Hail Mary

The pod that had been plummeting toward the ground exploded in a brilliant flash, its metallic structure bursting apart before it could even hit the earth. The explosion rocked the landscape, sending dust and smoke through the air.

His eyes snapped to the horizon, trying to find the source of the blast. He scanned the area in all directions, but there was no sign of a sniper, no visible targets. What the hell just hit that pod? It had to be a beast core powered artillery round.

He couldn't figure it out. But before he could contemplate it further, his ears caught the sound of a distant roar—an unmistakable, high-pitched whine that sent chills down his spine.

The unmistakable roar of multiple engines.

Suddenly, the sky was alive with movement. Jets, sleek and sharp like cutting blades, shot across the horizon, their engines roaring with an intensity that split the air. Lucas's eyes widened in recognition. Air support. The cavalry had arrived.