Skybound Odyssey – Chapter 15: Eye of the Storm
The Stormchaser soared through the upper layers of the sky, its hull patched and reinforced, but the crew quiet. Tension pulsed beneath the hum of the engine—this wasn't just another escape. It was the beginning of a war.
Ryo stood at the bow, the crystal core clenched tightly in his fist. The wind lashed his coat, and lightning danced in the distant clouds ahead.
Lyra approached him, arms crossed. "You sure about this? We go to Skyspire, there's no turning back."
"I've been running too long," Ryo said, his voice low. "If I don't face them now, they'll never stop coming."
Behind them, Juno—Lyra's old mechanic friend from Skygrave—tightened a bolt on the stabilizers. "This ship wasn't built for imperial suicide missions, y'know," she muttered. "But I upgraded her anyway."
"You stuck around," Lyra said with a smile.
Juno smirked. "Yeah, well… never liked the Empire much. And that Stormheart kid's got guts."
Ryo gave her a nod. "Thanks."
BOOM.
The sky darkened ahead. Clouds began to swirl in a massive vortex—unnatural, spiraling with a glowing storm-eye at its center.
Lyra squinted. "Is that…?"
"Skyspire," Ryo said. "Hidden in the heart of the world's greatest storm."
The city emerged slowly—towering spires of black metal and gold, suspended in the center of the vortex like a crown. Countless airships patrolled its skies, and the roar of the storm drowned out all else.
Lyra's eyes widened. "How are we supposed to get through that?"
Ryo pulled out the glowing core crystal. It pulsed in sync with the storm, resonating like a key.
"Kairo said this would open a path."
He stepped to the edge of the ship and held it up. Lightning streaked from the storm—straight into the crystal.
The energy blasted outward in a shockwave of golden light.
Before them, the wall of clouds split open—just wide enough for one ship.
Juno stared. "Okay, now I believe the whole 'living weapon' thing."
Ryo turned to the crew. "This is it. Once we enter that storm, the Empire will know I'm alive."
Lyra placed a hand on his shoulder. "Good. Let them know."
Ryo's eyes sparked. "Let them fear it."
The Stormchaser plunged into the Eye of the Storm.
And the rebellion began.