Luna and the others arrived at Boltus shortly after Stefan’s group. The medical staff had already taken Misaki and Cassie in for treatment. Without delay, Luna’s group made their way to Stefan’s office, where he was consoling Vivian.

  “Stefan! What’s going on! We fought these reptile creatures!” Luna glanced around the room. “W-where’s Misaki? A-and Cassie?”

  Vivian stared at the floor while Stefan turned to face Luna and the others. Just like Mom taught you, Stefan. You have to be their rock. He kept his composure, calm and confident.

  “We ran into our own trouble at the refinery,” he said. “Misaki and Cassie are both receiving medical attention.”

  “What…” Luna asked, as if the air had been knocked out of her. “Are… are they okay? Can we see them?!” She grew more frantic with each word, while the others looked on in stunned silence.

  “The medical staff won’t permit us to see them right now. I’m going to be honest with you all, if Cassie is still alive, she most likely won’t be for long…. As for Misaki, she received a deep wound in her side, she’s seriously injured.”

  Luna sobbed.. “That’s not possible! Misaki is too strong to get hurt like that!” Luna scooted toward Stefan and began striking him in the chest, her hands trembling. “How?! How are you so calm?! Don’t you care about them?! Isn’t Misaki your best friend since we were little?!”

  Rody restrained her. “Luna, I know this is terrible, but please. I-I’m sure Stefan has more to tell us.”

  Stefan sighed. “Rody’s right. As much as you and I want to be there for Misaki and Cassie, there’s a grave threat to the city that we have to face.”

  “You might want to turn on the news,” Cassius said, entering the room with Matis and Emeric in tow.

  Luna wiped her tears before he could see them. “Cassius…”

  “I’m not here for you…” Cassius replied dryly and shook Rody’s hand. “I’m here to remind the world that Elerians are brave and fearsome warriors. Something you are going to need…” Cassius motioned to Stefan to find the news broadcast.

  ***

  While Luna and the others made their way to Boltus, Azura set her plan into motion. Thousands of Saurid descended upon Corvalla. Many residents awoke to the panicked screams of their neighbors and the chaos erupting outside their homes. The Saurid slaughtered and dragged away hundreds, leaving devastation in their wake.

  The military quickly established a defensive line as far south as possible, hoping to stop the creatures from advancing deeper into the city.

  Intense urban combat erupted. Building by building, infantry and armored vehicles were forced to retreat under the weight of the Saurid’s overwhelming numbers. Military helicopters managed to cut down many of the winged Saurid, but suffered heavy losses in return.

  In the city’s most popular shopping plaza, a massive Saurid lumbered on all fours, crashing through buildings before settling in and digging a massive hole. The beast had three horns on its face and rows of jagged spikes along its armored back and tail.

  Once the creature finished digging, the smaller Saurids began tossing captured civilians into the pit. Nearby soldiers fired desperately, managing to kill several of the smaller creatures. Their weapons, however, had no effect on the larger Saurid. Just as it prepared to charge, the night air filled with bone-chilling laughter.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  The soldiers’ hearts dropped to their stomachs as Azura’s glowing eyes and sinister smile seemingly appeared out of the darkness itself. “Thank you, Terak!” Azura scratched the beast under its chin. “I’ll handle things from here! Hahaha!” Azura grinned at the nearest soldier, flashing him her sharp teeth.

  The soldiers shouted and opened fire on Azura. She dashed toward them in a zigzagging blur, deflecting bullets with her twin swords. She moved too fast, and none of the soldiers or their vehicles could land a hit. Azura tore through them with ease, gleefully carving them apart as she went.

  Azura spotted a news helicopter filming her as she dragged the soldiers she kept alive to the pit Terak made and threw them in. Azura turned her back to the pit, ignoring the cries of the people trapped inside. She waved and smiled up at the news helicopter, then snapped her fingers, igniting the pit and everyone within it in a blaze of Teal fire.

  “I’m Azura! Queen of the Saurid!” She declared as the camera zoomed in on her, and hundreds of new Saurids spawned from the pit, now filled with liquid Teal.

  “Luna! Come play with me!” Azura slowly motioned toward the news helicopter with her index finger, grinning as she tilted her head. This was the last image Luna and the others at Boltus saw before a flying Saurid slammed into the helicopter, destroying it.

  “Isn’t that…” Raine and Morgan began to say.

  Luna covered her heart with her hands. “Azura…? Why… Why would she do this…”

  Stefan gawked at her. “You know her?”

  “S-she told me she was a fan…” Luna’s eyes widened as she remembered her conversation with Azura. “I-I told her where our music video was going to be…”

  “That means she sent those monsters…” Rody put his hand on Luna’s shoulder.

  “Luna, what do you remember about her? Any detail can help us stop her!” Stefan implored.

  “I…” Luna searched her memories, I want to be you! Before she could speak, Cassius interrupted..

  “Ah! None of this matters! We need to get out there and stop her!”

  “Cassius’s right, my gunship is being refueled and munitions reloaded right now. Everyone who’s going, gear up and meet me outside in twenty minutes.”

  Luna and the other Gladius suited up in their Tealon armor and prepared their weapons. Raine and Morgan agreed to stay behind at Boltus to watch over Misaki and update all their parents on the situation.

  As Luna and Rody moved through the halls of Boltus, Luna’s communicator buzzed. It was a video call—from both of their parents.

  Andres spoke first. “We saw the news. We don’t know what’s going on, but we know we won’t convince you to sit by and let this happen. So from your mother and me, be the best little dragon you can be, Luna. You got this, baby girl.”

  Luna teared up. “Thank you, Dad… and Mom…”

  “How did you all do it… Fight danger without being scared…” Rody asked.

  “We were scared, too, Son,” Kobe answered. “But that’s what courage is, facing danger for others. We had the strength to fight because we knew what we were doing was right. You’re doing the right thing, Rody. We just wish we weren’t so old, maybe we could help.” He chuckled lightly.

  “We know you would. We’ll make you proud.”

  “We know it, Son.” Kobe prayed for Luna and Rody, then they all exchanged their goodbyes and ended the call.

  Luna turned to Rody. “I want you to stay…”

  “What… Why?”

  “You said you were scared, I’m scared too…I’m scared you’ll get hurt… I don’t want that…” She confessed.

  “I don’t want you to get hurt either, that’s why I’m going if you’re going.”

  “I’ll only feel better if you make me one of your unbreakable promises.”

  Rody thought about what promise Luna wanted to hear. “I promise I’ll do everything I can to make sure you come home in one piece.”

  Luna shook her head. “That’s not good enough.”

  “Even if it costs my—”

  Luna pushed Rody against the wall and covered his mouth. “Shh! Don’t you dare say that!” She began softly hitting his chest with her closed hands. “Promise me we’ll both come back.” She looked up at him. “Together.”

  Rody wanted to look away, just like he always did when she was this close. But this time, he kept his gaze steady, studying her face, reading her expression, then letting his eyes rest on hers.

  “I promise.”

  “Thank you. Everyone’s waiting. Let’s go.”

  Luna and Rody joined the others in the gunship, and together they embarked on their mission to stop Azura.