Chapter 29: Race Against the Sky

Lucien and his crew emerged from the depths of the Vault, the eerie glow of the artifact still pulsing in his grasp. Their clothes were dusted with debris, their breaths still heavy from the battle with the automaton. But their victory was short-lived.

Selene was the first to sense it—the faint tremor in the air, the almost imperceptible shift in pressure. Her eyes snapped to the cavern entrance.

"We're not alone."

Before Lucien could ask what she meant, a deafening boom shook the cavern walls. The entrance exploded inward, sending chunks of stone and metal cascading to the floor.

Through the dust and smoke, a familiar, imposing figure stepped forward.

Veyna.

Dressed in sleek, reinforced airship captain's attire, her deep crimson coat fluttered as she walked with a predator's grace. Behind her, a squad of mercenaries poured in, their rifles gleaming under the Vault's eerie blue light.

"Ah, Captain Drake," Veyna said smoothly. "I see you've saved me the trouble of digging."

Lucien exhaled sharply. "You know, I was just thinking this whole treasure hunt was missing a backstabbing ex."

Rosie tilted her head. "Wait, ex?"

"Long story, not the time," Lucien muttered.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "How did you find us?"

Veyna smirked. "Oh, come now. You didn't think I'd let you wander off with something this valuable without keeping an eye on you?"

She motioned to her men. "Be good darlings and hand it over, will you? No need for unnecessary bloodshed."

Lucien glanced at his crew. Rosie had already drawn her pistols. Selene's fingers twitched toward her daggers. Marion subtly shifted into a defensive stance.

Yeah. No one was surrendering.

"Tempting," Lucien said. "But I think we'll pass."

Veyna sighed dramatically. "Shame. You always were stubborn." She snapped her fingers.

"Kill them."

Escape Under Fire

The cavern erupted into chaos.

Gunfire cracked through the air as Lucien's crew dove for cover. Rosie flipped behind a rock formation, firing off rapid shots that sent two mercenaries sprawling.

Selene disappeared into the shadows, a flicker of movement that left behind silent, collapsing bodies.

Evelyn yanked Lucien down just as a rifle round whizzed past his ear. "You have to stop making enemies with dangerous women!" she shouted.

"I really don't try to!" Lucien shot back, rolling to his feet. He fired his pistol, striking a mercenary in the shoulder.

Marion and Victoria moved in tandem—Marion's precise strikes taking out weakened foes while Victoria's mechanical strength tore through opponents like a relentless automaton.

Valeria? She threw a bottle. It exploded.

"Boom!" she cackled.

Veyna, unfazed, stepped forward, sword in hand. Her golden eyes locked onto Lucien's. "You never did learn when to quit, Drake."

Lucien flashed his signature grin. "It's part of my charm."

She lunged.

Steel met steel as their blades clashed. Lucien barely dodged her ruthless strikes—Veyna was fast, skilled, and utterly merciless.

"You really are mad at me," he quipped, blocking another strike.

Veyna's blade slid dangerously close to his throat. "You stole from me."

"You tried to kill me first!"

Veyna's smirk widened. "Details, details."

Before she could press the advantage, an explosion rocked the cavern. A section of the ceiling collapsed, cutting off half of her forces.

Lucien barely had time to think before Evelyn grabbed his wrist. "We need to go!"

The others were already sprinting toward the exit. Veyna cursed, backing away as another explosion split the ground between them.

"You can't run forever, Lucien!" she called. "I will get that artifact!"

Lucien grinned over his shoulder. "Get in line!"

Then he and his crew were gone, disappearing into the tunnels as the cavern continued to crumble behind them.

Storm Reaper, Take Off!

The moment they burst onto the surface, the sight that greeted them was not reassuring.

The sky was swarming with Veyna's airships.

"Fantastic," Rosie muttered.

The Storm Reaper was anchored just ahead, its engines already warming up.

"Move, move, move!" Lucien shouted.

Gunfire rained down as they sprinted toward the ship. Selene deflected bullets with inhuman precision. Marion covered their rear, while Victoria threw Valeria onto the gangplank like a sack of explosives.

"Not necessary!" Valeria yelped, landing with a thud.

Rosie slid into the pilot's seat. "Engines are hot, but this is gonna be rough!"

Lucien barely made it aboard before the Storm Reaper lurched into the sky, its thrusters screaming as it rocketed forward.

Veyna's fleet immediately pursued.

Rosie gritted her teeth. "They've got firepower. We've got bad decisions. What's the plan?"

Lucien glanced at the artifact, still pulsing in his grip.

"Hold on," he murmured.

Then he slammed his hand against the ship's control panel.

The artifact reacted.

And the Storm Reaper—already the fastest airship in the skies—suddenly vanished in a burst of impossible speed.

To Be Continued…