Chapter 10: Fire and Fury

Days later, Ascendant forces launched an attack on the rebel base. Drones swarmed the sky, and Echoes scattered, running for cover. Explosions shook the ground, sending rubble flying in all directions.

Elara fought desperately, using the training she'd received to evade capture. She took cover behind a wall, firing at the approaching guards, her heart pounding as she realized how outmatched they were.

Kade was beside her, his face grim as he shouted over the chaos. "We need to get to the fallback point!"

They made their way through the crumbling ruins, narrowly avoiding capture. But as they reached safety, Elara looked back and saw the devastation left in the wake of the Ascendants' attack. Half the camp was destroyed, and they had lost many good fighters.

Raya rallied the survivors, her face lined with sorrow and anger. "This ends now. No more hiding. We take the fight to them."

For the first time, Elara saw a fierceness in Raya's eyes that bordered on desperation. The rebels had been pushed to the edge, and there was no turning back. They would either take down the Ascendants—or die trying.