward.
He didn’t know how it happened, but they didn’t encounter anyone else before reaching the chamber housing the Dimensional Rift. Holding his breath, he peeked around the corner to see if there were any Krystalii there. He held Toni back against the corridor wall. All clear. With a nod in her direction to follow him, he snuck inside, Toni close behind.
A spherical construct sat in the middle of the room and pulsed with an unnatural light. Inside, jagged fissures swirled in a kaleidoscope of pale colors.
His gut twisted. There was an undeniable pull from it. A raw, uncontained energy that strained the very air around them.
“Damn.” Toni snorted. “Freakin’ thing looks like a crystal ball on steroids.” She stepped closer to it. “You know, it kinda looks like a movie prop in one of the fantasy movies I produced last year.”
Movie prop? Azazel narrowed his focus on the nucleus. He’d love nothing better than to examine it closer, but time was running out. Kneeling by it, he pulled out a small pulse generator from a pocket in the suit Tharion gave him. “JR14, monitor it while I set these energy dampeners on it and make it overload.”
Toni stood guard. Her focus shifted to the open doorway where the pounding of heavy footsteps echoed down the hall.
Had to be more guards.
“How long?” she asked over her shoulder.
“Less than two minutes.” He didn’t look up. Not that he thought they had two minutes. He stretched his senses outward, seeking the energy signatures closing in. “Here, trade places.” His jaw tightened as he sprang to his feet. “You keep watch on this and make sure the energy dampener keeps working. I’ll hold them off.”
Toni’s gaze shot up to meet his. “No! You don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do. Let’s finish this.” He glanced at the bot on his shoulder. “JR14, you stay and help her make sure nothing goes wrong.” He turned, not waiting to watch the bot leave his shoulder before he stepped into the corridor. His inner beast now growled in approval, eager for glorious battle.
The first wave of Elites came in fast, their crystalline weapons glinting in the murky light.
Azazel didn’t wait. He swept his arm forward, slamming one into the wall with a telekinetic burst. The others charged, and he twisted, dodging a strike before sending another Elite crashing to the floor.
Pain flared through his arm as a lance grazed him. Gritting his teeth, he pushed harder, throwing a wave of force that knocked the guards back.
“Almost there!” Toni shouted from the other room.
Azazel grunted as he blocked another strike. Light flared behind him.
A hum coming from the Dimensional Rift shifted, its rhythm faltering.
“Yay! It’s done!” Toni whooped.
Azazel slammed the last guard against the wall and spun, running back into the chamber.
“Okay, we’d better get out of here!” He held out his hand for Toni.
She grabbed it, laughing.
“Yeah, no kidding!”
As they sprinted, Azazel took one last glance behind them and watched as the device collapsed inward. The swirling rift distorted the walls as it imploded.
JR14 leaped onto Azazel’s shoulder as they dove through the doorway just before it slammed shut behind them.
A deafening boom followed, shaking the deck.
Azazel leaned against the bulkhead, his breath ragged.
Toni grinned at him. A bead of sweat rolled from her temple.
“Told you we’d do it.”
He managed to make a weak smile and clasped her hand in his.
