The ground vibrated with approaching mechanical footsteps, growing louder, closer. The hum of the Custodian’s purge resonated through the very rock of the Iron Peak, no longer a distant threat, but an imminent, crushing presence. Alarms shrieked outside, a frantic, deafening wail that tore through the air of Xeron's central chamber.
"They're here," Xeron stated, his voice a low, dangerous growl. He sprang from his throne, his augmented talons sparking with raw, corrupted energy. His face, usually a mask of cynical amusement, was now set in grim determination. "The Custodian’s Guardians. They hunt what they deem 'threats'." He looked at Kael and Lyra, his glowing eyes burning with a fierce, desperate light. "You wanted to see if freedom was worth fighting for, Kael? Now's your chance to pr
