[Yes, Darian?]

[Can you go check on Mindy? I have a bad feeling.]

[She said she's fine.]

[She always says she's fine. Do you always believe her?]

[Usually. She's a tough girl.]

[I know, but…]

[Darian, in case you didn't notice, I can't fly. Without Khar'al-dras, I'm just about useless in a fight of this level. Even if I went over and left Khar'al-dras here, there wouldn't be much I could do.]

[Bring the dragon.]

[And leave the Wind Emperor alone without any correspondent? Are you serious?!]

[Okay, that would be a bad idea. He's liable to comandeer the entire defense line and have them all charging the enemy blindly.]

[You mean, like George is doing right now?]

There was a short, awkward silence.

[I'll bring the dragon.] Tim concluded.

[No, don't. Keep an eye on the Wind Emperor. I'll go see if George can muster up some backup for Mindy.]

***

[Backup?] George repeated in disbelief. [You want me to send backup? To Mindy?!]

[Yes. Is there a problem?]

[Isn't it more likely that she'd be sending backup to me? Where's her fighter swarm?]

[I have no idea, but right now, I have a bad feeling about her fight. There's no Tier 8 out here, I'm just basically swamped with Tier 7's, which means…]

[Mindy's facing two Tier 8's on her side?!] George gulped. [I'll… see what I can rustle up.]

There wasn't much, really. Any airs.h.i.+p going out there would be wrecked in moments, even the Sky Fortresses. Big, small, it didn't matter. No, only the Wilds would have any chance of survival. It was agility, not armor, that could keep them alive.

And the most agile forces he had around were…

[Eagle Lord! I need your help! It's not beneath you, I promise!]

***

[Watch out! It's coming!] Chirpy warned.

Mindy dove for the ground, avoiding a sudden, terrifyingly quick charge from the Spectre that had been half-tangled with the Flame Emperor just a moment ago. She turned only to see it spin in place… [Chirpy, watch out! It's coming right back at you!]

Chirpy leapt for the skies as Sharphorn rammed the empty air under her.

That was the scariest part about Sharphorn. This particular Tier 8 Spectre was notoriously hard to pin down. Even tangled up with it, with someone half-caught in its murky semi-tangible substance, this fellow could still suddenly turn and charge in a moment's notice. Whether on land or in the air, it didn't seem to matter; Sharphorn would charge anywhere, anytime, and two seconds of letting down your guard nearby was enough to have you gored to death before you knew what was happening.

"Chirpy!" Mindy aimed her sword, primed her wings…

Only to see a big Spectral claw descending on her. Three-Arms was after her, and she simply couldn't afford to turn her back on one Tier 8 to help Chirpy with the other. Mindy swerved, dodged one arm, ducked under the second, and had barely enough time to block the third with her sword.

The impact sent her spinning through the air. Mindy flailed to regain her balance before she went cras.h.i.+ng into a mountain.

Meanwhile Chirpy blasted Three-Arms with a pillar of fire from above while zipping around Sharphorn's latest charge. Three-Arm glanced up and roared, then lunged after Chirpy.

"Chirpy!" Mindy flapped her fire-wings almost frantically, trying to get back up, to get back in the fight before… before…

Three-Arms grabbed Chirpy. Chirpy tried to get away, avoiding two of the arms, but the third grasped her leg. She clawed, snapped, and blasted at Three-Arms furiously, but it was too late; Sharphorn was already charging straight for her.

"No!" Mindy shrieked, and her voice condensed sonic waves into a direct sound attack.

To no avail. Spectres were only lightly affected by such sound attacks. They didn't use ears either.

There was a thunderous crash and flames burst out, scattering everywhere. Mindy stared in horror, her heart sinking as the Flame Emperor's huge form exploded.

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"Chirpy!" Mindy screamed.

[Mindy! We are coming!] Aeyrie called.

Mindy turned to see what looked like the Eagle Lord's entire clan coming to help. Hundreds of Tier 5 war eagles ready for battle swooped into formation, joining their psionic powers for a single vengeful blow.

At this time, Sharphorn was reeling, and Three-Arms was missing all three arms from the power of the Flame Emperor's final explosion. The Eagle Clan's combined blast hammered Three-Arms heavily, pa.s.sing right through it, and then smacking into Sharphorn with the remainder of its power.

[Again!] the Eagle Lord ordered.

Mindy gathered psionic energy too, joining the formation and adding her power to theirs. Absolute fury filled her eyes and her heart and when she finally unleashed her psionic might, she held nothing back.

The next blast hit Three-Arms like the wrath of the very skies. Three-Arms was torn apart, five different pieces scattering in the air, as they trailed along the path following the psionic wave. It hit Sharphorn next, sending it reeling back.

Sharphorn retaliated. Even reeling, he was able to prime itself and charge towards the Eagle Clan formation.

[Scatter!] the Eagle Lord yelped.

The birds zipped away in every direction, getting as far away from the incoming charger as they could…

But Mindy didn't move. She just smiled, a small, rueful smile as Sharphorn came barreling down on her. Her wings trembled slightly; the world was slowly spinning on one end.

[This is it for me, guys.] Mindy let out a faint message. [I'm done. I've got nothing left. This is my time.]

[What are you saying?!] Darian gaped.

[Mindy! No!] Tim yelled over from the other side.

[M-Mindy?!] George too, wasn't sure what to say.

But someone else did.

"Hang on!" Out of nowhere, Eriane and Aeyrie appeared. Eriane grabbed Mindy as Aeyrie sped through the danger zone, barely slipping out of the way as Sharphorn rammed past them. The wind of his pa.s.sing hit the three girls with a glancing blow, sending them spinning out of control. "Hang on, Mindy!"

But Mindy said nothing, did nothing. She did not hang on. Slowly, she slipped out of Eriane's grasp, and fell off Aeyrie's back. Eriane tried to grab her again. Aeyrie tried to nab her with her claws. But it was no use; they were spiralling madly, unable to regain equilibrium, much less aim properly.

Aeyrie and Eriane went flying in a dizzying spin far away and Mindy dropped out of the sky in a free fall.

A single wisp of flame zipped out of the sky and went after her.