He could still see craters where the energy blasts had landed—massive holes pockmarking the earth like old burn wounds. Some were still smoldering. Melted stone glittered under the midday sun like shattered crystal.

“If we had cannons like these at Shiverstone…” Axel muttered, half to himself. “So many wouldn’t have died.”

Wesley said nothing.

He pointed ahead. “That’s where the main battle was.”

Axel looked where the trees had once stood. Entire swaths of forest were flattened—splintered trunks, blackened branches, rocks sliced clean in half. Sword marks. Deep ones. Dozens of them. Each cut too precise for wild beasts.

He stepped forward—and froze.

A strange energy shimmered in the air just ahead, faint and rhythmic, like the ripples of heat off sunbaked asphalt.

“Don’t move,” Wesley warned. “That’s the energy shield. Mirabelle’s walls are rigged with them too. Keeps beasts from breaching the zone.”

An energy shield.

Something about it clicked in Axel’s mind. He was about to push further when footsteps echoed from behind.

Two men approached—middle-aged, dressed in polished coats and crisp collars. One was broad, balding, with a heavy gut. The other, thin as a rake, smiled too much.

“Captain Wesley,” said the fat one. “This the new Obsidian member?”

Wesley turned. “Axel, this is Governor Jude of Drakenfall.”

Jude nodded slightly, expression unreadable. His gaze lingered on Axel with a strange glint.

“And this is Cody,” Wesley continued.

“Pleasure to meet you!” Cody chirped, stepping forward with both hands out, all politeness and smiles.

Axel didn’t move.

“Mr. Axel,” Jude said, his tone carefully measured. “I’m sorry for what happened to your team. Truly.”

“They fought with great honor,” he continued smoothly. “Their efforts defending Drakenfall won’t be forgotten. The people are grateful.”

Axel’s eyes narrowed.

“Mr. Jude, with all due respect, the captain and the others are still out there. It’s far too early to say that.”

Jude gave a cold chuckle. “Young people... if you don’t learn to accept reality, your road ahead will be very difficult.”

Axel’s tone didn’t change. “I just have a few questions for Mr. Cody.”

Wesley hesitated. He sighed, then quietly stepped behind Axel.

“Ask away,” Cody said, glancing at Jude as if asking for permission. “I’ll tell you whatever I can.”

Axel met Cody’s eyes head-on. “You and the Obsidian team fought together that day, didn’t you? And yet, you and your people came back unharmed… but our captain and his team had no choice but to flee into the mountains.”

“I hope you two can help me understand why.”

Cody’s eyes dropped instantly. Jude let out an annoyed snort. “Are you accusing us?”

Axel gave a faint smile. “Just asking questions. But if you’re not comfortable answering, we can drop it.”

Jude snorted again. “You are questioning a soldier who volunteered to fight…”

“Cody, answer him.”

Cody sighed heavily. “I’m ashamed of what happened. When the Black-Scale Sky-Swallowing Python showed up, we were pinned down by a swarm of Level 3 mutants. By the time we got clear and tried to assist, Vince and his team had already drawn the thing into the depths of Mirabelle.”

“If I’d been stronger…” Cody shook his head, eyes turning red. “If I’d just been stronger, maybe they wouldn’t have had to go it alone…”

Wesley stepped in quickly. “Axel’s new to Obsidian,” he explained, “and Vince… Vince treated him like a younger brother. With them missing, it’s natural he’s emotional. I hope you’ll both understand.”

Jude’s expression softened—slightly. “He’s young. Ambitious. It’s natural. Just be careful that your passion doesn’t blind your sense of propriety.”

Cody quickly chimed in. “If there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave.”

.....

The car ride back was silent.

Wesley finally broke it. “You came at them too hard. If you’ve got suspicions, fine—but keep it subtle next time..”

Axel didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “Jude—he’s not like the district governor back in Dune!”

Wesley’s voice dropped a notch.

