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Lightning ripped through the air, illuminating the horizon and shaking the world with thunder. The wall of still-cooling lava shattered, creating red-orange geysers to either side of the cell block.

And Zeff saw a path of ruin below, a running crater that had been drilled through not just the lava but also the prison, ending just outside of Cell Block Y. A small mountain of disturbed rock and uprooted trees lay at the crater’s edge, along with a smoldering, motionless lump.

Was that... a person?

Yes, it took him a moment, but Zeff could indeed sense a living soul at the end of that destroyed path. And it took him another moment to recognize who it was, because the soul was noticeably distorted.

That was Vanderberk down there. The infamous Weasel of Abolish. One of the most powerful servants in the entire world, rendered into a smote pile of flesh.

Was he dead? Zeff genuinely could not tell, even with Axiolis’ reaper senses helping him.

Which was supremely strange.

What in the world had been done to him? It was like the man’s very soul had been twisted into knots.

Agh. Distractions. Whatever the explanation, it didn’t matter now. The only thing that mattered was freeing the rest of the reapers. Thankfully, the path that Vanderberk’s body had carved through the cell block had not touched any of the remaining captives. Had that been intentional? Had their mysterious helper been able to--?

Another brilliant flash of light arrived, this time bringing with it a great, shining figure. A bird? An avian monstrosity of luminous crystal. Lightning crackled off of it and up into the sky, disappearing into dark clouds. When had those gotten there?

From atop his hovering platform, despite the fact that he’d been trying to avoid getting distracted only a moment ago, Zeff could only stare with wide eyes.

“Rainlords,” came a great voice, seemingly from the giant bird. “Thank you for your help. Allow me to take care of the rest.”

And what followed, Zeff could scarcely comprehend.

Scores of smaller lights sprang out from the bird, a sudden and almost silent display of fireworks, all arcing down toward the sundered battleground and raining down on everyone.

It was alarming, to be sure--and so fast that Zeff wasn’t sure any of them could’ve responded to it even if they’d been prepared to.

But the light seemed harmless. For the Rainlords, at least.