Chapter 19: Fire in the Forge

The drones swept into the chamber like vultures, their red eyes cutting through the blue glow of the ruins. Asha shoved Milo behind the platform, her blade flashing as she ducked a shot that scorched the air above her head. The Overseers' boots pounded closer—five, maybe six of them, armored shadows spilling from the tunnel. She cursed under her breath. Time was a luxury they didn't have."Stay down," she hissed at Milo, who was already fumbling with his good hand, pulling a jagged shard of metal from the floor as a makeshift weapon. His face was pale and blood-streaked, but his eyes burned with the same fire she'd always known. He wasn't done yet.The entity stood motionless near the dome's arch, its liquid-metal form shimmering as if unbothered by the chaos. Asha shot it a glare. "You gonna help, or just watch us die?"It tilted its head, voice rumbling low. "The forge awaits your will. Shape it."A drone buzzed overhead, its lens locking onto her. She rolled to the side as it fired, the shot blasting a chunk from the platform's edge. The slots glowed brighter, their blue light pulsing in time with the emberstones' echo in her mind. Shape it. The words gnawed at her, but she had no time to think—only to act.She lunged for the platform, slamming her hands onto its surface. The slots flared under her touch, and a jolt shot up her arms, sharp and electric. Images flooded her head—flashes of the city alive, towers humming with energy, bridges arcing with light. Then fire, ash, collapse. The emberstones' power, unleashed and unbound. She gasped, pulling back, but the connection held, rooting her in place."Asha!" Milo shouted, swinging his shard at a drone that swooped too close. It sparked and veered off, but another took its place, pinning him against the platform. The Overseers' soldiers fanned out, their rifles glinting as they advanced. One barked an order—"Secure the stones!"—and her blood ran cold. They knew.She gritted her teeth, forcing her focus back to the platform. "Come on," she muttered, pressing harder. "Give me something." The slots pulsed again, and the floor beneath her shuddered. A low groan echoed through the chamber as the ruins stirred—metal creaking, stone shifting. The nearest tower twisted, its base splitting to reveal a hidden turret. It whirred to life, a beam of blue light lancing out to vaporize a drone mid-flight.Milo ducked as debris rained down. "What the hell did you do?" Woke it up!" she yelled, her voice raw. The platform hummed louder, feeding her more—control, raw and unrefined. She swung her arm instinctively, and another turret activated, blasting two Overseers into ash before they could react. The others scattered, shouting, their formation breaking.But it wasn't enough. The connection burned, draining her—her vision blurred, her legs trembled. The forge was alive, but it demanded more than she could give alone. She stumbled, catching herself on the platform's edge.The entity moved then, gliding toward her. "The price," it said, its voice cutting through the chaos. "One will bind the forge. One must fall."A rifle shot cracked, grazing her thigh. She snarled, dropping to one knee as an Overseer—a tall figure in black armor—closed in, weapon raised. "Surrender the stones, Runner," he growled, voice distorted through a mask. "Last chance."Milo lunged, tackling the soldier with his shard, but a second Overseer fired, catching him in the side. He crumpled, blood pooling fast, and Asha's world tilted. "No!" she roared, slamming her fists onto the platform. The forge responded—turrets flared, tearing through the remaining drones, but the Overseers pressed forward, relentless.The entity loomed closer. "Choose."Her eyes locked on Milo, barely moving, then back to the platform. The forge could end this—could burn the Overseers to nothing—but not without a cost. Kael's face flashed in her mind, pinned to the Spire's slab. Then Milo's, fighting to the last. She knew what it wanted. She knew what she had to do."Take me," she said, voice steady despite the pain. "Bind it to me."The entity's light surged, enveloping her. The forge roared to life, a wave of blue fire erupting from the platform, swallowing the Overseers in a blinding blaze. Asha felt it—every inch of the city waking, bending to her will, her life bleeding into its core. Then darkness took her, sharp and final.When the light faded, Milo staggered to his feet, clutching his side. The Overseers were gone—ash and echoes. The chamber hummed, alive, its towers glowing steadily. And Asha lay still on the platform, her blade at her side, the forge's blue light pulsing through her veins.