“First, Drakenfall’s bigger. Second, Dune’s shaped like a basin—strategically weak, not vital. Third…”

He lowered his voice further. “Jude’s from the Windsor family. The governor of Mirabelle? A Level 7 Divine Power Realm Awakener? Also a Windsor. They practically own this province. Trade, real estate, cultivation resources—you name it.”

Axel nodded slowly. “Got it.”

Wesley breathed out. “So... we’re good now?”

“I know where they are,” Axel said.

Wesley blinked. “What…? What did you just say?”

“They’re alive,” Axel said simply. “Somewhere in those mountains.”

Wesley stared at him. “Axel… You’re not thinking straight—”

“No. Think about it. Didn’t you notice how fast Cody responded? Too fast. Like he already had the answers locked and loaded.”

Wesley opened his mouth to reply—but then closed it. His brows furrowed.

“You’re guessing, that’s all this is,” he said after a long pause. “Even if it’s all scripted, what’s that prove? And with the Windsors behind them, even if we had something, we couldn’t touch them without hard evidence.”

“I know,” Axel said. “And I’m not wasting time fighting a family I can’t move. I’m not interested in politics.”

Wesley sighed in relief and gave Axel a pat on the shoulder.

They walked in silence toward the ward.

“We’ll focus on rebuilding Obsidian,” Wesley said. “If you need anything, you come to me.”

Axel stopped walking. “That’s not what I meant.”

Wesley looked over, confused. “What?”

“I’m not staying here to rebuild anything. I’m going to find the captain and bring them home—dead or alive.”

“They’re not gone,” Axel said, eyes burning. “They just ran into something they couldn’t handle. I’m going to bring them back.”

Wesley looked at him long and hard. Then gave a weary chuckle.

“You’re all crazy,” he muttered.

Axel didn’t reply. He just pushed open the door and walked into Phoenix’s room.

Simon had just finished the day's treatment when Axel walked quietly to Phoenix’s side. The room still smelled faintly of herbs and antiseptics.

Simon wiped the sweat from his forehead. “His physical resilience is incredible. Honestly, his body’s healing faster than I expected. Maybe he might actually—”

He didn’t finish.

Phoenix’s fingers twitched.

“Phoenix!” Axel rushed forward.

Under the tense eyes of both men, Phoenix’s eyelids slowly fluttered open. His gaze found Axel—and in it, there was pain. And behind it… desperation.

“I’m here,” Axel said softly, gripping Phoenix’s scarred, trembling hand.

Phoenix parted his lips, struggling to speak, but no sound came out. Only a faint rasp.

Simon stepped forward quickly. “Try not to talk—just rest. You’ve already survived the worst.”

But Phoenix wouldn’t stop staring at Axel—his eyes burning, pleading, refusing to let go.

“What is it?” Axel leaned in closer, bringing his ear near Phoenix’s cracked lips.

A faint whisper, dry as ash, scratched its way from Phoenix’s throat.

“Save… save them…”

Axel stiffened. Phoenix’s breath came faster, his grip tightening as though this single moment held the last of his will.

“I will,” Axel said, locking eyes with him. “I swear, I’ll bring them all back. Every last one.”

Phoenix’s eyes slowly closed, his hand going limp. He drifted back into unconsciousness.

Simon gently pulled Axel out of the room and shut the door behind them. “That thing you just said—about…”

“He meant it,” Wesley said, approaching with two cigarettes in hand. He lit one and passed the other to Axel.

Axel exhaled, smoke curling between his lips. “So? Are you going to try and stop me?”

Wesley paused. “No. I’m coming with you.”

Simon nearly dropped his clipboard. “Does Mr. Xander know?”

Wesley shook his head. “No. And keep it that way.”

“Wesley, this is insane!” Simon snapped. “The wilderness is hell right now, especially after the beast tide. You know it better than anyone.”

Wesley opened his mouth, but Axel cut in, voice calm. “It’s fine. I’ll go alone.”

Wesley’s head whipped around. “What? You think I’m bluffing? That I’m just saying this to sound noble?”

Axel met his glare. “If you come with me, I can’t guarantee your safety.”