Slade collapsed beside me, caught his breath, then pointed.
“Leo—look.”
I turned—and froze.
Thorne.
Locked in combat with Vael.
Magic whipped around him like a force of nature—warping the air, cracking the earth. His swords were a blur, moving with ruthless precision. Vael’s lightning slammed against an invisible shield, but Thorne didn’t slow. He fought like he was born for it.
And then—
Their eyes met.
Something passed between them. A thread of dark energy—surgical, fast.
Vael stuttered.
And Thorne struck. Blade to ribs. Lightning erupted as Vael stumbled back, blood splashing his robes.
But Thorne didn’t chase him blindly. He raised one hand. No fire. No spell. Justwill.
The ground cracked beneath Vael’s feet.
Vael snarled, took a step—and stopped.
He twitched. Shuddered.
Thorne was in his head. I could see it. Feel it. The glow in Thorne’s eyes burned silver, magic crawling across his skin like ink. His lips moved—barely a whisper.
Vael screamed.
Not pain. Not like lightning.
It wassomething deeper.
He clawed at his skull, staggering. Magic tore loose from him, wild and blinding—and one blast hit Thorne square in the chest, throwing him across the rubble.
Vael spun, unhinged.
“You think you can defeat me with yourpetty mind tricks?” he roared. “I am the lightning!”
Thunder cracked overhead like a reply from the gods themselves.
But Thorne got up.
Blood down his face, blades steady in his hands.
“We’re not done yet,” he growled, voice like steel wrapped in fury.
Vael laughed—dark, guttural, cruel.
He stepped toward the edge of a swirling portal, lightning curling at his fingertips.
“You think you are so strong. But you are weak. You are allweak.Just like this world you defend. Sloth. Greed. You worship your kings instead of the gods. You turn your backs on divine order—for what? Comfort?”
He spat the word like poison.
