Steel sang.
The moment the hunters stepped fully into the clearing, the air shifted from tense anticipation to violence.
The lead hunter moved first.
He raised a hand and lightning crackled along the gauntlet wrapped around his forearm. The broken symbol of Zephiron glowed faintly across his chest plate.
“Kill the anomaly,” he ordered coldly.
The three others split instantly trained, coordinated, efficient.
Two rushed Azrael.
Two went for Lyra.
Azrael barely had time to react.
“Right to the point,” he muttered.
The first hunter reached him in a blur of silver armor and crackling energy. A spear thrust toward Azrael’s throat with lethal precision.
Azrael pivoted aside, Quinn snapping up to deflect.
Steel met steel with a sharp clang.
The force of the impact jolted his arm.
Lev
